Coventry preserves historic houses for year of culture

Priory Row (Lychgate Cottages) in Coventry (Courtesy Historic Coventry)

Specialist conservation contractors have been appointed to transform some of Coventry's oldest buildings into special short stay visitor accommodation in time for the city becoming UK City of Culture 2021.

Historic Coventry Trust (HCT) has awarded the £606,000 contract to Messenger Construction Ltd to restore three timber-framed Lychgate Cottages in Priory Row and convert them into four self-contained units which will be let for short breaks.

The black and white cottages were built in 1415 and are the only buildings from St Mary's Priory to survive the destruction of Godiva's Cathedral during the Dissolution of the Monasteries in 1539.

Skilled craftspeople from Messenger Construction, who work with public and private property owners including the National Trust and Historic England, have started work on the careful restoration of the ancient timber framed structures.

Funding for the project has been secured from the Architectural Heritage Fund (AHF), the Cultural Capital Investment Fund and the Government's Getting Building Fund through the Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership (CWLEP) and the West Midlands Combined Authority.

Graham Tait, Assistant Director at HCT, explained that the project in the Cathedral Quarter would attract visitors who may not previously have stayed overnight in Coventry, boosting the local economy.

'These notable cottages have been under-used for many years. The project is part of the Trust's partnership with the Council to restore much of the city's ancient heritage in time for City of Culture in May 2021'

'The cottages will attract leisure visitors to Coventry to stay in a piece of ancient history linked to Lady Godiva.

'The Trust has completed a new 250-year lease from Coventry City Council ....and is seen as a national trailblazer for regenerating the city and its economy through its heritage'.

Cllr Jim O'Boyle, CWLEP board director and Coventry City Council's Cabinet Member for Jobs and Regeneration said:

'This is another major step in our innovative partnership with the Trust following the restoration of The Charterhouse, Drapers hall and regeneration of The Burges which are already underway...the level of investment is unprecedented and will put us in a great position to take advantage of the boost in visitors resulting from City of Culture'.