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Museum Details
St Mary's Guildhall, Coventry
Image: Great Hall at St. Mary's Guildhall
Bayley Lane
Coventry
CV1 5RR
West Midlands
England
Collection details
Architecture
Costume and Textiles
Decorative and Applied Art
Fine Art
Social History
Weapons and War
Facilities
Food: yes
Guided tours: yes
Wheelchair access: yes
Visual disability facilities: yes
Hearing disability facilities: yes
No specific parking on site, but limited disabled parking available in Bayley Lane. Public car parks and coach parks available within walking distance
Contact details
General information (Tel)
:
02476 833328
General information (Fax)
:
02476 833329
Bookings and general enquiries
:
mark.twissell@coventry.gov.uk
Website
:
www.coventry.gov.uk/stmarys
Open
Open Easter-October
Sun-Thurs inclusive
10:00-16:00.
Closed
Closed Fri,Sat
October-Easter
Admission charges
Free Admission
Donations Welcome
Small charge for group guided tours
Description
St. Mary’s Guildhall is one of the finest surviving medieval guildhalls in England. First built in the 1340s for the merchant guild of St. Mary, it was enlarged between 1394 and 1414 and extensively embellished at the end of the 15th century. Soon after it was built it became the headquarters for the mayor and corporation of Coventry and remained so until the early 20th century when Coventry Council House was built. It served as the centre of King Henry VI’s court during the War of the Roses and as a prison to Mary, Queen of Scots. William Shakespeare is thought to have staged his plays here and writer George Eliot, who knew the hall well, features it in a scene from one of her novels
The building still occupies a central role in the civic calendar, being the venue of choice for high-profile conferences, civic banquets and other ceremonies.
Collections description
The collection at St. Mary's Guildhall includes fine examples of early English furniture, paintings, medieval stained glass, tapestry, stone statuary, arms and armour. Parts of the collection are original to the Guildhall, and remain in the same location after several centuries, whilst other important items have been saved from long-demolished historic buildings in Coventry
Key artists and exhibits
Medieval Gothic furniture
;
Gothic tapestry
;
Lady Godiva
;
St. George
;
W C Marshall
;
16th and 17th century arms and armour
;
15th century carved angels
Articles
Celebrate St George's Day 2008 At Museums And Heritage Sites
Museumaker Commissions Major East Midlands Artworks
Trails
Monks, Knights, Peasants, Merchants - A Medieval Trail
General Information
Brochure or leaflet available with directions to museum
Pre-booking service for groups
Guided tours
Collections
General guide to collections available
Disability Access
Induction loops in exhibition spaces
Toilets for disabled
Touch exhibits and/or handling sessions
Wheelchair access to some public areas
Children and Families
Events and resources for children and families
General Education
Education facilities available
Schools Education
Printed/audio-visual information available for schools
Facilities
Cafeteria
Licensed for weddings
Meeting room available
Refreshments
Restaurant
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Information published here was believed to be correct at the time it was prepared. Welsh language pages developed with CYMAL: Museums Archives and Libraries Wales, funded by the Welsh Assembly Government.