Bond's Hospital
In 1344 Queen Isabella, the widow of Richard II endowed the land for the building of Bablake and Bonds hospital in an act of philanthropy. The money to found the school (Bablake) was provided by one Thomas Wheatley, a wealthy self made merchant. Bablake and Bond's hospital share the same frontage. They are either side of a gateway.
Bond's Hospital is to the right of the gateway. It was endowed by one Thomas Bond - Mayor of Coventry in 1497 - in his will of 1506 as an alms house for deserving old men. It provided for ten men for life, each was to be a member of the Holy Trinity Guild, and one woman to act as housekeeper. In 1832 the hospital was restored and by 1940 such was the income from Bond's endowment that 85 Almsmen could be provided with six shillings per week.
To the left of the gateway is Old Bablake school. This is the site of the collegiate buildings since 1344. In 1550 the 14th Century priests quarters were re-modeled as a boys hospital which later became a boys school.
Ford's Hosptial
Ford's Hospital
This hospital or "almshouse" provided sheltered accommodation for elderly people and was founded in 1509 by William Ford. Originally it housed five aged men and one woman, but was further endowed in 1517 to provide shelter for six couples, and again in 1529 by William Wigston for five more old couples with a small weekly allowance.
On the night of 14th October 1940 it was struck by a single bomb which killed the warden, a nurse and six residents.
The structure itself was quite severely damaged but not totally beyond repair. The building was faithfully restored in 1953 using wherever possible, original materials salvaged from the ruins.
Whilst searching through the damage, Coventry historian John Bailey Shelton uncovered the remains of a tiled floor from the 1300's. One tile was decorated with the black eagle of Leofric. It is thought that previously, a chapel associated with Greyfriars monastery stood on this site.
Both buildings are non accessible
Opening times
Please contact the attraction direct for details of opening times.