Westgate, Gloucester
Encyclopedia
The Westgate area of Gloucester
is centred on Westgate Street, one of the four main streets of Gloucester and one of the oldest parts of the city.
, a redundant Anglican church and Grade I listed building is situated at the far end of Westgate Street with Gloucester Folk Museum
almost opposite. Gloucester Cathedral
is not far away and the main entrance to the Cathedral precincts is via College Green from Westgate Street.
Next to St. Nicholas' Church is The Dick Whittington pub in St. Nicholas House, a 15th century town house once owned by the Whittington
family of the Tale of Dick Whittington and his Cat fame. The house was restored by Gloucester Civic Trust
and Gloucester Historic Buildings Ltd in the 1980s.
Just outside the western entrance to the Cathedral precincts is St. Mary de Lode Church
in Archdeacon Street, reputed to be built on the site of the first Christian church in Britain and next to it, the monument to Bishop John Hooper
, burnt at the stake there in 1555.
Just off Westgate street is the House of the Tailor of Gloucester, used by Beatrix Potter
as the setting for the story of the same name.
The original part of Gloucester Shire Hall, opened 1816 and designed by Sir Robert Smirke
, fronts Westgate Street.
Pubs include:
, the legendary Gloucester Miser ran his Gloucester Old Bank
from a medieval timber building at 22 Westgate Street, that remained until the nineteenth century. The building occupied by the bank was subsequently replaced by a Victorian Gothic building and more recently by a new building. It is now occupied by a McDonalds restaurant.
was once the longest in England. It has been replaced several times over its history.
The original medieval bridge had five great arches. In 1542 Sir Thomas Bell
and his wife Joan assigned property on a sale and leaseback arrangement to the City Corporation to be used after their deaths for repairing Westgate Bridge and causeway.
In 1816, the medieval bridge was replaced by a single-span bridge designed by Sir Robert Smirke
, who also designed the British Museum and Gloucester Shire Hall, also in Westgate Street.
Until the first Severn Crossing
was opened near Chepstow in 1966, the Westgate Bridge was the most southerly crossing point on the Severn for traffic to or from Wales.
In the 1970s two new wide-span bridges were built, one for each direction of traffic flow, and the current bridge was opened in 2000.
Gloucester
Gloucester is a city, district and county town of Gloucestershire in the South West region of England. Gloucester lies close to the Welsh border, and on the River Severn, approximately north-east of Bristol, and south-southwest of Birmingham....
is centred on Westgate Street, one of the four main streets of Gloucester and one of the oldest parts of the city.
Notable buildings
St. Nicholas' ChurchSt Nicholas' Church, Gloucester
St Nicholas' Church, Gloucester, is a redundant Anglican church in Westgate Street in the city of Gloucester, England. It has been designated by English Heritage as a Grade I listed building, and is under the care of the Churches Conservation Trust. Its truncated spire is a landmark in the...
, a redundant Anglican church and Grade I listed building is situated at the far end of Westgate Street with Gloucester Folk Museum
Gloucester Folk Museum
Gloucester Folk Museum is housed in two of the oldest buildings in the City of Gloucester, a Tudor merchant's house and a 17th-century town house...
almost opposite. Gloucester Cathedral
Gloucester Cathedral
Gloucester Cathedral, or the Cathedral Church of St Peter and the Holy and Indivisible Trinity, in Gloucester, England, stands in the north of the city near the river. It originated in 678 or 679 with the foundation of an abbey dedicated to Saint Peter .-Foundations:The foundations of the present...
is not far away and the main entrance to the Cathedral precincts is via College Green from Westgate Street.
Next to St. Nicholas' Church is The Dick Whittington pub in St. Nicholas House, a 15th century town house once owned by the Whittington
Richard Whittington
Sir Richard Whittington was a medieval merchant and politician, and the real-life inspiration for the pantomime character Dick Whittington. Sir Richard Whittington was four times Lord Mayor of London, a Member of Parliament and a sheriff of London...
family of the Tale of Dick Whittington and his Cat fame. The house was restored by Gloucester Civic Trust
Gloucester Civic Trust
Gloucester Civic Trust Limited is a registered charity which exists to promote the appreciate and conservation of Gloucester's heritage. The Trust is based in St...
and Gloucester Historic Buildings Ltd in the 1980s.
