The Weaver's House

Tag: cake

  • Reopened for 2022!

    Reopened for 2022!

    At long last the first Open Day for 2022 arrived, and what a fantastic day it was. We were blessed with a sunny, clear day with which to appreciate the blossoming garden (but cool enough to enjoy the hot drinks and cake which we’ve welcomed back for 2022!).

    Enthusiastic visitors arrived a steady pace throughout the day and we were delighted that this included people who had been waiting for the opportunity to visit, were finally able to be welcomed. The story of our unique piece of medieval history has been spreading, as visitors came down from Manchester specifically to visit, and another visitor was from Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch. Our knowledgeable guides were on hand to give free tours of the house including the full size replica loom. We were also pleased to be joined by new volunteers who signed up at our recent volunteer event. If you are interested, we’d love to hear from you.

    Thanks to our visitors for some lovely feedback including:

    “Brilliant speakers, great fun going upstairs!”
    “Thank you to the guides for a fascinating tour”
    “Superb. Excellent talk by Maureen and lovely welcome by Audrey”
    “Had a lovely visit, so interesting. Met some lovely people. Kev was so informative and very kind”

    The next free Open Day is Saturday 7 May from 10am until 4pm.

    slices of homemade cake
    Homemade cakes and other treats are back for 2022!
    herbs growing
    Plants in garden for natural dyes
    a sunlit garden, raised beds of soil, a medieval cottage
    The raised beds ready for growing
    a blue sky above visitors in the garden
    Visitors in the garden
    a mix of people in Tudor era clothing and modern clothes
    Visitors find out about gardening and natural dyes

  • Visiting us in 2022?

    Visiting us in 2022?

    We’ve put together some Open Day 2022 FAQs

    What’s going to be open?
    The Weaver’s House and garden are planned to be open. The tearoom will be open as long as we are able to staff it, with our famous homemade cakes!

    Are you doing talks?
    The Weaver’s House itself will be open for small groups of visitors at a time. Talks will be given by volunteers in the house.

    What do visitors need to know?
    Hand gel is provided in the entrance area. Visitors may prefer to wear masks when in the indoor areas. The front door of the House will be open for ventilation (unless extreme weather prevents this).

    Can I see the loom?
    The solar (upstairs room containing the loom) will be open this year (but not on Heritage Open Days). Visitors are reminded that this is an enclosed upper space accessed via ladder.

    Do I need to book in advance?
    No, it is drop in from 10am. We will be closing at 4pm, please bear this in mind when planning your visit.

    What facilities are open?
    Toilets including accessible toilet will be open.

    How much is it?
    The Weaver’s House is free to visit on Open Days.

  • Our Open Days for 2020

    Our Open Days for 2020

     

     

     

    We are looking forward to welcoming you to our Open Days for 2020. Come and explore a piece of Coventry’s medieval history at our fascinating site, which was rescued from the threat of demolition!

    This year, you can visit us on:

    Saturday April 4th Signs of Spring

    Saturday May 2nd Wool Crafts Day

    Saturday June 13th The Terrace Through Time

    Saturday July 11th Heritage Crafts

    Saturday August 22nd Fun in the Garden

    Full details on each day will be available nearer the time, but you can see what is generally on the site on our What’s Here page.

    For this year’s Heritage Open Days we will be open on Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 September (please note that there is no access to the loom on Heritage Open Days).

    Entry is free but donations are appreciated. On Open Days we serve tea, coffee and our homemade cakes.

    We generally suggest that the last entry time is 3.30pm, however if you want to be sure of enjoying a tour or a visit to our tea room please allow more time.

    We will also be running a special Halloween themed day again this year. Details are to be confirmed, but you can see a little taste of what the previous Halloween event entailed here.

    We look forward to seeing you!

     

  • Spring into action in the garden with us!

    Spring into action in the garden with us!

     

     

     

     

    Get the Garden ready for Spring

    Sunday 15 March – 11am until 4pm, (drop in during these times, but please let us know in advance via volunteers@theweavershouse.org)

    We are excited to have been awarded a grant by #CelebrateNationalLottery25 as they celebrate 25 years of donations to worthy causes.

    Come and help us get our medieval-style garden spring-ready! Our beds and borders need a make-over, and thanks to the National Lottery, we have been able to purchase some much-needed woven fencing panels.

