Far Gosford Street has fourteen listed buildings a and number of locally listed and other buildings of historic interest, whose value contributes significantly to the make-up of the conservation area .

Buildings which have been statutorily listed by central government as being of special architectural and/or historic interest are accorded certain safeguards. Any alterations, extensions or demolition require Listed Building Consent, which is separate from any planning permission or building regulation approval. In addition, the City Council keeps a 'Local List' of other buildings which it thinks worthy of preservation for their architectural or historic significance.

The statutory list

Timber-framed buildings figure prominently on this list.

Nos 32, 33 FGS

This two-bay medieval or sixteenth century building is much altered, but is a typical example of how an ancient timber-framed building fares over the centuries. There were many such buildings in the city centre before the Second World War. Parts of the timber frame get removed over time and brickwork replaces the oak lathe, mud, dung and hair plaster infill panels. In the case of no.32 the timber frame is still visible  above the shop front and indicates that it is a building of the 'Wealden' type (see below). The projecting first floor is a good clue to the presence of an old timber frame and is called a 'jetty.' If the shop fascias were removed the ends of the chunky 'jetty' beams that support the first floor would become visible. One of the bays of the building may have contained the 'hall,' the main room in which the medieval occupants lived, with a fire in the centre of the floor and a ventilation space through which the smoke escaped via a vent in the roof.

The restoration of these buildings will see the corrugated asbestos roof cover changed to clay tiles.

Nos 38, 39 and 40 FGS

This group of buildings is likely to date to the 15th century. No 38 was a double-bay  structure forming a single house with 37, which was demolished many years ago. Nos 39-40 formed another double-bay single house, but was built at the same time and was integral with no 41. The latter, although now fronted in brick, was also a double bay house. Medieval houses of this type are called Wealden, one bay of which formed the 'hall', opening into the roof, and the other being two storey with  a projecting upper floor or 'jetty.'

The original timber-framed buildings had brick extensions built onto the rear in the 18th or 19th centuries, much of which had to be demolished in 2009 due to structural instability.

Vital work on these important buildings to restore them and bring them back into use (including the rebuilding of the rear extensions) is due to start in January 2010.

Nos 122, 123 and 124 FGS

This timber framed-building appears to date from the 17th century, but its origins remain a mystery. It does not follow any standard domestic form and may have begun its life as a barn. However, the timber that was used was not 'green', that is, from newly-felled timber, but re-used from other buildings, either on the site or from close by.

These buildings were owned by St Michael's church from the 16th century. This ownership including the 20th century shops, Nos. 126-130. The single brick bay next to the Hand and Heart, recently demolished and rebuilt, corresponds to the original opening or gateway to the rear of what would have been a long row of timber-framed buildings.

Nos 67-72 consecutive FGS

These buildings are important and rare survivors of what used to be a common building type in Coventry and district - ribbon weavers' 'top shops.'

The three storey houses contained a weaving loom on the top (second floor), hence the large expanse of windows on the front and the rear to provide light. The weaver's family lived on the floors below.

The 'top shops' were built by John Ball in the 1830s, firstly as four (67-70), hence the alley being central to this group, and then as two (71-72). The terrace of 'top shops' was built with another of the same length at the rear, backing onto All Saints Lane, now under Sky Blue Way.  

Locally Listed buildings

Nos 64, 65 & 66: former Pitt's Head, now Gosford Arms
Nos 73-83 (consecutive): Ashville Terrace
Nos 93, 94
No 116: Hertford Arms
Nos 154-164: originally Calcott Bros.' offices, then Astley's, now Callice Court student halls of residence)