Indian Columbus

Amid Coventry’s modern skyline, the slender spire rising beside the glass curves of The Wave leisure centre may surprise passers-by. This is Greyfriars Spire, the last remaining remnant of a once-grand medieval Franciscan friary that shaped Coventry’s spiritual landscape centuries ago. (For the benefit of beginners - The  Franciscans  are members of a Roman Catholic religious order founded by  St. Francis of Assisi  in the early 13th century (around 1209). A  friary  is a residence or community space for  friars  (male members of certain religious orders, like Franciscans or Dominicans). It differs from a monastery. A  Franciscan friary  is a type of Christian religious house or monastery where  Franciscan friars  live and worship. "Greyfriars"  refers to a  Franciscan friary  belonging to the  Franciscan Order  and the term comes from the grey-colored habits (robes) that Franciscan monks tradition...

Tucked away in the heart of Coventry, Ford’s Hospital stands as one of the city's most evocative examples of Tudor architecture and civic benevolence. Built in 1509, this beautiful half-timbered structure was originally founded by local merchant William Ford to serve as an almshouse for elderly people. Its legacy as a charitable institution has survived centuries, war, and reconstruction, earning it recognition as one of Coventry’s most treasured historical sites. Ford's Hospital - Coventry The architecture of Ford’s Hospital is a classic representation of early 16th-century design. Its timber-framed façade, complete with carved wooden beams and lattice windows, instantly transports visitors to the Tudor era. The layout is modest yet elegant, arranged around a peaceful courtyard that offers a moment of quiet amidst the bustle of the city. Despite its age, much of the original craftsmanship remains intact, including the wooden details that define its character. Ford’s Hospital...

The Herbert Art Gallery & Museum, located in the heart of Coventry, is not just a museum; it's a cultural anchor that weaves together the city's vibrant past, creative present and aspirational future. Opened in 1960 and named after the local philanthropist Sir Alfred Herbert, this museum is an essential stop for anyone interested in history, art, architecture and social narratives that shaped the city. Origins and Architecture The museum was made possible by the generosity of Sir Alfred Herbert, a successful industrialist who gave £100,000 in 1938 and again after World War II to help establish a cultural institution in his city. Although the original plan was delayed due to the war, the Herbert Art Gallery & Museum opened in 1960 and remains one of the most visited attractions in Coventry. The building features a harmonious blend of mid-20th-century modernism and contemporary extensions, including the stunning timber-and-glass structure housing the famous dinosaur sk...

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 shopp...

The Golden Cross Inn , located at the corner of Hay Lane and Pepper Lane, is one of Coventry’s oldest pubs. Dating back to 1583 , it’s a fine example of post-medieval timber-framed public house architecture, still retaining much of its original character. The pub’s iconic features include: Exposed timber framing with jettied upper floors A corner entrance and multi-paned casement windows Decorative gables and brackets Interior timber beams and leaded glass still visible today The Golden Cross - Coventry Once serving the many traders and visitors who moved through Coventry’s bustling market streets, the Golden Cross is today a Grade II* listed building. It has hosted literary figures, musicians, and tourists, all while retaining its authentic charm. Inside, low ceilings and wooden interiors lend an inviting ambiance, while its proximity to St Mary’s Guildhall makes it an ideal stop for those tracing Coventry’s medieval heritage trail. Whether for a pint, a photo, or ...

Just off the Cathedral Quarter, 10 and 10A Hay Lane show how Coventry’s houses evolved from timber to brick. What you see today is a smart red-brick frontage from the 1800s, but behind it sits a 16th-century timber-framed merchant’s house . A nearby plaque confirms the timeline, and notes that No. 9 next door is an early 19th-century building with a similar front. A second plaque records a 1992 Evening Telegraph Design Award , recognising the quality of the restoration. History in brief Built in the 1500s when Coventry thrived on cloth and trade, the original house would have had exposed timbers and projecting upper floors typical of the period. In the 19th century the front was modernised in brick to match changing tastes and the growing Georgian/early-Victorian streetscape. The ground floor has shifted uses over time, domestic rooms, small shops or offices, while upper floors kept their simple residential plan. 10 & 10A Hay Lane, Coventry  What to look for Red-brick façade...

Rising in warm red sandstone at the heart of Coventry, the Council House is one of the city’s most iconic public buildings. Completed in 1920, it combines civic purpose with architectural grandeur, reflecting the city’s aspirations during the post-Victorian era. With its elaborate facades, historic statuary, heraldic panels, and artistic stonework, the building is not just a seat of governance; it’s a living monument to Coventry’s layered identity. A Civic Landmark Reborn Though Coventry had long lacked a dedicated civic headquarters, the early 20th century brought new ambition. The foundation stone was laid in 1913 , and the building was officially opened by the Duke of York on 11 June 1920 , as recorded on a plaque within the entrance porch. The timing, post-war, yet just ahead of modernist influence, makes this building a rare example of Edwardian Tudor Revival style executed on a grand municipal scale. Coventry Council House Architectural Flourish and Symbolism From the momen...

