From Medieval Hospital to Heritage Landmark: The Story of Coventry's Old Grammar School

The Old Grammar School in Coventry, England, stands as a testament to the city’s deep-rooted history, located prominently at the corner of Bishop Street and Hales Street, right next to the Coventry Transport Museum. This Grade I listed building, meticulously renovated and preserved, invites visitors to step back in time and appreciate its remarkable 12th-century origins.

The story of the Old Grammar School begins with the founding of the Hospital of St John between 1154 and 1179 by Prior Lawrence of the Benedictine Monastery. Originally serving as a medieval hospital, this structure has witnessed centuries of transformation, embodying the resilient spirit of Coventry through ages of change.

A significant turning point came in 1544 when King Henry VIII, in his sweeping closures of religious institutions, shut down the hospital. It was sold to John Hales with the royal condition that a Free Grammar School be established in its place. By 1557, the school was thriving, nurturing generations of scholars within its storied walls. For over three centuries, the Old Grammar School educated the youth of Coventry until it relocated to a new building on Warwick Road in 1885.

Time took its toll on the structure, and the building, once larger in size, faced changes. In the early 1800s, part of the original school was demolished to make way for the construction of Hales Street. Yet, its significance was never forgotten. Recognizing its historical value, Culture Coventry undertook an ambitious renovation project starting in 2012, part of a broader initiative that also revitalized the Coventry Transport Museum. By 2015, the Old Grammar School reopened, proudly restored to its former glory and serving once again as a cherished landmark of Coventry’s heritage.

Today, the Old Grammar School stands not just as a building, but as a chapter of Coventry’s enduring narrative, bridging the past with the present and inviting all who visit to appreciate the legacy embedded within its stone walls.

Happy travelling.