Summary

Part of the medieval city wall within Lady Herbert's Garden. This stretch of the wall is a scheduled monument.

Monument Type(s):

• TOWN DEFENCES (Later Medieval - 1351 AD to 1539 AD)
• TOWN WALL (Later Medieval - 1351 AD to 1539 AD)

Protected Status

• Scheduled Monument COVSAM8: Coventry city walls: Swanswell Gate and city wall
• Scheduled Monument COVSAM9: Coventry city walls: wall S. of Cook Street Gate
• Listed Building (I) 218490: CITY WALL TO NORTH OF SWANSWELL GATE AND SWANSWELL GATE
• Listed Building (I) 218490: CITY WALL TO NORTH OF SWANSWELL GATE AND SWANSWELL GATE

Full description

1> Length of 430ft laid out as part of Lady Herbert's Garden.
2> The best preserved stretch, tallest and longest is from Priory Gate to Cook
St. Gate; there are two breaks and height varies from 158ft-4ft.
3> Wall adjoins Prioy Gate to south. Wall and Garden presented to the city by Sir
Alfred Herbert in 1931/2. To the south the wall is 15ft high with base
thickness of c.7ft with a sound west face; east being a consolidated
interior core. To the north it extends beyond a modern pointed arch through
the wall, with some original east face along the lower courses. The next
stretch has an uneven profile with evidence of past alterations and
rebuilding. A low section follows, with a modern gap giving access to
almshouses, the wall forming the garden boundary to these buildings, c.6ft
high initially before dropping substantially and being treated as a rockery;
this low stretch continuing to the north most point, the SW corner of Cook St
Gate, where it is exposed in section - 2 skins and a consolidated rubble
infill. Much of wall has flower beds on both sides, shrubs up against and
ivy over it. A difference in the level between inner and outer fences means
that in some low places none of the west face is exposed.

<1> AM7, - (--MONOGRAPH). SCT664.

<2> Hockin J, 1980, AM12, - (--MONOGRAPH). SCT665.

<3> Leigh J, 1988, AM107, - (--MONOGRAPH). SCT666.

<4> Historical Association, Coventry Branch, 1971, Coventry's Town Wall (-PUBLICATION). SCT1581.

Sources and Further Reading

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• ECT680 - Conservation Management Plan Condition Survey for Medieval Defences

Related records

Images

Medieval city wall, Lady Herbert's Garden © Coventry City Council

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