We’re proud to be part of Coventry’s Heritage Open Days for 2020.
Historic Coventry Trust will be opening four extraordinary historic buildings that are currently being restored, on either 19th or 20th September 2020 (see below). UPDATE: All these tours are fully booked, and unfortunately, there is no waiting list.
As part of Heritage Open Days we’ll show visitors Drapers’ Hall, Swanswell Gate, Charterhouse and the Anglican Chapel (in London Road Cemetery).
Swanswell Gate is one of two surviving city gates, and is a Grade I listed building, situated adjacent to the best surviving remains of the medieval city wall. The sandstone-built building was converted to a dwelling during the Victorian period and was made into the building we see today with embattlements in the 1930’s by Sir Alfred Herbert. Historic Coventry Trust is just starting to bring this building back into use as unique visitor accommodation. Both floors will be available to view, just before the forthcoming renovation work starts. Swanswell Gate will be open at 15 minute intervals throughout the day, starting 10:00 and last tour at 4.45pm on Saturday 19th September 2020, with a maximum of five people per tour. These need to be pre-booked. UPDATE: These tours are now full. Unfortunately there is no waiting list for these tours, as we are having to do things differently this year with Coronavirus restrictions.
The Anglican Chapel in London Road Cemetery survives basically unaltered since its construction in 1847, and is a significant building in a Norman Romanesque style. Hard Hat tours will allow visitors to see the building at an exciting point in the Anglican Chapel’s restoration and development. Hear from heritage construction specialists and get a fascinating insight into the history of the chapel, set in the wider heritage park landscape, designed by architect Joseph Paxton. This is an opportunity to explore the fascinating Victorian heritage of Coventry and hear our ambitious plans for the future. 30 minute hard-hat tours will take place at 10am, 10.30am, 11am, 11.30am, 12.pm, 12.30pm, 1.30pm, 2pm, 2.30pm 3pm, 3.30pm, 4pm and 4.30pm on Saturday 19th September, with a maximum of eight people per tour. These need to be pre-booked. UPDATE: These tours are now full. Unfortunately there is no waiting list for these tours, as we are having to do things differently this year with Coronavirus restrictions.
Drapers’ Hall is Coventry’s finest Regency building. It was built in 1832 as social rooms for the Coventry Drapers’ Company, who moved out in 1960, when the hall was converted into a magistrates’ court. Unused for years, this will be a rare opportunity to view the intact magnificent Regency/ early Victorian interiors part-way through the conversion of the building into a music education and performance venue in 2021. Hard hat tours of the building will allow visitors to view restoration in progress, meet members of the team and hear about plans for the reopening of the site as a music education and performance venue. Tours will be conducted at 10am, 10.45am, 11.30am, 12.15pm, 1.15pm, 2.00pm, 2.45pm, 3.30pm, 4.15pm and 5.00pm on Sunday 20th September 2020, and will be limited to eight people per tour. These need to be pre-booked. UPDATE: These tours are now full. Unfortunately there is no waiting list for these tours, as we are having to do things differently this year with Coronavirus restrictions.
Charterhouse is a grade I listed 14th Century Carthusian Monastery, one of only nine ever built in Britain. A unique survival, it was built between 1381 and 1410, with its foundation stone laid by Richard II in 1385. Through the 15th and 16th Century it had numerous Royal benefactors including Richard II, Henry VI and Henry VII. Hard hat tours will allow visitors to hear from heritage construction specialists and get a fascinating insight into the history of the house and grounds. Explore the fascinating archaeology recently excavated of the monk’s cells in the grounds and hear our ambitious plans for the future. One hour hard hat tours at this exciting point in the building’s restoration and development will take place at 10am, 11am, 12pm, 1pm, 2pm, and 3pm on Sunday 20th September 2020. with a maximum of eight people per tour. These need to be pre-booked. UPDATE: These tours are now full. Unfortunately there is no waiting list for these tours, as we are having to do things differently this year with Coronavirus restrictions.
