| Title: |
Historic Building Recording at Draper's Hall, Coventry, April 2019-October 2020 |
| Series: |
MOLA Northampton unpublished report series
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| Downloads: |
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molanort1-501272_190449.pdf (16 MB)
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Download
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| Licence Type: |
ADS Terms of Use and Access
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| DOI |
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| Publication Type: |
Report (in Series)
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| Abstract: |
MOLA (Museum of London Archaeology) was commissioned by the Prince’s Foundation, on behalf of the Historic Coventry Trust, to undertake a programme of historic building recording at the Grade II* listed Draper’s Hall, Bayley Lane, Coventry. This was required prior to works being undertaken on the for alterations inline with conversion to a centre for music and performance. Draper’s Hall is located in Coventry city centre, within the city’s historic core, at the intersection of Bayley Lane and St Mary Street. The Draper’s Hall is the third hall on the site since 1637 for the Draper’s Company. It was designed in 1832 by architects T Rickman and H W Hutchinson in a Neo-Classical design, subsequently added with a wing to the east in the
1860s and further extended in the 1890s.
The original 1830s range contained quasi-public areas for the entertainment and events that befitted the Company. The basement provided extensive stores/Kitchens and other service rooms. These each served a purpose and supported the events and entertainment that took
place upstairs. The way in which this range was built speaks of a compromise between the maximum use of available land and the layout of the Bayley Lane to the east side. The design was also affected by the claustrophobic nature of the site, tightly hemmed-in between other buildings. To this end roof lights were utilised to bring natural light into the series of spaces, and originally the building had not one traditional window. Other ‘modern’ techniques used was a series of hot air vents that kept the public spaces comfortable, and gas lighting. The use of modern inventions continued into the service areas where the laundry supplied
hot water for the washing of linens, and for the washing of plates and dishes.
In the 1860s a long range was added to the east elevation of the return of the L-shaped range. This comprised the New Card Room, an East/West Lobby and a Ladies Retiring Room which was later a cloakroom, bar and now Kitchen. This created additional quasi-public
spaces on the ground floor which carved out additional service rooms below, including a heated Coachmen’s Waiting Room. The joining of these two ranges on the lower ground floor is slightly awkward and displays the remnants of the original plan form well.
During the 1890s more changes were evidently needed to adapt the Hall to the changing needs of the Company. The addition of the windows to the Reading Room, and displacement of the original symmetrical elevation is one such change. To the east the buildings was expanded on the ground floor to comprise new WC’s, a Bar Store, and a Dining Room.
As well as providing more comfort for the quasi-public function of the building the Dining Room is of interest here. Moving away from the Hall as a purely entertainment space the Dining Room provided an administrative function for the Company; a private space in which they could meet. |
| Author: |
Lauren Wilson
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| Publisher: |
MOLA Northampton
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| Year of Publication: |
2021
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| Locations: |
| County: |
West Midlands |
| Parish: |
Coventry, unparished area |
| Country: |
England |
| District: |
Coventry |
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Grid Reference: 433629, 278949 (Easting, Northing)
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| Identifiers: |
| OASIS Id: |
molanort1-501272 |
| Report id: |
21-081 |
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| Source: |
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| Relations: |
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| Created Date: |
25 Jul 2023 |
