Inside rarely seen cellars of historic coventry buildings

Images taken this weekend show underneath some of the most historic buildings in Coventry city centre. 300 year old townhouses 9 and 10 Priory were open to a select few recently ahead of

potential work to upgrade the site. Coventry is quite well known for its subterranean architecture. Crypts and underground tunnels make up the area beneath the Cathedral Ruins, connecting

the iconic building to nearby Herbert Art Gallery. While most of these are accessible via appointment, cellars beneath numbers nine and ten of Priory Row are less well seen. Owned by

Coventry Cathedral, the buildings have been dormant for some years, but plans submitted to Coventry City Council could see them transformed. Ahead of any work being done, a local history

group were invited in to observe and photograph the building's historic cellars. READ MORE: NUNEATON HOSPITAL RULES OUT 'FULL MERGER' BUT MASSIVE CHANGE IS ON ITS WAY Visit

Historic Coventry is a group with a focus on promoting Coventry's heritage, using images and posts to show the positive side of the city - particularly our rich history. Peter Garbett

founded the group and is a keen lover of all things historical, especially if connected to Coventry. After being invited by Coventry Cathedral to see the cellars, Peter shared images

he'd taken with 30,000 plus members of Visit Historic Coventry. See the images below. Plans for Numbers 9 and 10 Priory Row in the city centre were lodged with the council last July.

The redbrick townhouses are Grade II listed and date back centuries. Having survived the Blitz of World War Two, they're since they have had a range of uses including as home to the

Mutual Permanent Building Society, an English studies centre and charity headquarters. Most recently the pair were still being used as office space. But since early 2022 they have been

vacant, according to plans put forward by Coventry cathedral. This could soon change, however. The cathedral wants to convert part of the buildings into three new flats, including a

four-bedroom apartment, a one-bedroom flat and another one-bedroom apartment for visiting clergy. Coventry Cathedral has confirmed plans for conversion are for the upper floors, not the

cellars. Plans can be viewed on Coventry council's website under reference: PL/2024/0001382/LBC.