SPAR Storefront on Hay Lane – A Modern Face on a Historic Topshop

At the corner of Hay Lane and Bayley Lane, a seemingly ordinary SPAR convenience store operates out of an extraordinary piece of Coventry’s industrial past. This three-storey red-brick building is a classic example of a “topshop”, a building type unique to Coventry, Bedworth, and Nuneaton.

SPAR Hay Lane - TopShop - Coventry

Built in the 19th century, topshops were used in the silk ribbon weaving trade. The layout was simple but clever:

• Ground and first floors served as homes or commercial premises

• The top floor, fitted with large windows, was a workshop for weaving looms, using natural light to maximize efficiency

The one on Hay Lane retains that typical form:

• Curved corner façade with three visible levels

• Elegant arched windows on the top floor

• Brick banding and stone dressings consistent with the period

While modernized with a shopfront and signage, the building’s structure remains intact, preserving the story of Coventry’s skilled artisans. Today, as shoppers enter for groceries, they pass through a space that once echoed with the rhythmic clatter of weaving looms.

It’s a brilliant example of how Coventry’s working-class heritage survives, even behind the most everyday storefronts.

Happy travelling.