BRITISH PUBS WEEK CELEBRATED AT THE HISTORIC “CAPE OF GOOD HOPE”

To celebrate “British Pubs Week” author John Rosamond held his latest book signing of Save the Triumph Bonneville - The Inside Story of the Meriden Workers' Co-op on 3rd November at the canal side pub “The Cape of Good Hope”. Situated in Lower Cape Warwick, publicans Sandra and Mick Barfoot provide hospitality second to none. This picturesque pub has particular relevance in the history of the Triumph Motorcycle Company as it was here that workers from the temporary Warwick factory relaxed after long hard shifts during the Second World War when the Coventry Priory Street Triumph factory was destroyed by the Luftwaffe in The Blitz of 14th November 1940. A temporary operation was set up in a former foundry building in Cape Road Warwick. The foundry's most eye catching feature was a corrugated iron structure that resembled a church complete with bell tower and was known as the “Tin Tabernacle”. This temporary facility equipped with tooling rescued from the Priory Street rubble became Triumph's home for about 2 years whilst a new “shadow” factory was built on green belt land at Meriden north west of Coventry.