Summary

Whitefriars Gate, a medieval gatehouse to the Carmelite Friary. It is a timber-framed building and is listed Grade II*.

Monument Type(s):

• GATEHOUSE (Built, Later Medieval - 1352 AD to 1352 AD)
• TIMBER FRAMED BUILDING (Built, Later Medieval - 1352 AD to 1352 AD)

Protected Status

• Listed Building (II*) 218539: NUMBERS 36 AND 37 AND ARCHWAY IN BETWEEN (WHITEFRIARS GATE)

Full description

<1> DoE, 1974, SP3378NE 1/53, - (-INDEX). SCT382.

14th century postern gatehouse of Carmelite Friary, now one dwelling. Central moulded pointed arch leads to Whitefriars Lane. Sandstone, No 36 timber framed. Repairs in red brick. Old tiled roof. 2 storeys, 2 flush sash windows.

<2> Clark, Norman, 1981, A Tale of Three Spires, p. 21 (TEXT). SCT1465.

At the end of Much Park Street is the outer gateway to the Whitefriar's Monastery. It was built in 1352 as the main entrance to the monastery on a site specially purchased for the purpose from John Box to William Luffe. The gate escaped destruction at the time of the Dissolution and, along with the remainder of the Whitefriar buildings, became the property of John Hales and remained in the Hales family for almost two hundred years. The narrow lane through the gate used to run to the inner gate of the friary, now destroyed, and on to the house of the Whitefriars itself. After 1722 the building changed hands several times until, in 1801, the Directors of the Poor for Coventry acquired it and converted it into two houses. As was normal at that time, the occupants used their housefor their business and the gate house was used for many purposes including weavers, butchers, drapers and coal merchants. At the beginning of the present century, it came into the hads of a well-known Coventry character, Zakeriah Peach, who used it as a second hand clothes shop specialising in boots…After his death in 1936 the buildings stood empty for many years and deteriorated so fast that they were in danger of collapsing when they were rescued in 1962 by Ron Morgan, who carried out renovation work…

Sources and Further Reading

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• ECT709 - A Brief History of Whitefriars Lane - desk-based assessment

Related records

Images

There are 14 images associated with this record, but only the first 12 are being displayed.
To see more, please contact the Coventry HER.

Whitefriars Gate, Much Park Street © Coventry City Council

Whitefriars Gate, Much Park Street © Coventry City Council

Whitefriars Gate, Much Park Street © Coventry City Council

Side wing of Toy Museum at Whitefriars Gate, formerly the rear wing of 35 Much Park Street © Coventry City Council

No. 35 Much Park Street © Coventry City Council

Whitefriars Gate, Much Park Street (Toy Museum, formerly nos. 36-37) © Coventry City Council

Whitefriars Gate (Toy Museum) 36 and 37 Much Park Street © Coventry City Council

Whitefriars Gate, Nos. 36 and 37 Much Park Street © Coventry City Council

Rear of Whitefriars Gate (36 and 37 Much Park Street) with rear wing of former no. 35 Much Park Street from Whitefriars Lane © Coventry City Council

Whitefriars Gate and No. 35 Much Park Street © Coventry City Council

Wing behind Whitefriars Gate, Much Park Street © Coventry City Council

Rear of Whitefriars Gate © Coventry City Council

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