    Now we need to install them and make our garden ready for our season of Open Days.

    This is a hands-on day, so there will be plenty of opportunity to get involved. Spend the day with us, or drop in for a couple of hours, it all helps. There will be hot drinks and some of our legendary cake provided, as well as soup for lunch if you are spending the day.

    No need to be an expert, just enthusiastic –  bring gardening gloves if you have them and dress appropriately for being outside.

    To get involved, or if you have any questions, please email volunteers@theweavershouse.org Please mention where you heard about the day.

    #CelebrateNationalLottery25

    Update: Note on Coronavirus.

  • Heritage Open Days and a special occasion are the perfect close to the season

    Heritage Open Days and a special occasion are the perfect close to the season

     

     

    This year, we’ve celebrated the fact that Heritage Open Days is 25 years old! The increasing success of the festival is a great sign of a healthy interest in heritage. And for the final weekend of Heritage Open Days, we also celebrated the centenary of one of the house’s previous residents.

    Sid O’ Neil lived in The Weaver’s House itself during the early twentieth century. His descendant, Clare, is one of the current volunteers and she organised this special celebration to mark the hundredth anniversary of his birth.

    poster of old photos of Sid O' Neil and family

    We had some cakes and balloons to mark the occasion, but one thing we weren’t expecting was a rather special happening… In 1929 a ten-year-old Sid O’Neil went to school and played with neighbour Fred Golby. Ninety years later Sid’s son Terry and Fred’s son and daughter, Eric and Carol, met for the very first time at the terrace where their dads lived. Family history in real time!

    Alongside Sid’s birthday celebrations, we also had tours, tea, cake and sunshine to enjoy the garden.

    A big thank you to everyone who has come to our events and supported us this year.

     

  • Medieval Mayhem in May!

    Medieval Mayhem in May!

     

     

    On Sunday 5 May The Weaver’s House came alive as special guests and visitors filled the house and garden. Locally based reenactor group Coventry Militia brought expertise, costumes and weaponry for an authentic historical experience.

    Visitors were able to find out about many aspects of medieval life and specific information about the role Coventry played during this period. Plus, there was of course the chance to see some exciting medieval action! And though we may say it ourselves, it was a lot easier to see what was going on than in the Battle of Winterfell.

    Our knowledgeable volunteers were kept busy with a stream of visitors enjoying the regular tours of the house, we squeezed in as many people as possible.

    The day prompted some fantastic reviews:

    “A very informative couple of hours, very interesting talk with the wool spinning ladies and our guide around the Weaver’s cottage was brilliant.”

    “Excellent guides really bring the place to life. A hidden gem.”

    Almond topped cakes

    All in all, the day was a huge success with over 180 visitors enjoying history, reenaction and of course our homemade cakes. We’re very much hoping to invite Coventry Militia back for a future event.

    In the meantime, our next Open Day is on Saturday 15 June, when the focus will be on Medieval Meals. As usual, admission will be free, and we’ll be open from 11am until 4pm, with refreshments available.

     

     

  • Open Days off to an eggcellent start!

    Open Days off to an eggcellent start!

    The first Weaver’s House Open Day this year saw the house spring to life on a sunny if slightly chilly April morning. Visitors were impressed and appreciative of the restoration project and the extra activities provided by our volunteers. There were tours and talks, special Easter themed cakes, a spinning demonstration and an exhibition of dyes and samples. Younger visitors enjoyed an Easter trail, crafts and colouring.

    Our garden is well and truly coming to life now spring is here, and the heritage apple trees which we put in a few years ago are in blossom.

    pink tipped apple blossom
    The Leathercoat Russet

    With visitor comments on the knowledge, enthusiasm and welcoming approach of the volunteers, it was a shining start to the season! 

    In just a few weeks, the next Open Day will be part of the May Day weekend. Special guest reenactor group Coventry Militia will bring history to life on site, demonstrating arms and armour of the War of the Roses. There will also be some late medieval tabletop games to try, and as this was the period when the royal court was held in Coventry, visitors can find out about the importance of the city during this period.

    This one-off event will be on Sunday 5 May, running from 11am until 4pm. You can also keep up with the latest from The Weaver’s House on Facebook and Twitter. Come and say hello!

  • Heritage Open Days 2018!

    Heritage Open Days 2018!

