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The West Midlands have played a sizable role in the economic growth of the British Empire, as the wool, cloth, coal, brass, and steel products manufactured here were available for purchase in all corners of the world. It was also the epicenter of the British automobile industry, which thrived for nearly a century. While this industry-heavy area was heavily damaged during World War II, many old buildings, such as the Jacobean-era Aston Hall and the Baroque-era St. Philip`s Cathedral, survive. The three major cities of the West Midlands are Birmingham, the United Kingdom`s vibrant and cosmopolitan second-largest city; Coventry, a city with a storied history that is perhaps best-known as the site of Lady Godiva`s infamous horseback ride; and Wolverhampton, an historical regional hub of wool and steel production which is now a noteworthy city in Britain`s aerospace industry.
Birmingham is the principal city of the West Midlands region, and is the United Kingdom`s second most populous city. Birmingham was the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution, and by the dawn of the nineteenth century it was perhaps the most industrialized city in the entire world. Heavily damaged during the Blitz of World War II, many portions of the city were rebuilt. The regeneration of the urban core can be seen in some noteworthy postmodern buildings, such as the Library of Birmingham and the iconic Selfridges Building.
The second-largest city in the West Midlands has a rich history which stretches back to the time of the Romans. Perhaps the most noteworthy historical legend associated with Coventry is Lady Godiva`s infamous nude horseback ride through the city in the eleventh century. Many companies in the British automobile industry were based here. Coventry Cathedral, built in the early 15th century, was damaged during the Blitz of World War II, and is now as a garden of remembrance next to the current cathedral.
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