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 orientation, one slightly offset, giving a picturesque, asymmetrical profile.

  • Ground floor windows and entrances have been updated for modern use but retain a sensitive visual alignment with the historic fabric.

Notably, the entrance under the rightmost gable still features a central wooden door flanked by arched framing, possibly reconstructed using original stylistic references.

Heritage Integration

While many buildings on Spon Street were reassembled from other parts of the city, these two appear well-integrated with the adjacent streetscape, contributing to a continuous façade that transitions from medieval merchant house to contemporary dining space.

The left-side gable is currently occupied by the Haberdashery, as indicated by the gold-toned signage on the first floor. The structure’s historic form makes it ideal for modern boutique or café use, adding value both aesthetically and commercially to the conservation zone.

Part of the Spon Street Ensemble

Together, these two buildings create a balanced architectural composition between Turmeric Gold to the west and the Watch Close corner to the east. They serve as a textbook example of how Spon Street unites heritage architecture and modern life, restored not as lifeless monuments, but as working buildings with active civic roles.

Whether you're admiring their timber geometry or stopping in for a drink beneath the historic beams, this segment of Spon Street offers one of the finest uninterrupted views into Coventry’s past.

Happy travelling.

A few other heritage structures of Spon Street

Location: Spon St, Coventry CV1, UK

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