Just outside the western entrance to the Cathedral precincts is St. Mary de Lode Church
St Mary de Lode Church
St Mary de Lode Church, Archdeacon Street, Gloucester GL1 2QT, is a Church of England church immediately outside the grounds of Gloucester Cathedral, which is believed to be on the site of the first Christian church in Britain. The church is in the Diocese of Gloucester and Grade I listed by...
in Archdeacon Street, reputed to be built on the site of the first Christian church in Britain and next to it, the monument to Bishop John Hooper
John Hooper
John Hooper, Johan Hoper, was an English churchman, Anglican Bishop of Gloucester and Worcester. A Protestant Reformer, he was killed during the Marian Persecutions.-Biography:...
, burnt at the stake there in 1555.
Just off Westgate street is the House of the Tailor of Gloucester, used by Beatrix Potter
Beatrix Potter
Helen Beatrix Potter was an English author, illustrator, natural scientist and conservationist best known for her imaginative children’s books featuring animals such as those in The Tale of Peter Rabbit which celebrated the British landscape and country life.Born into a privileged Unitarian...
as the setting for the story of the same name.
The original part of Gloucester Shire Hall, opened 1816 and designed by Sir Robert Smirke
Robert Smirke (architect)
Sir Robert Smirke was an English architect, one of the leaders of Greek Revival architecture his best known building in that style is the British Museum, though he also designed using other architectural styles...
, fronts Westgate Street.
Pubs include:
- The Pig Inn 121 Westgate Street.
- The Fountain Inn 53 Westgate Street.
- The Dick Whittington 100 Westgate Street.
- The Union 43/45 Westgate Street.
- The Golden Fleece Now closed.
- The Old Crown 81-83 Westgate Street
Notable inhabitants
Jemmy WoodJemmy Wood
James Wood was the owner of the Gloucester Old Bank who became nationally known as The Gloucester Miser...
, the legendary Gloucester Miser ran his Gloucester Old Bank
Gloucester Old Bank
The Gloucester Old Bank was founded in 1716 by James Wood. The bank was said to have been the oldest private bank in Britain, having survived the financial consequences of the Napoleonic Wars when many other banks went out of business. The claim was wrong as both C. Hoare & Co and Child & Co...
from a medieval timber building at 22 Westgate Street, that remained until the nineteenth century. The building occupied by the bank was subsequently replaced by a Victorian Gothic building and more recently by a new building. It is now occupied by a McDonalds restaurant.
Westgate Bridge
The Westgate Bridge over the River SevernRiver Severn
The River Severn is the longest river in Great Britain, at about , but the second longest on the British Isles, behind the River Shannon. It rises at an altitude of on Plynlimon, Ceredigion near Llanidloes, Powys, in the Cambrian Mountains of mid Wales...
was once the longest in England. It has been replaced several times over its history.
The original medieval bridge had five great arches. In 1542 Sir Thomas Bell
Thomas Bell (Mayor of Gloucester)
Sir Thomas Bell the Elder was an English cap manufacturer, mayor of Gloucester and MP. He was a manufacturer of caps in Gloucester and one of the city's largest employers and wealthiest citizens and a great benefactor of the city and its people. He is described in contemporaneous documents as a...
and his wife Joan assigned property on a sale and leaseback arrangement to the City Corporation to be used after their deaths for repairing Westgate Bridge and causeway.
In 1816, the medieval bridge was replaced by a single-span bridge designed by Sir Robert Smirke
Robert Smirke (architect)
Sir Robert Smirke was an English architect, one of the leaders of Greek Revival architecture his best known building in that style is the British Museum, though he also designed using other architectural styles...
, who also designed the British Museum and Gloucester Shire Hall, also in Westgate Street.
Until the first Severn Crossing
Severn crossing
Severn crossing is a term used to refer to the two motorway crossings over the River Severn estuary between England and Wales. The two crossings are:*The Severn Bridge *The Second Severn Crossing...
was opened near Chepstow in 1966, the Westgate Bridge was the most southerly crossing point on the Severn for traffic to or from Wales.
In the 1970s two new wide-span bridges were built, one for each direction of traffic flow, and the current bridge was opened in 2000.
Politics
Westgate forms its own electoral ward in the constituency of Gloucester but it is not a parish and so does not have a parish council.Further reading
- "Excavations at Nos. 1 and 30 Westgate Street, Gloucester: The Roman Levels" by Carolyn HeighwayCarolyn M. HeighwayCarolyn Mary Heighway MA FSA is an Archaeological Consultant to Gloucester Cathedral and the owner, with her husband Michael, of Past Historic, a company which specialises in the design and production of archaeological books and journals as well as exhibitions...
, Et al. in Britannia, Vol. 11 (1980), pp. 73-114.