The Hospital of St John was founded between 1154 and 1179 by Prior Lawrence of the Benedictine Monastery[1] for a warden and a number of secular brothers or sisters.

In 1565, Queen Elizabeth I visited Coventry entering via Bishop Street Gate, and as she passed the school it was mentioned that her father had caused its foundation.

After standing empty for over 20 years, it was announced in 2012 that plans were afoot to open the Old Grammar School as an offshoot of the Coventry Transport Museum.

[5][6] This included the demolition of an existing adjoining building with the construction of a replacement extension to provide disabled access to the Old Grammar School.

The restoration formed part of a £8.5 million redevelopment of the Coventry Transport Museum and began on 31 March 2014[7] with the Old Grammar School opening to the public on 4 July 2015.