Swanswell Gate

The historic Swanswell Gate in Coventry is one of the two remaining Medieval city gates, the other being Cook Street Gate. The city walls and its seventeen gates were constructed from the C14th. but most were demolished under orders from Charles II in revenge for the city holding out and resisting his father’s siege during the English Civil War.

Both gates were derelict and only saved by Sir Alfred Herbert and it was his son who was the architect for the repairs in 1937. Even so the shop in Swanswell Gate, in Hale Street, closed in the 1960’s and no one has been able to access Cook Street gate for 80 years.

Substantial remains of late C14th city wall abut to the north, and the whole is set in modern pleasure ground as Lady Herbert’s Garden.

Our clients  Historic Coventry Trust appointed PCPT to develop a scheme for overnight accommodation within the two surviving medieval gatehouses in Coventry.

Thanks to the combined efforts of the Historic Coventry Trust, PCPT Architects, Squiffy Mill Interiors, and Messenger Construction Limited, Swanswell Gate is now a unique place to stay in Coventry! The carefully balanced design retains the character of a medieval gatehouse, combined with modern luxury to provide high-quality, self-contained holiday accommodation.