Other places in this section... (In alphabetical order) Search this site:

22 Bayley Lane Bablake School & Bond's Hospital, Hill Street Cheylesmore Manor House Christchurch, New Union Street Council House, Earl Street Coventry Cross Doom Painting, Holy Trinity Church Ford's Hopital, Greyfriars Lane Georgian House, Priory Row Golden Cross Public House Guildhall, Bayley Lane Holy Trinity Church Lychgate Cottages, Priory Row Old Grammar School, Hales Street Pepper Lane & Bayley Lane River Sherbourne - Palmer Lane & beyond Spon Street St. John's Church, Fleet Street St. Mary's Guildhall, Bayley Lane Unknown Ruin, Much Park Street Whitefriars Gate Whitefriars Monastery

Unknown Medieval Ruin, Much Park Street

Halfway along this street is a find that still puzzles archaeologists. In the aftermath of the blitz, not much (no pun intended) remained in Much Park Street. However, still standing intact, while its more 'modern' shell had burned away, was a sandstone structure. During excavations in 1971, some pottery dating from the 1200's to 1300's was discovered, and this leads some to think that the ruin might have been a merchants property built around the late 13th century. There could even be a connection with the nearby Whitefriars monastery. The first of these three photographs is from Levi Fox's 1957 book; 'Coventry's Heritage', and shows more clearly than my own recent pictures how the structure once fitted in with its surroundings. The properties were not orientated 'along' the street in the conventional manner, but set at right angles, as though in a 'court' arrangement.

Whitefriars Gate, Much Park Street

Built in 1352, this was the gateway to Whitefriars monastery which was 300 yards to the east. After restoration in recent decades, the building became a toy museum in 1973.
The view below is looking from the monastery side of the gate.

To see how this gate stood amongst its surroundings in 1912, please take a look at the "Now and Then" pages.

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