The end of the medieval period saw the decline of Coventry's influence but during the reign of Queen Victoria (1837 - 1901) the city's fortunes revived.

Two industries dominated the city for most of this period - watchmaking and ribbon weaving. The stories of both are told in the History Gallery. This section is dominated by a display that recalls the Coventry Exhibition of 1867, which was one of the most important events in the city in the 1800s.

By the end of Victoria's reign Coventry had become an important manufacturing centre producing bicycles, machine tools and motor cars.