Gloucestershire Tourist Guide - Articles
Gloucestershire Cathedrals
Gloucestershire Cathedrals are amongst the finest in the country. The magnificent abbey church of Tewkesbury, and the church of Cirencester are all well worth visiting. Of the abbey of Hailes near Winchcombe, founded by Richard, Earl of Cornwall, in 1246, little more than the foundations are left, but these have been excavated with great care, and interesting fragments have been brought to light. Gloucester Cathedral itself is stunning. It is mainly Norman with additions in every style of Gothic architecture.
Gloucester Cathedral Square Entrance
Most of the old market towns have fine parish churches. At Deerhurst near Tewkesbury, and Bishop's Cleeve near Cheltenham (shown below), there are churches of special interest on account of the pre-Norman work they retain. The Perpendicular church at Lechlade is unusually perfect and that at Fairford, according to tradition, to contain the remarkable series of stained-glass windows which are said to have been brought from the Netherlands. These are however judged to be of English workmanship, and are one of the finest series in the country.
Calcot Barn is an interesting relic of the monastery of Kingswood near Tetbury. Thornbury Castle, in the same district, is a fine Tudor ruin which evoked the jealousy of Cardinal Wolsey against its builder, Edward Stafford, duke of Buckingham, who was beheaded in 1521.
Near
Cheltenham is the fine 15th-century mansion of Southam de la Bere (shown above), of timber and stone, which is now run as a hotel. Memorials of the de la Bere family appear in the church at Cleeve. The mansion contains a tiled floor from Hayles Abbey. At Great Badminton is the mansion and vast domain of the Beauforts on the south-eastern boundary of the county. A week could be spent just visitng Gloucestershire Cathedrals, abbeys and churches!
Gloucestershire Cathedrals
Gloucester Cathedral Square Entrance
Most of the old market towns have fine parish churches. At Deerhurst near Tewkesbury, and Bishop's Cleeve near Cheltenham (shown below), there are churches of special interest on account of the pre-Norman work they retain. The Perpendicular church at Lechlade is unusually perfect and that at Fairford, according to tradition, to contain the remarkable series of stained-glass windows which are said to have been brought from the Netherlands. These are however judged to be of English workmanship, and are one of the finest series in the country.
Calcot Barn is an interesting relic of the monastery of Kingswood near Tetbury. Thornbury Castle, in the same district, is a fine Tudor ruin which evoked the jealousy of Cardinal Wolsey against its builder, Edward Stafford, duke of Buckingham, who was beheaded in 1521.
Near
Cheltenham is the fine 15th-century mansion of Southam de la Bere (shown above), of timber and stone, which is now run as a hotel. Memorials of the de la Bere family appear in the church at Cleeve. The mansion contains a tiled floor from Hayles Abbey. At Great Badminton is the mansion and vast domain of the Beauforts on the south-eastern boundary of the county. A week could be spent just visitng Gloucestershire Cathedrals, abbeys and churches!
Gloucestershire Cathedrals
