Renovated Draper’s Hall In Coventry Reopens For Autumn Events

The Grade II* listed Draper’s Hall in Coventry is set to reopen this autumn, after a £5m restoration project led by Historic Coventry Trust (HCT) was completed. It is a rare example of a Regency building in the city, which was heavily bombed during WWII, and was built in 1832, to serve as a headquarters for the Coventry Drapers’ Guild.

Previous to the current building, there was a medieval, and then a post medieval building on the site. The restored hall is in the Greek Revival Style, and houses a Ballroom, a Tearoom, and a Reading Room, which all have decorative plaster ceilings and chimneypieces. It has not been in use since its last function as a magistrate’s court over 30 years ago.

Dr Geoff Willcocks, Vice-Chair of HCT, has been working on the project for eleven years. He said: “As a heritage development trust, the purpose of Historic Coventry Trust is to restore the city’s historic buildings and put them back to work for the benefit of its people.”

He added: “Drapers’ Hall is a perfect example of how we do this. Empty and without a purpose for over 30 years, this building now has a function that will see it making a positive impact on the lives of those living in the city.

The renovated building will now serve as a home for Coventry Music Service and as an events venue. Bdaily reports that the acclaimed songwriter and broadcaster Tom Robinson will be among the first to perform at the restored venue.

Coventry is the UK City of Culture for 2021, and there has been a series of events celebrating the vibrant culture and heritage of this resilient area at the heart of the country. It is the second fastest growing city in the UK, and it has a diverse and youthful population which give it a unique flavour.

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