Tuesday 4th June 2019



Today we explored Gloucester city centre. We walked past the old Gloucester Goal which is in the process of being converted to flats, past the Police Headquarters and Courts and came out onto Westgate. Gloucester city centre is formed of two perpendicular, pedestrianised roads, Northgate, Southgate, Westgate and Eastgate, remnants of the Medieval layout although little remains of the city walls or gates. The centre itself felt pretty run-down and didn’t really have a lot to commend it, with most of the business having moved to out of town retail parks, Gloucester Quays and around the dock area. The intersection of the two roads is marked by the tower of the church of St. Michael the Archangel, all that remains of the 15th century church.

The New Inn was a fascinating place. Built about 1450, it is the most complete surviving example of a Medieval courtyard inn with galleries in Britain. It was here, in 1553 after the death of King Edward VI, that Lady Jane Grey was proclaimed Queen.

There are leavers service in the Cathedral all week and so it is only open to the public between 12 and 1pm. We tried to gain entry just after midday but were rudely and abruptly, asked to leave because of the dog. In all our travels we have not encountered this before and, in fact, the Deacon of Leicester Cathedral told us that a dog cannot actually be refused entry.

Absolute shame on Gloucester Cathedral for denying entry to a Place of God.

We visited the Beatrix Potter shop, “The Tailor of Gloucester”, a delightful little place located in the same building that the story of the same name is set. The volunteers inside have restored the fireplace and sideboard so as to reflect the book. We bought a copy of the book and a little ceramic figure of one of the mice.

        


  
                  

                                        
                                                                                                      The New Inn




  

                                                                                                                                
                                                                           Tower of St. Michael the Archangel



                                                                         Beatrix Potter House



We went back to the dock area and sat at one of the café bars and just watched the world pass by. In the evening we got dressed up, a rare occasion, and went to the dockside Greek restaurant that is right next to the boat and had a lovely meal.



Weather: a pleasant day but chilly.


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