    It’s time to bust out the bunting, blow up the balloons and throw open the doors for the free festival of heritage which starts this week! This year, we are open for two weekends of Heritage Open Days.

    For Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 September, join us for tours, home made cake and spinning demonstrations.

    The following weekend, Saturday 15 and Sunday 16 September, we will have tours, and guests The Heritage Pantry providing refreshments.

    On each day, we are open from 10 – 4pm, and it’s free entry.
    Please note that there is no entry to the solar (upstairs room containing the loom) on Heritage Open Days.

    Heritage Open Days stickers, balloons and bunting.
    Heritage Open Days stickers, balloons and bunting.

    Coventry has a fantastic range of places opening for Heritage Open Days (not just buildings, but boats, gardens and even a taxi!). You can find out what’s on when in Coventry for Heritage Open Days 2018 here.

    As well as being close to other buildings on the historic Spon Street such as the Coventry Watch Museum and St John’s Church, we are also close to The Albany Theatre , Broomfield Tavern and Holyhead Studios, as well as all the city centre venues of course!

    We are also pleased to be part of this year’s Spon Spun Arts Trail on  Saturday 15 September, and on Saturday 8 you can also enjoy some Spon Spun events in the Oasis Cafe opposite us.

    Better get planning – there’s a LOT to see!

     

  • Celebrating the families who lived here in a special Open Day

    Celebrating the families who lived here in a special Open Day

    We hosted a busy and enjoyable Family History Open Day on Saturday 18th August, with visitors getting the chance to find their family crests, get help and advice on researching their family trees, chat to Coventry Family History Society, and of course, explore the house and garden. Guided walks of Spon Street and special Family History talks proved to be very popular, booking up well in advance, and we hope to run these events again in the future.

    The specially themed day celebrated the lives of people who had lived in Black Swan Terrace, the group of cottages that The Weaver’s House is part of. Volunteers were delighted to welcome families of former residents of all five houses in the terrace during the day.

    A group of people of varying ages in the garden

    The Edwards family, whose ancestors George & Harriet Edwards lived in 121 Upper Spon Street.

    A man stands next to a taxi decorated with scenes of Coventry

    Actor Paul Nolan, currently performing in the 2-Tone Taxi tours, dropped by to say hello. Spot The Weaver’s House on the taxi! Paul’s ancestors lived in the house, and were the subject of his play The Window, which was performed at the Albany Theatre earlier this year.

    One family had cousins that met for the very first time in the actual house where their common ancestor had lived in the 1880s. There was also a visit from a gentleman who lived in The Weaver’s House himself in the 1940s. We will be featuring their stories in an upcoming blog, so stay tuned!

    If you have connections to The Weaver’s House and Black Swan Terrace – get in touch and add your story by emailing history@theweavershouse.org

    The Weaver’s House is next open for Heritage Open Days in September.

     

     

     

    Photos: Clare Chamberlain, Jess Clenshaw

  • Fun and Tudor Games

    Fun and Tudor Games

    Our next Open Day is Sunday 22 July, when we’ll be finding out about the games the Tudors played.

    Last year’s themed day exploring games the Tudors would have enjoyed was hugely successful, so it is returning for more fun! Some games such as skittles and quoits will be familiar, but have you heard of Nine Men’s Morris? How about Shove Ha’penny? This is your chance to find out and have a go!

    Taking place on the last Sunday before Coventry schools break up for the long summer holiday, this is a great chance to enjoy some local heritage whilst having fun. It’s free to visit us at The Weaver’s House, and as well as the games we’ll have tours of the house available if you would like to learn more about the lives of medieval families who lived in houses just like this one. There was no staircase in the house but you can climb a short ladder to see a life size replica loom just like the one John Croke the weaver would have used. And why is the bed so small? Find our from our fantastic volunteers!

    As usual, our tearoom will be open with a selection of homemade cakes alongside tea, coffee and squash.

    We open at 11am and close at 4pm. The latest we would advise arriving would be 3.30pm, this will give you a chance for a look around and chat to volunteers, however if you want to enjoy tea and cake and take the tour, we’d suggest arriving earlier in the day.

    This will be our last Sunday opening this year apart from Heritage Open Days (but we don’t do full tours including the solar (upstairs room containing the loom) during Heritage Open Days as it is too crowded.

    Here’s a flashback to last year’s games in action!