Tucked behind the ruins of the old cathedral in the heart of Coventry lies Priory Row , a short yet historically rich street that whispers stories of the city's medieval and post-medieval past. With a series of preserved timber-framed houses and views that open into the remnants of the city’s medieval religious quarter, Priory Row offers visitors a unique chance to step back in time. A Link to the Priory of St Mary Priory Row derives its name from the Priory of St Mary , a Benedictine monastery established in the 11th century by Leofric, Earl of Mercia, and his famous wife Godiva. The priory, once one of the most important religious institutions in medieval England, stood directly behind what is now Priory Row. After the Dissolution of the Monasteries in the 16th century, the priory was dismantled, but traces of its walls and layout still remain in the area around the street. In the 20th century, archaeological excavations, some of them televised, uncovered key foundations and ...

Located at the junction of Cuckoo Lane and Bayley Lane , County Hall is one of Coventry’s finest surviving Georgian civic buildings. Constructed in the late 18th century, this elegant structure served for over a century as the city’s main courthouse, before being reimagined in recent decades as a vibrant hospitality venue. A Historic Courthouse County Hall was completed in 1783–84 , designed to serve as a sessions house and local judicial proceedings. Samuel Eglington was the architect. It replaced earlier civic buildings on the site and continued to function as a key judicial center for the city until the late 20th century. In the 19th century, it witnessed many notable trials, including the public execution of Mary Ball in 1849, which attracted large crowds and left a lasting impression in Coventry’s social memory. The building was used for judicial functions until 1988, when court operations were relocated to a new facility on Much Park Street. After a period of disuse, it under...

Located on Hales Street, just opposite Coventry’s Transport Museum and Millennium Place, the Old Fire Station stands as one of the city’s most distinctive Edwardian-era landmarks. What was once a hub of civic service has today transformed into a popular culinary and leisure destination, housing Sprinkles Gelato and the Sky Lounge . (Note: Sprinkles Gelato is closed down currently.) Historical Background The Old Fire Station was constructed in 1902 during a time of rapid urban expansion in Coventry. It served as the city’s main fire brigade headquarters well into the 20th century. The station was designed in the Edwardian Baroque style , a form of architecture characterized by its bold brickwork, detailed stone ornamentation, and symmetrical layout. This fire station not only played a critical role in the city’s emergency services but also stood as a proud civic building, reflecting Coventry’s growing importance during the industrial age. It continued to operate until 1976 , afte...

Located between the modern buildings of Coventry and just behind the understated beauty of Trinity House and Lychgate Cottages lies one of the most atmospheric remnants of the city's medieval past. These scattered ruins, partial arches, and red sandstone walls are all that remain of the original cathedral complex, a structure with roots deep in the early 13th century. At the heart of the site is what survives of the North West Tower , constructed in the early 1200s. While most of the cathedral’s structure is lost, this tower remains the only room to have survived in its original form. Interpretive signage explains how the chapel that once adjoined it was accessed via a pointed arch from the north aisle. Visitors can still see the vertical shafts at the base of this arch and the spiral staircase that once climbed the interior wall. The modern floor has been laid deliberately to reveal the original chamfered plinth, angled stonework that formed the base of the wall. Old Cathedral Re...

Tucked between the bustle of Coventry city centre and the shadows of Holy Trinity Church stands a row of charming timber-framed houses that often go unnoticed by hurried passersby. These are the Lychgate Cottages , a group of medieval and post-medieval buildings that form one of the most atmospheric corners of the historic city core. Their proximity to the cathedral ruins and their timeworn appearance make them feel like survivors of another age; and in many ways, they are. The cottages take their name from the nearby lychgate, an old wooden gateway traditionally found at the entrance to a churchyard, where coffins would rest before burial. In Coventry, the gate once marked the boundary of consecrated ground adjoining Holy Trinity Church. While the original lychgate no longer stands, the name lives on through these buildings. Lychgate Cottages - Coventry What makes the Lychgate Cottages especially significant is their architectural continuity. Some of the buildings here are believed ...

Located in the heart of the city centre, just steps away from Millennium Place, the Coventry Transport Museum tells the story of a city that once stood at the centre of Britain’s motor industry. The museum is not just a repository of vehicles; it is a vivid chronicle of innovation, resilience, and local pride. From hand-built bicycles to land speed record-breakers, this vast collection spans more than two centuries of British transport history, all with deep roots in Coventry itself. The city’s connection to the motor industry began in the 19th century with the manufacture of bicycles. Coventry quickly became a national hub for cycle production, and it was not long before the city transitioned into motorcycle and motorcar manufacturing. The museum captures this evolution with care, curating everything from penny-farthings and Triumphs to Jaguar prototypes and Rover classics. One of the prominent displays near the entrance features a Triumph motorcycle showcased against a mural wall ce...