DESTINATION:
Gloucestershire
It is believed that the region known as Gloucestershire originated as a shire in the 10th century, although it owes its name and much of its lay-out to many centuries of Roman occupation. During the reign of Edward the Confessor it was one of the three principal cities in England. Later development of its port established strong trade links with the rest of the world, and industry continued to prosper due to the rich forestation of the Forest of Dean and the discovery of iron ore and coal. Building on its rich history, the city of Gloucester is today undergoing a protracted programme of re-development to meet the needs of modern-day residents and visitors.
The city is characterised by its magnificent Cathedral. Formally the Cathedral Church of St. Peter and the Holy and Indivisible Trinity, it was built between the 11th and the 14th centuries and soon became established as a wealthy and powerful institution. King Edward II was buried here in 1327 and subsequent royal patronage fuelled it development. Under the dissolution of the monasteries ordered by Henry VIII, the abbey buildings became Gloucester Cathedral, no longer home to a community of monks but led by a Dean and a chapter of Canons. Today the Cathedral is renowned for its medieval cloisters, East window and Arts and Crafts glasswork.
Recommended duration - either 3 nights/4 days or 4 nights/5 days
KEY VISITS (Recommended)
- GLOUCESTER CATHEDRAL – founded as a religious house by the Anglo Saxon Prince Osric in 679 AD, the site has been a place of worship ever since. A monastery was established following the Norman conquest of 1066 and from the late 11th century the magnificent abbey church we see today began to evolve. In 1216 Henry III was crowned here and in 1327 King Edward II, who had died under suspicious circumstances at nearby Berkeley Castle, was buried here. Royal patronage augmented abbey funds and increased not only its wealth but also its status. The abbey survived the turbulent times of the 16th and 17th centuries and has been constantly repaired, restored and conserved ever since.
- CHELTENHAM ART GALLERY – collections include paintings, drawings, sculpture, archaeology and local and social history.
- KELMSCOTT MANOR (Lechlade) – the summer residence of William Morris from 1871 until his death in 1896. He took much of the inspiration for his textile and wallpaper designs from its tranquil surroundings and the house contains a good collection of the possessions and work of Morris and his associates, including furniture, original textiles, carpets and ceramics.
- BRISTOL – we will embark on a short walking tour of the historic maritime city of Bristol. Visits during the day will include the following:
- ST MARY REDCLIFFE – an outstanding Gothic church, which Elizabeth I is said to have described as “the fairest, goodliest and most famous parish church in England”.
- BRISTOL OLD VIC – the oldest theatre in the country.
- CLIFTON SUSPENSION BRIDGE – designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel to span the Avon Gorge.
- SS GREAT BRITAIN – designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel for the Great Western Steamship Company, it was the first ocean going ship to have an iron hull and when it was launched in 1843, was the largest vessel afloat.
- TYNTESFIELD (Wraxall, Bristol) – a magnificent Victorian house, set amidst a vast estate including landscaped gardens and a private chapel. Architecturally flamboyant, with many towers and turrets, and home to a fine collection of decorative arts.
- BERKELEY CASTLE (Gloucestershire) – an excellent Norman fortress dating from the 12th century as one of the March Castles, built to keep out the Welsh, and the oldest building in the country to be inhabited by the same family who built it. For nine centuries, the building, the Berkeley family, the archives, the contents, the estate and the town have all survived together.
- SEZINCOTE (Moreton-in-Marsh) – an extraordinary Mogul-style Indian house set in the Cotswold Hills. Built in 1810, it sits within an exotic water garden of pools and waterfalls with a grotto and a Hindu temple and became the inspiration for Brighton Pavilion.
- MALMESBURY ABBEY – derived from an early church built on the hill top which forms the present town of Malmesbury. In its heyday the Abbey was one of the largest buildings in the country and had its own farms, barns, brewery, bake house and dairy. Today it is only a fragment of its former size.
- RODMARTON MANOR (Cirencester) – Rodmarton is the home of the Biddulph family and was built for Claud and Margaret Biddulph in 1909 according to the Arts and Craft tradition and all the work was done by hand with local stone, local timber and by local craftsmen. The house has a fine collection of furniture, ironwork, china and needlework all made especially for the house. The garden, which covers 8 acres, was originally designed as a series of outdoor rooms and offers a wide selection of planting, lawns, a large kitchen garden and magnificent herbaceous borders.
ALTERNATIVE VISITS
- COURT BARN MUSEUM (Chipping Campden) – the museum celebrates the lives and skills of talented artists, designers and craftspeople who have worked in and around Chipping Campden and the north Cotswolds within the Arts and Crafts Movement. Our visit will be combined with a guided Arts and Crafts walk around the delightful town of Chipping Campden.
- WESTONBIRT ARBORETUM (near Tetbury) – is one of the most important and widely known in the country and is managed by the Forestry Commission. It was established in 1829 by Robert Holford as it is close to the family home, Westonbirt House (which is now a school). The Arboretum covers approximately 600 acres with almost 18,000 trees and shrubs.
- SNOWSHILL MANOR (National Trust, Broadway) – nestling in the Cotswold Hills, this small Manor house was the home of Charles Paget Wade, an eccentric gentleman who owned the manor house before leaving it to the National Trust. His collection includes musical instruments, clocks, toys, bicycles, weavers and spinners’ tools and Japanese armour. The organically run garden offers the visitor a variety of architectural features, as well as seasonal colour.