Hidden gem sheds light on Coventry’s medieval past

THE fascinating history of two fierce medieval queens and their special connection to Coventry will be revealed as guests are invited inside one of the city’s hidden historic gems.

A free exhibition will delve into the links between Coventry and the Royals during a time when the city was effectively the capital of England.

Drapers’ Hall, in the heart of the city’s historic quarter, is opening its doors next month when members of the public will learn all about the role the two ‘she-wolves’ played.

The exhibition, Royal Women of Influence in Medieval Coventry: Queen Isabella and Queen Margaret of Anjou, is being held as part of the city’s Heritage Open Days.

The magnificent Drapers’ Hall, which is being restored as a music venue in time for Coventry’s year as the UK City of Culture, is usually closed to the public.

Queen Isabella and Queen Margaret of Anjou were both strong French women married to weak English Kings whose attempts to wield power led to them being dubbed posthumously ‘she-wolves.’

Equally fascinating, but perhaps less known, is that they both established links between The Princes of Wales and Coventry that have lasted to today.

Queen Isabella, the wife of Edward II, began her connections with Coventry with the gift of the royal manor of Cheylesmore in Coventry by her son Edward III, who later granted the city an important charter of selfgovernment.

Through Isabella’s grandson, the Black Prince, Coventry became the patrimony of The Princes of Wales. The motto camera principis or ‘prince’s chamber’ remains on the City’s emblem and appears all over Coventry today.

Queen Margaret of Anjou who led the Lancastrian army during the War of the Roses, moved to Coventry with her husband, Henry VI and their three year old son, Edward, Prince of Wales, bringing the Crown Jewels with them.

For four years in the 1450s Coventry was the seat of royal power and the effective capital of England.

Margaret’s Lancastrian forces were finally defeated in 1471 and Margaret was brought back to Coventry as a prisoner.

She died in exile in France in 1483, but Princes of Wales continued to be closely associated with Coventry until the mid-16th century.

Drapers’ Hall, built in the Regency style in 1832, is the third building on the site.

It is located next to the site of the Great Drapery, the largest medieval cloth market outside London.

Coventry was the ‘boom town’ of late medieval England, its wealth based on the production of wool and woollen cloth. Mark Webb, Director, Medieval Coventry, said: “Coventry has a rich and exciting medieval history that deserves to be told and shared more widely.

“A surprising amount of Coventry’s medieval art and architecture survives and much of it is now being recognised as being amongst the most significant in the country.

“Please come down to one of our Heritage Open Days and enjoy learning how Coventry was shaped by royal power, influence and force.”

Behind the scenesAn added attraction to the Heritage Open Days is that visitors will also be able to see behind the scenes at Drapers’ Hall.

The building is set to be restored and re-opened by the The Prince’s Foundation and the Historic Coventry Trust, who will be demonstrating their plans in the historic Ballroom.

The restored Hall is expected to open in time for the year of UK City of Culture in 2021 as a classical music and education venue for young people.

Nicola Dyer, senior project manager of The Prince’s Foundation, said: “We are thrilled to be able to share our drawings, designs and plans for bringing the Hall back into its original use as a performance space.

“It is a place that will train and support Coventry’s young musicians and provide enjoyment for so many classical music fans.”

Jacqui Ibbotson of the Coventry City of Culture Trust, said: “Coventry played a major role in medieval England and it’s important that we celebrate the stories and, through City of Culture, give more people the opportunity to learn about the city’s rich heritage.

“The exhibition tells the fascinating story of Queen Isabella and Queen Margaret of Anjou, two medieval queens who had a significant and lasting impact on Coventry. It also highlights the surviving medieval art and architecture of Coventry’s medieval ‘golden age’ which is now recognised as being amongst the best in the country.

“Not only that, there is also the added attraction of being able to see behind the scenes at Drapers’ Hall, which is a hugely exciting project for Coventry that will see this wonderful building restored and returned to use as a classical music and education venue in time for 2021.”

The exhibition, organised by Medieval Coventry in partnership with the University of Oxford and supported by Coventry City of Culture Trust, will be held on September 6 to 9 and again on September 13 to 16.

There will also be musical performances from the Coventry Music Service, who will be the main tenants of Drapers’ Hall when it reopens.