Remains of the west front, nave and aisles of Coventry Priory is a Grade I listed building in the Coventry local planning authority area, England. First listed on 5 February 1955. Church.

Remains of the west front, nave and aisles of Coventry Priory

WRENN ID
odd-window-rush
Grade
I
Local Planning Authority
Coventry
Constituency
Coventry South MP: Zarah Sultana (YP)
Country
England
Date first listed
5 February 1955
Type
Church
OS grid reference
SP 334 790
Coordinates
52.40887, -1.50912
Source
Historic England listing

Also on this page: flood risk · radon risk · weather exposure · detailed attributes ↓

Description

The remains of the west front, nave, and aisles of the medieval cathedral of Coventry Priory are constructed from red sandstone. The west front runs north-south next to the buildings at 3-5 Priory Row and the former Blue Coat School. The nave is located to the east, flanked by aisles on both sides.

The lower part of the west front is situated along the western edge of what is now Priory Gardens. The inside face of the west wall is exposed, while the former outside face is buried but can be partially seen in the cellar of the Blue Coat School. This inside face features deeply-moulded piers and a central opening where the west door once provided access to the nave via an arc of steps. Remnants of the south-west tower, the west wall, and part of a spiral staircase are still visible. The north-west tower has arches at its base that lead to a room within the tower, and the spiral staircase now connects to the former Blue Coat School building.

The area where the nave and aisles once stood is now Priory Gardens, with some of the remaining structure consolidated. The lower courses of the south wall are visible, along with shallow external buttresses. The north wall, which separated the nave from the cloister, partially survives and can be seen within the Priory Visitor Centre. The locations of ten piers from the nave arcade are marked within Priory Gardens, with six of these enclosed in glass boxes displaying stone fragments uncovered during the Phoenix Initiative. The nave area features gravel and grass, with paved paths surrounding the site.

Local climate

Remains of the west front, nave and aisles of Coventry Priory receives an average of 770 mm of rain a year. This makes it drier than 64% of listed buildings in the UK. Its exposure to wind-driven rain is lower than that of 70% of listed buildings.

It experiences an average of 35 freeze-thaw cycles a year, more than 59% of listed buildings. Of these, 17 follow at least 1 mm of rain in the preceding 48 hours. Average temperatures at this location have risen by 0.3°C per decade since 1991.

Averages for 1991–2020; temperature trend 1991–2025. Figures describe the wider area (a grid cell of roughly 10 km), not the individual site. Contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information 2026.

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  1. Former Blue Coat School Grade II* 33 m
  2. Holy Trinity Church Grade I 49 m
  3. Pelham Lee House Grade II 58 m
  4. Former Ribbon Factory and Office Grade II 61 m
  5. 8, Priory Row Grade II 69 m
  6. 9 and 10, Priory Row Grade II 83 m
  7. Front Gate and Railings to Number 11 Grade II 99 m
  8. 11, Priory Row Grade II 99 m
  9. County Hall Grade II* 105 m
  10. Golden Cross Inn Grade II* 124 m