06/09/2022
Will you be joining Historic Coventry Trust as they open their venues for Heritage Open Day?
It's two for one with our newly refurbished luxury City Gates and Lady Herbert's Garden. Open on 17th September.
Cook Street and Swanswell Gates are the only surviving two of an original twelve gatehouses that once punctuated Coventry's medieval town wall. At over two miles (3.2km) long, 12 foot (3.6m) high and nine foot (2.7m) thick the city wall was an impressive fortification, and Coventry was regarded as the best protected city in the country outside of London.
During the English Civil War Coventry supported the Parliamentarians, and even denied Charles I entry into the city in 1642. As a result, after the restoration Charles II ordered Coventry’s city walls to be destroyed in 1662.
The walls were torn down, but the twelve gatehouses were left intact and many were converted into houses.
With the city’s 18th and 19th century expansion the other gatehouses were gradually lost, leaving only Cook Street and Swanswell Gate still standing.
Both gates were restored in the early 20th century by Sir Alfred Herbert. A prominent industrialist and philanthropist, Sir Alfred then developed Lady Herbert's Garden in the 1930s to frame the gates and remaining section of wall.
The garden is dedicated to the memory of his second wife Florence, who sadly died just one day before the land purchase for the project was approved.
This year's Heritage Open Day is particularly special for the site. Not only will be both gates be open for visitors to explore following their restoration, but we are temporarily transforming Lady Herbert's Garden into a pop up beer garden for one day only to launch our brand new beer, 'Olde Tower Mild', inspired by the amazing history of the gates.
Learn more:
https://www.historiccoventrytrust.org.uk/news/heritage-open-days-2022/?fbclid=IwAR2Jr_wqeuvJLfotMIiCvIlcpvFkJ5QPg64bHwrZCOPgoaE8NLKlCFYDJGg
Visit Coventry Shakespeare's England
