Lady Herbert’s Garden – Coventry’s Walled Garden of Memory, with Two Medieval Gates
Located quietly between Coventry’s city centre and its northern ring road, Lady Herbert’s Garden is more than just a green retreat. It is a space shaped by love, legacy, and layers of history, gifted to the city by Sir Alfred Herbert in memory of his wife, Florence (Lady Herbert). The garden not only offers landscaped calm, but also preserves Coventry’s medieval past, integrating two surviving city gates, Cook Street Gate and Swanswell Gate, within its boundaries.
Few places in the city combine remembrance, nature, and fortification so seamlessly.
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Origins of the Garden
Lady Herbert’s Garden was commissioned by industrialist and philanthropist Sir Alfred Herbert, one of Coventry’s most generous benefactors. It was designed in memory of his wife, Florence (Lady Herbert), who passed away in 1930.
Construction began in 1930 under the direction of Albert Herbert, a local architect and relative of Sir Alfred. The garden was officially opened in 1931, with later extensions added during the 1930s and post-war years.
Sir Alfred envisioned the space not just as a memorial to his wife, but also as a gift to the people of Coventry, a green retreat amid a city of industry and movement.
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Features and Layout
The garden is uniquely designed to incorporate:
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Sections of the old city wall, including part of the Swanswell Gate.
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Formal lawns, flower beds, and winding stone paths.
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Ornamental trees, seating areas, and secluded corners ideal for quiet reflection.
The layout features a blend of Tudor Revival and Arts & Crafts design, with elements like:
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Wrought-iron gates
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Stone paving
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Brick and timber architectural accents
It is also home to memorial plaques, engraved benches, and sculptural features scattered across its small but meaningful footprint.
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The Small Octagonal Structure – A Mystery or a Monument?
One of the garden’s most visually intriguing features is a small octagonal brick and timber pavilion. It stands near the edge of the lawns on a slightly raised paved platform.
While not heavily publicised in official guides, this structure is thought to have served (or been inspired by) a historical gatekeeper’s kiosk or a garden tool store, possibly repurposed as part of a heritage interpretation hub.
Architecturally, it adds a unique visual break from the greenery, its steep conical slate roof, red brick base, and timber-panelled walls are reminiscent of early 20th-century Arts & Crafts design, matching the period of the garden’s development.
Whether originally functional or purely commemorative, it now serves as a storytelling point, gently guiding visitors toward the lost fortifications and layered past that surround the garden.
The Two Gates: Cook Street and Swanswell
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Cook Street Gate, located at the western edge of the garden, is a 14th-century gatehouse that once formed part of the city’s northern fortifications. It is one of only two surviving medieval gates in Coventry. Though no longer connected to the full city wall, it remains an evocative stone structure, arched, fortified, and rich in character.
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At the eastern end lies Swanswell Gate, another surviving city gate, also from the 14th century, and named after nearby Swanswell Pool. While smaller and more modest than Cook Street Gate, it is equally important in Coventry’s defensive history.
Together, these two gates frame the garden with a sense of continuity, linking medieval Coventry to the modern landscape.
A Place of Peace and Preservation
Lady Herbert’s Garden managed to survive the Second World War, even as the city around it was devastated during the Blitz. Today, it serves as both:
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A green heritage park, and
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A gateway to exploring Coventry’s medieval remains, including the adjoining Cook Street Gate and nearby Swanswell Gate.
It remains free and open to the public, maintained by Coventry City Council and local heritage groups.
Happy travelling.
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