Broadgate Excavations

July 1938

BROADGATE DEMOLITIONS

Many people have watched with interest the demolition of the corner property of Broadgate and the Spicerstoke. Some of the buildings would date back to the 15th century in the Spicerstoke, while the building lately used by Messrs. Martin's Bank was built 1683, and Messrs. Wards, Stationers, and Messrs. Hiltons, Boot & Shoe dealers, was built in 1726. These were well built Georgian buildings and one almost grieved to see them demolished; foundations of older buildings were found there, but at the present no test holes have been made in the vast cellars to reveal whether or not there has been a quarry. Spicerstoke is an old name, but very little used in the present time; how its name was derived is not really known, but it is thought to be from a family of Richard de Spicer, who was chosen to the Westminster Parliament in 1314 as one of the Coventry Burgesses; or from the fact that it was in the vicinity of the Pepperers and Grocers (Pepper Lane), or Spicers. I remember reading of another place which had a "Spicerstoke," where the Spicers burnt their refuse, and thus ours may have been the same. "In 1529, one Thomas Reves, a Cowper of Berkswell, sold cowpers wares in the Spicerstoke, and was a very dishonest person, selling unlawful and deceiveable stuff, where all his goods were stored. This man did not belong to the craft of Coventry cowpers, and did not pay his fine of 2/- per year, and strong action was taken against him." (See Leet Book, page 699).

It is of interest to know that the alterations here to Trinity Church by the making of steps to the west door is not the first steps to have been made. At one time until 1743, a tavern called the "Sun Tavern" stood on the east side of Derby Lane, and joined up to the Church by an entry; the entry belonged to the Church but the tavern did not. In 1743 the tavern was bought for pulling down, so as to enlarge the overcrowded burial ground. A little further to the east, now opposite the library doors, stood Jesus Hall and the priests' house or sometimes called "Jesus House." A footpath led through the Sun Tavern entry, and through Jesus Hall, where the blocked up doorway can yet be seen. In front of the tavern entry were three steps. Old prints are still in existence showing these. This was the path or mayor's walk to St. Mary's Hall, and was used by the mayor and magistrates, when they held their court (from which they sentenced prisoners to be whipped to the knaves post) at the Mayor's Parlour, now the entrance to Market Street.

Many human remains were revealed in the making of the new roadway on the west front to join up with Priory Row. These remains have all been carefully and reverently collected, and re-interred in the churchyard. Trinity Lane was made in 1852 from a portion of the burial ground; originally Trinity Lane was at the west end of the Church, now Cuckoo Lane, or Hay Lane. When excavations take place more will be told.

[In the paragraph above, I believe it should say "originally Trinity Lane was at the east end of the Church, now Cuckoo Lane..." - R.O.]

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