Unique old cobblestones will be laid in a Coventry road tomorrow to bring back the feeling of 600 years of the street’s history.

Contractors will use traditional skills from the past to lay the granite setts, or cobblestones in Whitefriars Lane.

Work on the lane, which led to the Whitefriars monastery in the 14th century, will start outside the Toy Museum, and will involve laying more than 27,000 setts.

These have been reclaimed form the old lane itself, and some were also taken from the Lower Precinct before redevelopment work started there.

A feature of some of the original setts from the lane is their irregular shape, which is unique in Coventry roadways.

It indicates that they may have come from a local riverbed, rather than a quarry as is usually the case.

Cllr Dave Batten, cabinet member (Development and Renewal), said:

"This particular lane is very important to our city.  It was the lane that led to Whitefriars monastery in the late 14th Century and we are very keen to improve and maintain its rich history.

“This work together with the recently completed pocket park will have improved yet another area of the city centre."

The estimated cost of the work is £78,000 and is being funded by an Advantage West Midlands grant of £57,000 with the rest being made up by Coventry City Council.  It will be completed by 18 December when the lane will be re opened for pedestrian use only.

The work is being carried out by local contractor Star Civil Engineering and DJK Paving from Bonny Bridge who have over 35 years experience in the laying the setts.