The Dark Cottages & Lodge

Some real architectural gems

by M0B1US

Gloucester has managed to retain quite a number of historic buildings in the city centre for the visitor to admire. Many are utilitarian in nature, dating from its time as a working port however even those are attractive in their own plain way...

So why not see what you can find on your travels - probably my favourites are St Mary de Crypt church on Southgate st with it's beautiful butter yellow bathstone walls, and a carved wood facade shop on the same street.

Baker’s Clock

by Janani

Right by the cross in the city centre, within an arched recess above Baker’s Jewellers on the exterior of the first floor, you can see an unusual Edwardian striking clock with five life-size standing figures: in the centre is Father Time with an hour glass and standing to his right, John Bull and a Welshwoman and to his left, a Scotsman and an Irishwoman, representing the parts that make up the United Kingdom. The figures on the clock, made in 1904 by Niehus Brothers of Bristol, strike the bells in front of them on the hours and quarters. Above the arch is a decorative bracket supporting the clock face and a larger bell.

As the shop is a listed building, it has a well-preserved, traditional shop front, with a recessed entrance to the left, decorative cast-iron window frames and the original shop sign maintained in gilt lettering.

When I was small and lived not far from Gloucester, I always liked to see this clock chime, when we visited the town for shopping or to eat out. Even now, I think I prefer it to the Beatrix Potter one in the nearby Eastgate Shopping Centre.

The East Gate

by Myfanwe

The first East Gate was contructed by the Roman Army as one of the four access points into the fortress built at Gloucester in the late 60's AD. The later Roman gate survived into the Saxon period to form and important part of the town's defences; this was replaced by a simpler tunnel style gateway after the Norman conquest in the eleventh Century. Impressive D shaped towers were added in the 13thCentury together with a new drawbridge across the moat. Since then the miliatary importance of the gate declined and it lived out its' days being used as a women's prison and house of correction and a pool to wash the horse and carts entering the City.

Nowadays an underground viewing chamber, (provided by the Boots Company) allows you to view the substantive remains of the East Gate through perspex windows. The South tower, horsepool and a section of the Roman Wall are clearly visible. They were revealed during an archaeological excavation in 1974.

Gloucester, home of Cheese Rolling and Cathedrals!

by CheekyDee

"Cathedrals and Cheese Rolling, what a mix!"

Gloucester has some of the most beautiful country side I've ever seen and is also home to some of the wackiest of British customs. (the cheese rolling!) Gloucestershire in general is a wonderful area to explore and see, but one of the jewels of this place is definitely the Gloucester Cathedral!! It's a beautiful place of worship, has been for about 1300 years which makes it extra special. So if anything, if there's one thing you should see (aside from the cheese rolling, more on that later) than this should be it!

This is the courtyard in Gloucester Cathedral

More cloister shots