Books, Bricks & Building Blocks! [Heritage Open Days 2025]

Coventry University Archives holds a repository of collections housed at the Frederick Lanchester Library. For the Heritage Open Days Festival we are giving the public the opportunity to explore the history of the largest deep plan naturally ventilated library building in Europe and possibly the world.

Visitors will be able to view the plans and items from the photographic catalogue of its construction. Take part in a short guided tour of the building hosted by students currently studying architecture. Delve into the artefacts relating to Frederick and Henry Vaughan Lanchester who were pioneers of planning and construction.

Tours of the library will be held every hour for up to 15 guests. Early booking essential.

Self guided tours also available.

• Leaf through The Art ofTown Planning by H.V. Lanchester (Published in 1925)

• Be amazed at the patent by Frederick Lanchester for an 'Inflatable Building' eighty years before the Millennium Dome/O2 construction.

• Watch film footage of the official opening of the Lanchester Library by the Princess Royal.

• Build your own 'library' using Lego.

• Explore the digital archive online.

• Visit the Lanchester Discovery Space and a dedicated exhibition in front of an indoor grassed hill on the third floor.

• Guest Speaker to be announced.