Golden Cross, Coventry facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Golden Cross |
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The Golden Cross pub
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| General information | |
| Address | 8 Hay Lane, Coventry, West Midlands, CV1 5RF |
| Coordinates | ACoordinates: Unknown argument format |
| Opened | 1583 |
The Golden Cross is one of the oldest and most famous pubs in Coventry, West Midlands. It is also one of the longest-running places to serve drinks in England.
History of This Old Building
The Golden Cross was first mentioned as an inn (a place for travelers to stay) in 1661. But it was actually built much earlier, in 1583! The building looks like a typical Tudor-style house from that time. It has three upper floors that stick out over the one below, which is called 'jettied'.
The walls on the upper floors have many wooden beams close together, known as 'close-studding'. One of the coolest parts is a special wooden beam called a 'dragon beam' in the ground-floor ceiling. This big beam helps the upper floor stick out around a corner of the building.
Today, the Golden Cross looks a bit different from when it was first built. It was repaired and updated in the late 1800s and early 1900s. For these repairs, they even used wood from the old bell tower of St. Michael's Church! In 1968, the pub got much bigger when they added an extension. This doubled its size.
In February 1955, the Golden Cross was officially named a Grade II* listed building. This means it's a very important building with special history and architecture. There are only three buildings like it in the city centre.
After religious houses were closed down long ago, inns like the Golden Cross became important meeting places. City groups would gather there. For example, the Golden Cross Philanthropic Society, started in 1859, held regular meetings upstairs. This group was made of respected men who wanted to help people. They raised money for local hospitals and schools. The Coventry City Supporters club also met at the Golden Cross in 1951. The famous poet Philip Larkin often visited the pub. Since the 1970s, the upstairs room has been a popular spot for live music.
The pub is in the old part of Coventry, near other ancient buildings. These buildings survived the bombing raids during the Second World War. Nearby, you can find the remains of the old Coventry Cathedral of St. Michael, St. Mary's Guild Hall, and Holy Trinity Church.
What is the Coventry Cross?
The pub is probably named after the Coventry Cross, which used to be nearby. A new monument is now about 100 meters from where the original cross stood.
The first cross was put up in 1422. This was replaced in 1543 by a magnificent monument. A man named Sir William Holles left money in his will to build it. This Coventry Cross was built about 40 years before the Golden Cross pub.
In 1668–1669, the cross was refurbished. It was painted in bright colors and covered in so much gold leaf that it was hard to look at on a sunny day! It had a six-sided base and stood 57 feet (about 17 meters) tall. It had small spaces with statues of saints and kings. Over time, it fell apart and was taken down in 1771.
A Quick Look at the Golden Cross's History
- 1583 – The building was constructed in the typical Tudor style.
- 1661 – It was listed as one of 137 inns or alehouses in Coventry.
- 1900s – The building had a lot of restoration and rebuilding work done.
- 1955 – It was officially registered as a Grade II* listed building, meaning it's very important.
- 1968 – The pub was made much larger with an extension.
- 2016 – It was completely updated and refurbished by Heineken.
