Registered Charity 287289
Places
Places of Interest in Cirencester
These are just some of the places a visitor (or a native) might wish
to see in the vicinity. Most have been open at some time on
Heritage Open Days if not at other times. The Society supports
Heritage Open Days, which has been run locally by the Cirencester
Civic Society in recent years. Each year properties of interest are
opened for free to the public at some point during the second week
in September. Our Newsletter has published studies on buildings
and private houses in the town over the years. We intend to add
links to this work on this page from time to time, where the
building still exists.
The Abbey Grounds
This extensive parkland behind Cirencester Parish Church was
private land until the 1950s, when it came into the hands of the
Urban District Council (now the Town Council). As the name implies,
a large abbey stood here until Henry VIII seized all church lands for
himself. The Abbey was torn down, it is said the foundations of
many town buildings were made from its stones. Its outline is
marked in stones set into the grass (our Millennium Project). A
major project [not led by CAHS, but by a group containing several
CAHS members] took place in 2017 to celebrate 900 years since
the Abbey was founded in 1117.
A leaflet describing the grounds is available from the Museum and
Town council offices. CAHS recently helped funding two newer
display boards in the Abbey grounds. The grounds also contain the
only remaining part of the original Roman walls. The only
remaining building from the abbey period is the “Norman Arch” at
the northern end of the park. A good walk is to be had from here by
crossing the dual carriageway on foot and continuing northwards
into the “Hare Bushes”.
The Abbey of St Mary, Cirencester
With the Abbey 900 project now completed, we have highlighted
some of the early CAHS publications on their own page.
The Amphitheatre or “Bullring”
The Roman Amphitheatre was constructed during the 2nd century
AD on the site of an existing Roman quarry (the workings of which
can still be detected). It is situated SW of the Town Centre cut off by
the ring road. It is locally known as the Bullring, a title perhaps
harking back to bull baiting in the 18th century. The arena is oval in
shape with entrances at either end. The site is currently managed
by the Town Council. A volunteer group AQIVA seeks to improve the
area, and has cleared the surroundings of the Obelisk
Coxwell Street
The inhabitants of this street have written a book about it. It
contains a number of older buildings, the Baptist Church in the
middle, and a Wool merchants elegant house at the end. It is a
fixture on the Deer Park School history course -six centuries in a
few steps.
The Baptist church is only a century and a half or so old, but if you
get the chance to see, they have wonderful records. By the time
you read this, the Baptists, having outgrown their church, have built
a new one on Chesterton Lane. The original building in Coxwell
Street will only retain its façade, as it gets converted into flats.
There are dated buildings, and if you look carefully, a dated
telephone junction box, but are they kidding? All well worthy of a
browse.
The Friends Meeting House, Thomas Street
Round the corner to the right from the Merchants house we
continue the nonconformist theme. Built in 1673 the Meeting
House has been in continuous use ever since. One of the earliest of
such buildings in the country, it has changed little over the
centuries. Cirencester Quakers have had a considerable role in the
town’s history. The large garden at the rear of the building was
formerly the burial ground. The graves are still retained and a plan
of the graveyard can be seen – the garden now forms a peaceful
oasis amid the surrounding busy streets with a good view of the
Parish Church and an attractive herbaceous border. You will find
the Quakers very conversant with the history of their building,
should you get into conversation.
Just across the road we find the Salvation Army in what was once a
Temperance Hall! If you visit during HODs (above) they put on a
good display of their history. Nearby is the Weavers Hall, probably
the earliest secular building left in the town (and probably the
oldest almshouse charity in the town, too). Other buildings are
worthy of note.
Old Unitarian Chapel (Anglican Parish Rooms) Gosditch Street
Continue to the end of Thomas Street and turn right. Some
hundred yards or so on the right, just past a furniture shop is an
entrance. Down this alley you will find the old Unitarian Chapel,
now reused as the Anglican Parish Rooms. Non conformity in
Cirencester dates back to the English Civil War period and the
Chapel’s early founders played a significant role in 17th century
events. The rooms have a rich history and have had a key impact in
the development of Cirencester’s non-conformity. The exterior
retains many original features, but the interior is much changed.
An article in “Gloucestershire History”, An Old Cirencester Chapel by
Fred James records the story.
The Parish Church of St John Baptist
This view from the graveyard brings home the many phases of this
building. The usual view from the Market Place shows the Town Hall
or South Porch: a unique Grade 1 listed building of the 1490s. The
Church cares for this secular structure which has been used by the
people of Cirencester for over 500 years. Both church and porch
have completed major renovation recently. Guides are available,
consult the desk in church. If the day is clear, do go up the tower (if
open). There are articles in our Newsletters nos 8 and 9 about the
church and churchyard, sadly not in print.
Cirencester Water Works Lewis Lane
The Cirencester Water Works Company was founded in 1882, but
the building is probably slightly later. While sewers were apparently
constructed slightly before then, there was no power to make
occupants connect to them (as now!). The water became tainted
from infiltration and the waterworks moved to Baunton in the
1930s (where it still is, though the supply is now augmented from
elsewhere). The waterworks building had a number of later uses
and is now part of a scheme of flats including the adjacent feed
mill. We do not have a history of utilities yet, perhaps we should...
We did have a gas works; did we have an electricity works?
Bowly Almshouses Watermoor Road
Just round the corner from the waterworks we find Watermoor
Road, leading to the Victorian extension of the town. Here
Christopher Bowly built a row of almshouses in the 1820s on both
sides of the road. They shared a water pump which is still there.
This reminds us that piped water is a recent commodity. Many
surrounding villages did not get running water until well after
World War Two.
There are many other places of note. Would you like to contribute a
snippet, or even an article about any other places in town? Contact
the webmaster [email button to right]
What’s with the blue bike?
You may have noticed a blue bike in some of the ecclesiastic
building pictures. Heritage Open Days Saturday always coincides
with a Charity Bike ride around all churches for Gloucestershire
Heritage Churches Trust. Riders are asked to visit as many or as few
churches as they like. You can also walk, ride a horse or maybe a
scooter (We have met a mobility scooter in a country churchyard,
but do not recommend the mode of transport!). Why not take a
stroll around all the churches and chapels of Cirencester to raise
funds for your church. There are more than you might think,
especially if you include those no longer in use. Ask the
Salvationists where they have worshipped over the years.
Page last updated 10 January 2018
Copyright Cirencester Archaeological & Historical Society 2006-2022
Contact us:
Facebook: Cirenhistory
Twitter: @CirenHissoc
Instagram: cirenhissoc