New Heritage Group for Far Gosford Street
Far Gosford Area Community Heritage Group - this is a new group which was set up last year. As the title says it's a group who are interested in the history and heritage of the Far Gosford area.
Far Gosford Street is one of the oldest streets in Coventry, having its origins as an extra mural suburb of medieval Coventry along the main route into the city from London and Leicester.
The street has been populated since medieval times and has over the years been host to a broad and varied population and mix of activities. There were shears men and dyers of the medieval wool industry. Metalworkers and locksmiths dominated the street in the thirteenth century, with weavers and drapers taking over in the 14th and 15th centuries. The street was the home of ribbon and silk weavers with their distinctive “topshops” still to be found in the street. Latterly the watch making industry, bicycle production, motorcycles and the car industry all found homes in the street.
Over the centuries, slow and piecemeal change has helped to preserve much of the historic fabric of the street, which largely avoided the devastating air-raids of the Second World War. Post-war redevelopment has also generally passed it by. As a result, Far Gosford Street is the last remaining street in the city centre to retain anything like its pre-war character and is therefore of primary importance.
The historic character of Far Gosford Street is recognised through its designation as a Conservation Area and major improvements have already been achieved through a Phase I Townscape Heritage Initiative.
The Aims of the new group are to raise awareness of heritage, to show the importance of heritage within pride in place and regeneration and to bring heritage to a wider audience. It will act as a catalyst for the long term resilience of the street and seek to get the street known as a city destination, which will foster wider economic growth.
The intended outcome of this Forum is to gain a greater level of engagement with the broader community in the area, and through meetings and community events raise awareness about the history and heritage of Far Gosford Street. In this way these groups will have a greater awareness of the street’s historical importance and come to value the heritage in the street as a platform for economic sustainability.
The core group will receive training to enable them to effectively represent the local community in the area and to give them a voice on heritage in the street by highlighting and discussing issues affecting them.
Our Vice Chairman, Paul Maddocks, has been made Chairman of the group and would be happy for you to contact him if you would like to get involved, or receive more information.
Email Paul at paul_maddocks@yahoo.co.uk
