22 Bayley Lane, Medieval timber-framed house in central Coventry, England
22 Bayley Lane is a two-story medieval timber-framed structure with plaster infilling and brick work on its ground floor. The building retains its original medieval construction while its ground level was converted into a commercial space with a shop front during the 1800s.
The structure was built around 1500 and displays typical features of late medieval construction in England. During the 1800s it was substantially modified when its ground floor was converted into a commercial shop space, reflecting the economic changes in the city center.
The building sits beside St Mary's Guildhall within a neighborhood where medieval craft workshops and shops once operated side by side. This setting illustrates how merchants and artisans lived and worked in the same spaces during the Middle Ages.
The building is located in Coventry's historic city center and is easily accessible on foot while exploring the medieval streets. The best views of its details can be appreciated from street level, where the contrast between the timber frame and later brick work is most visible.
The upper floor extends beyond the ground floor footprint, a medieval building technique that maximized residential space in crowded urban lanes. This overhang was a clever way to gain additional room without further narrowing the street below.
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