The Old Grammar School

Image: © E Gammie Taken: 25 Aug 2007

Formerly the chapel of the Hospital of St John, founded in the 12th century and rebuilt in the 14th century, this medieval sandstone building stands on the corner of Bishop Street (left) and Hales Street (right) at the crossroads with Corporation Street (foreground left) and The Burges (foreground right). The 2 blocked arches (one hidden behind the chimney) led to a building demolished in the 19th century. The west window and adjacent bell tower were remodelled in the 18th and 19th centuries when Bishop Street was widened. The building, last used some years ago by the Coventry Welsh Church and occasionally for jumble sales, is currently vacant. The hospital was dissolved in 1545 (Dissolution of the Monasteries) and purchased by John Hales who undertook to re-endow it to provide a school. Hales also purchased Whitefriars and initially located the free school there, eventually moving it here in about 1557 and converted the east range of the cloisters of Whitefriars to a dwelling house, which still remains (Image]). The grammar school remained here until moving to a new building in Warwick Road in 1885 (Image]) which is part of the Coventry School Foundation independent school group. The Old Grammar School is a grade I listed scheduled monument.

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