Historic buildings

Coventry has a range of stunning and beautiful old and historic buildings that have mostly escaped the ravages of time and survived the destruction of The Blitz during World War II.

St Mary's Guildhall

St Mary's Guildhall is one of the finest surviving examples of a medieval guildhall in England.

How to find us: Bayley Lane, Coventry CV1 5RR
Telephone: 024 7683 3325 or 3328
Fax: 024 7683 3329
e-mail: mark.twissell@coventry.gov.uk
Website: www.coventry.gov.uk/stmarys

Coventry Cathedral

Coventry Cathedral combines majestic mediaeval ruins with awe-inspiring modern buildings and artworks, as a symbol of resurrection and reconciliation.

How to find us: Coventry Cathedral, 1 Hill Top, Coventry CV1 5AB
Telephone: 024 7652 1200
Fax: 024 7652 1200
e-mail: information@coventrycathedral.org.uk
Website: www.coventrycathedral.org.uk

Cheylesmore Manor

Cheylesmore Manor is the home of Coventry's Register Office. Parts of the building date back to 1250 and Edward the Black Prince and Henry VI were among the royals who lived there.

How to find us: Register Office, Cheylesmore Manor House, Manor House Drive, Coventry CV1 2ND
E-mail: registeroffice@coventry.gov.uk
Website: Coventry Register Office
Telephone: 024 7683 3141

The Town Wall and City Gates

There were originally 12 gates and a wall around the city but only two now remain intact. These are Cook St Gate and Swanswell Gate.

Fords Hospital, Greyfriars Lane

Built in 1509 the houses were constructed as almshouses for men and women. The property was later enlarged and after 1800 became a home for women only. The houses were bombed in1940 when eight women died. The now re-built and modernised almshouses provide comfortable flat-lets for seven women. The almshouses have had a number of names including The Bede House, Pisford's Hospital and Greyfriars Hospital as well as Ford's Hospital.

Holy Trinity Church

Holy Trinity is the only complete medieval church in Coventry and one of the largest medieval parish churches in England. With a spire of 72 metres (237 feet) and length of 59 metres (194 feet) it is almost cathedral in size. It has changed greatly through its 900-year history: practically destroyed by fire in 1257, it has been rebuilt, extended and redecorated as religious styles and theologies have passed through Coventry.

How to find us: 5a Priory Row, Coventry CV1 5EX. Next to Coventry Cathedral, adjacent to Priory Gardens.
Telephone: 024 7622 0418
Fax: 024 7663 2729
E-mail: office@holytrinitycoventry.org.uk
Website: http://www.holytrinitycoventry.org.uk/

Whitefriars Monastery

Queen Elizabeth I addressed the people of Coventry from the Oriel window at Whitefriars in the16th century. Though it is not known what she said, it is thought that she lectured the Coventry townsfolk about their disregard for religion.

Whitefriars was originally a much larger building than what can be seen today. It was a monastery founded in 1342 which, during the dissolution of the 16th Century was partly demolished. All that now survives is the cloisters with a large hall above. Between 1801 and 1943 Whitefriars was used as a workhouse and then a refuge.

How to find us: Next to the ring road close to the Gulson Road / London Road junction 4.
Opening times: The monastery, which is normally closed to the public, opens for Heritage Open Weekend, on the second Saturday/Sunday every September.

Bablake School

The School might date back to 1344 when Queen Isabella, a widow of Edward II, gave land at ‘Babbelak’ for the building of the original St John’s (or Bablake) Church. This may well have been an act of compensation for her involvement in her husband’s death. It is probable that a ‘college’ was added to the Church at an early date. The Old Bablake School can be seen adjoining Bonds Hospital, and St Johns Church in Hill Street, with the "new" school, which is now over 100 years old, being in Coundon Road.

How to find us: Coundon Road, Coventry CV1 4AU
Telephone: 024 7627 1200
Fax: 024 7663 1947
e-mail: info@bablake.coventry.sch.uk

St Johns Church

The church of St. John, also known as Bablake church. Founded by Queen Isabella in 1344, it was enlarged over the following centuries to the building we can see today.

How to find us: The Parish Church of St. John the Baptist, Fleet Street, Coventry, England CV1 3AY
Telephone: 024 7655 2491
e-mail: parish@stjohn-the-baptist.co.uk
Website: www.stjohn-the-baptist.co.uk/

Bonds Hospital, Hill St

Bonds Hospital, adjoining Old Bablake School, was founded in 1506. Between the two buildings is an arched gateway through which you would access a courtyard shared by Bonds and Bablake.

Blue Coat School and The Priory Visitor Centre and Gardens

For hundreds of years the ruins of Coventry's first Cathedral lay hidden beneath the City Centre. 'The Phoenix Initiative', Coventry's Millennium project, gave archaeologists the opportunity to excavate this important site. For several years the remains of many of the medieval buildings were uncovered. Some of the ruins have been reburied for their protection but gardens have been designed over them to reflect the archaeology below. The garden built over the site of the cloister includes the new Visitor Centre which, not only houses some of the incredible finds from the excavation, but also tells the story of this amazing part of Coventry.

Bluecoat School overlooks the Priory gardens, and is generally closed to the public, except for Heritage Open Weekend, on the second Saturday/Sunday every September.
For information on Heritage Open Weekend visit www.heritageopendays.org.uk/ (external)

How to find us: Priory Row, Coventry CV1 5EX
Telephone: 024 7655 2242
Fax: 024 7683 2410
e-mail: artsandheritage@coventry.gov.uk
Information for people with disabilities: The Visitor Centre and shop are accessible to wheelchairs.
Admission: FREE.
Opening times: Monday – Saturday 10am –5.30pm and Sundays 12noon – 4pm.

Listed buildings

For information about listed buildings in Coventry see our Listed Buildings pages.

Further information

For more information or directions to any of the buildings and landmarks mentioned here, please contact:

The Tourist Information Centre
Cathedral Ruins
Priory Street
Coventry
CV1 5AB
Telephone: 024 7622 5616 or 024 7622 1413
e-mail: tic@cvone.co.uk

Coventry City Council