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Swanswell Gate – Coventry’s Quiet Survivor of the City Walls

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Situated away at the northern edge of Coventry’s historic centre, Swanswell Gate stands as one of the city’s last two surviving medieval gatehouses , a modest but enduring sentinel of a time when Coventry was surrounded by formidable stone walls and watchful eyes. Though less visited than the iconic Cook Street Gate or the dramatic ruins of the cathedral, Swanswell Gate tells its own story: one of defence, transformation, neglect, and renewal . A Gateway into Medieval Coventry Swanswell Gate was originally part of Coventry’s 14th-century city wall , which once stretched nearly 2.2 miles and was punctuated by 12 gatehouses and 32 towers . This gate was likely constructed around the late 1300s , built using the local red sandstone common in the city’s medieval architecture. It marked the north-eastern entrance to the walled city, near Swanswell Pool , from which the gate takes its name, and offered access toward Bedworth and Nuneaton . In its prime, the gate would have featured: ...
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The Public Bench by Jochen Gerz – Coventry’s Living Memorial of Friendship

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Just outside the Coventry Transport Museum , opposite the ring road and within walking distance of Broadgate, stands one of the city’s most subtle yet powerful public artworks,  The Public Bench , created by renowned conceptual artist Jochen Gerz . At first glance, it looks like a long, curved concrete bench flanked by red plaques. But pause for a moment, and you’ll realise: this is not just a place to sit; this is a collective memory wall , a tribute to connection, community, and the countless friendships that shape Coventry’s spirit. A Monument Built by the Public Unlike conventional sculptures or statues, The Public Bench isn’t about a single person or historic event. Instead, it’s about us , the people who have passed through Coventry, lived here, loved here, visited, and left their mark. Begun in 1999 and officially marked with plaques from 1998 to 2004 , the project was an invitation to citizens and visitors to commemorate a friendship, a secret, a moment, or a memory ...
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Location: Coventry, UK
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The College of Bablake and Bond’s Hospital – Coventry’s Enduring Institutions of Charity and Learning

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Located just off Hill Street, near the historic heart of Coventry, stand two of the city’s most enduring medieval foundations : the College of Bablake and Bond’s Hospital . Though often overshadowed by more dramatic ruins or timber-framed facades, these two institutions quietly preserve a remarkable legacy of education, charity, and civic duty that has stretched across six centuries. Together, they offer a unique lens into Coventry’s late medieval priorities,  the care of the poor, the education of the young, and the moral obligation of public benefaction . Bond’s Hospital – A Medieval Almshouse Still in Service Founded in 1506 by Thomas Bond , a former Mayor of Coventry and a wealthy draper, Bond’s Hospital was established as an almshouse for elderly men . Built during the reign of Henry VII, it provided housing and spiritual care to ten poor men and a chaplain who was appointed to pray daily for the souls of Bond and his wife. The original charter demanded that the resid...
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Location: Coventry, UK
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Spon Street, Coventry – A Living Medieval Street in the Heart of a Modern City

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Tucked between the glassy urban developments of post-war Coventry and the city's transport routes lies one of its most treasured architectural time capsules ,  Spon Street . This heritage zone is not a replica or reconstruction in the usual sense. Rather, it is a carefully curated blend of original medieval timber-framed buildings and relocated historic structures , creating one of the finest surviving examples of a medieval English street in a modern city centre. Today, Spon Street is more than a historic remnant. It's a living street , home to cafés, pubs, restaurants, salons, and independent stores, all operating within centuries-old buildings . A Gateway from the Past The origins of Spon Street trace back to the 13th century , when it formed a major trade route through the west gate of Coventry’s city walls. Known historically as the road leading to Spon Gate, it connected the city with the wider region and became a thriving hub of commercial activity . Interpretive pa...
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Location: Spon St, Coventry CV1, UK
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A Pair of Gabled Timber Fronts on Spon Street, Coventry

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Just beside the contemporary storefront of Turmeric Gold , two well-preserved timber-framed gabled buildings anchor the eastern end of Coventry’s historic Spon Street . These structures, with their diagonally braced façades, rich timber elements, and distinct rooflines, exemplify the visual diversity and architectural character of this celebrated medieval street. Today, they house small businesses including the Haberdashery Cafe , yet they remain rooted in architectural forms that have stood for centuries in this part of the city. Architectural Character The building pair is composed of two gabled segments , seamlessly joined and consistent in material treatment. They feature: Jettying upper storeys , a hallmark of medieval and early Tudor-era construction. Half-timbered façades with dark oak frames and pale ochre render in between, suggesting a traditional wattle-and-daub or lime plaster technique. Both rooflines are steeply pitched and tiled , though they vary in orienta...
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Location: Spon St, Coventry CV1, UK
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Spon Street Building – A 15th Century Survivor at Watch Close

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As you walk west along Spon Street in Coventry, a particularly striking timber-framed building marks the corner of Watch Close . With its sharply angled roofline, warped timbers, and distinctive medieval proportions, this structure, dating from the 15th century , is believed to be one of the oldest surviving houses in Coventry . This is not a relocated reconstruction but a building that has remained rooted in its original plot for over 500 years , quietly witnessing the transformation of the city around it. A Historic Tradesman’s House According to the plaque mounted on its façade, the structure originally comprised two separate workshops , each with an upper room likely used for storage or sleeping. These workshops would have served Coventry’s bustling medieval economy, operating as part of the artisan and merchant infrastructure that once defined the Spon Street area. The central passageway, still clearly visible, originally ran between the two units. A ladder stair would have p...
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Location: Spon St, Coventry CV1, UK
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London Road Cemetery, Coventry – A Victorian Garden of Memory and Monuments

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Designed by renowned landscape gardener Sir Joseph Paxton , London Road Cemetery in Coventry is far more than a burial ground. Established in 1845 and opened in 1847 , it stands as a landmark in Victorian town planning, a seamless blend of arboretum, public park, and sacred space. Paxton’s Arboretum: A Cemetery Like No Other London Road Cemetery is also known as Paxton’s Arboretum , with a layout intentionally designed to showcase tree varieties. Commissioned in 1845 following a cholera outbreak, Paxton was tasked with transforming a disused quarry into a tranquil garden cemetery. Making use of the site’s natural undulations, he created curved paths, tree-lined walks, and varying elevations to evoke a sense of peace and contemplation. The result was not just a cemetery but an  arboretum , a living collection of trees from across the globe. With exotic specimens nestled among native British trees, Paxton turned the cemetery into a park for the living as much as a final home for t...
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Location: Coventry, UK
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