Fords Hospital was built in the early 1520s from an endowment made by the will of William Ford a wool merchant and former Mayor of Coventry who died in 1509.
Fords Hospital is considered to be one of the finest examples of 16th Century domestic buildings in England. In 2006 an episode of Dr Who was filmed here.
This property has had a number of names since it was built in 1517. It has been known as a Bede House because it was for the poor. Also known as Greyfriars Hospital because it was built on the former monastery ground. Pitsford Hospital because he built it and also gave money towards its upkeep and more latterly Ford’s Hospital because William Ford founded it.
It was originally built for five men and one woman and it was enlarged in 1529 when six men with their wives were resident. About 1800 it became a home for women only and today it has five flats with five residents.
During the night of the 14th of October 1940, a bomb fell in the Warden’s room and she together with a nurse and six lady inmates were killed. The building was badly damaged and after a public appeal for subscriptions the building was restored in 1953. It was refurbished in 2015 and is a Grade I Listed Building.
Event Times
Saturday 9 September: 1000-1600
Booking Details
No booking required
Access
Low entrance doorway to residents lounge
Additional Information
30 minutes max Contact for the day: Matthew White 07831412645
www.coventry.gov.uk/hod
www.bondshospital.org
Event organiser is Ford's Hospital Almshouse.
Disclaimer: All information was correct when the listing was prepared. Any questions about the event should be directed to the event organiser.