Cov Soc Visit to Far Gosford Street
The June meeting of the Coventry Society was a tour of Far Gosford Street, led by Ian Harrabin and Steve Compton from Complex Development Projects. Far Gosford Street is a Conservation Area that over the past five years has seen many run down historic building being brought back into good new uses.
The tour started at the Windsor's Refreshed cafe and shop. This was kindly kept open by Steve Ryan the project manager of Cyrenians so that Coventry Society members could see what great work they do with homeless people. They help them by giving them work experience so that they can develop confidence and work skills. In addition the 'Refreshed' side is a fashion shop that sells special clothes that have been made by Coventry University fashion students using cloth from counterfeit goods recovered by Customs and Excise and Trading Standards. The students remove the logos and labels are create new items for sale by the Cyrenians.
The tour first visited a factory unit where Ian Harrabin spoke about the history of the street and how it became a Conservation Area. This status helped gain grants to redevelop the area.
The street is very old, dating back at least to the mediaeval times. With Spon Street it was the main east –west road through the city. It lay just outside the city’s defensive wall and beyond the “goose ford” over the River Sherbourne, which gave it its name. The “Far” element relates to being outside the city wall.
Over the years this street has had timber framed buildings, inns, pubs and weaver’s top-shops – a place where independent retailers can thrive. But the area became run down when the Sky Blue Way was built which by-passed it and passing trade ended. Many pubs and shop closed and it was looking rather sad.
The future now looks exciting with new restored buildings and new homes planned at the back of the old Hand and Heart public house. These are being built like the old fashioned 'courts' .
A new hotel at the entrance to the street will give it more focus and sharpen up the open area of traffic lights and slip roads.
But the most exciting project is to make the onetime factory units into an Arts and Crafts village named Fargo Village. The village includes spaces for performance, different types of markets, fairs, and events, both indoors and out. Local artists will be able to book smaller or larger spaces to do their work or sell their creations.
There is no set blue print for this sort of thing; it has happened in other large cities but it is very bohemian, a bit like music and art – it comes in all tastes and styles. We wish them all the best with this project which could bring a new vibrant culture to a part of the city that is at risk of becoming “student land”.
