Black Swan Terrace and The Weaver’s House, Spon Street, Coventry

Among the most distinctive timber-framed structures along Spon Street is a long row of jettied buildings with red and black vertical timbers and a tiled roof that stretches low to the street. This row, commonly referred to as Black Swan Terrace, includes several historic houses, the most notable being the one now interpreted as The Weaver’s House.

The terrace represents a rare survival of medieval artisan dwellings in Coventry. Although many such structures were lost during the Blitz and urban redevelopment, this particular group endured. The buildings were carefully restored in the latter half of the 20th century as part of the city’s commitment to preserving its medieval streetscape. The frontage now reflects the typical form of 15th and early 16th-century housing once common in the city, timber-framed with close studding, upper floors that project over the lower ones, and gabled ends.

Spon Street, Coventry

One of the restored houses in the terrace has been converted into a living museum known as The Weaver’s House. It aims to recreate domestic life around the year 1540. The building is furnished based on the inventory of a known Coventry weaver, and the small garden at the rear has also been planted with period-appropriate herbs and vegetables. Inside, visitors can see a replica loom, which helps convey the central role of weaving in Coventry’s medieval economy. Though the terrace fronts Spon Street, public access to The Weaver’s House is via its entrance at 121 Upper Spon Street, just around the corner.

Though much altered over time, and now hosting a mix of interpretation spaces and small businesses, the terrace still speaks of the past. It offers a tangible sense of how Coventry’s tradespeople once lived and worked, with shop space at ground level and domestic rooms above. The Weaver’s House, in particular, allows visitors to step into a quieter rhythm of life from five centuries ago, without modern embellishment.

Unlike the relocated buildings further along Spon Street, Black Swan Terrace has always stood in its original position. This authenticity, combined with the quality of its restoration, makes it one of the most important architectural groups in the city centre. As one walks past the exposed oak beams and peeks through leaded windows, it's easy to imagine the clatter of looms and the daily routines of those who once called this terrace home.

Happy travelling.

A few other heritage structures of Spon Street

• The Green Dragon – Reconstructed Medieval Building
• Half-Timbered Building on Spon Street
• Historic Shopfront on Spon Street
• Reconstructed House Facade on Spon Street
• Medieval Timber-Framed Structure on Spon Street
• Timber-Framed House on Spon Street
• Buildings at 142–143 Spon Street
• The Old WindMill
• 1 & 2 Spon Street