In AD 64, they built a new fort on the site in the center of Gloucester. The Romans built a fort at Kingsholm in AD 49 to guard the crossing of the river. It lies at the first point where the Severn river can be easily crossed, making it a natural place to build a town. Gloucester began as a Roman town.
The new town was called Glevum. The Roman army moved onto the site of a fort, which was retired for the soldiers, but the town was established there. Roman Gloucester was laid out in a grid pattern. This town had a marketplace with lined public buildings and shops. The center of the town was a forum.
Most Roman towns were abandoned afterward. The last Roman soldiers left Britain in AD 407. However, Roman civilization went into decline in the 4th century.
Gloucester in the 19th century
The sewers network was constructed in the late 19th century. In the 1850s and 1860s, a water supply was piped in. In 1831, a dispensary was established where the underprivileged could acquire free medications, and in 1820, Gloucester gained street gas lighting. The conditions in Gloucester improved during the 19th century.
Gloucester started operating horse-drawn trams in 1879. The School of Science and the School of Art were established in 1872. The Gloucester Museum was founded in 1860.
In the early 1800s, pin-making served as the primary industry in Gloucester, employing approximately 20% of the residents.
Constructed in 1819 was a dry dock where ships could undergo repairs. This was succeeded by another dry dock in 1853. A ship canal from Gloucester to Sharpness was also constructed in 1827. Along this canal, timber from Scandinavia was transported. In the same year, the North Warehouse was built. Biddles warehouse was established in 1830. Additionally, two more warehouses, Vinings and Reynolds, were built in 1840.
The Mariners Chapel was established in 1849 and a Custom House was constructed in 1845. Three additional warehouses, Phillpotts, Herbert, and Kimberley, were erected in 1846. Victoria dock was inaugurated in 1849.
In the 19th century, Gloucester, a significant market town, did not serve as a hub for manufacturing. The production of pins experienced a decline and ultimately ceased by the mid 19th century. Additionally, there were other industries such as shipbuilding, the manufacturing of farm machinery, timber milling, and flour milling. The production of railway carriages commenced in Gloucester during the late 19th century, coinciding with the arrival of the railway in the town in 1840.
The construction of Eastgate market portico took place in 1856. A monument in honor of Bishop Hooper, who was executed in 1555, was erected in 1862. In 1864, Addison’s Folly, another notable structure, was built.
In the late 19th century, Gloucester experienced a smallpox epidemic that claimed the lives of 434 individuals. However, the growth of Tredworth and Kingsholm contributed to the spread of the disease. By the end of the 19th century, the population of Gloucester had reached approximately 47,000, a significant increase from the 17,500 population in 1851. Gloucester saw rapid growth throughout the 19th century.
Gloucester in the 18th century
The center of the town, which had been standing for centuries, was demolished in 1778 to facilitate the flow of traffic. In 1761, a medical facility was established in Gloucester. Ladybellegate House was constructed around 1704.
In 1791, a new prison was established at Gloucester castle. To improve traffic flow, the North Gate, Outer North Gate, and South Gate were all demolished during the 1780s. The Southgate also served as one of the market areas established in 1768. To alleviate congestion and facilitate traffic movement, all the stalls that were obstructing the streets were relocated to two newly constructed market areas in 1768, one in Eastgate and the other in Southgate.
In the 18th century, the wool trade completely declined in Gloucester, while the production of pins thrived.
Gloucester in the 16th century
Constructed as a lodging establishment circa 1500, The Fleece Hotel. The Abbey Church was designated as the new cathedral, and Gloucester was granted a bishop in 1541. Religious alterations were implemented in England by Henry VIII and his son Edward from 1547 to 1553. Henry’s daughter Mary attempted to reverse these modifications. Numerous Protestants, including John Hooper, Bishop of Gloucester, were executed by burning under her rule. He was burned for heresy in St Marys Square in 1555.
Meanwhile, in 1540, a grammar school named the Crypt School was established in Gloucester.
The wool commerce persisted to diminish throughout the 16th and 17th centuries. Gloucester additionally experienced frequent occurrences of plague. Outbreaks transpired in 1565, 1573, 1577, 1580, 1593, and 1637.
Saxon Gloucester
After the Romans left, there may have been a small number of farmers living inside the abandoned land outside the walls of Gloucester in Britain.
In 577 AD, the Saxons seized control of Gloucester following their victory over the indigenous Celts. It remains uncertain whether there were any inhabitants in Gloucester during that period.
Gloucester, referred to as “One of the most honorable cities in the realm” by a writer during the early 8th century, experienced a resurgence as artisans and traders once more settled in the area. In the late 7th century, the Saxons established a monastery in Gloucester, further contributing to its revival.
In the late 9th century, the Saxons created a network of fortified towns called burghs. In the event of a Danish attack, all the men in the area would gather in the burgh to fight. Gloucester was one such burgh. In AD 915, men from Gloucestershire gathered in the town and then went out to fight and defeated the Danes in battle.
Gloucester thrived in the 10th century and it possessed a mint. A residential area developed outside the North entrance.
In 1153, a diminutive priory, distinguished for its religious status, was transformed into the ecclesiastical establishment that accommodated the sacred shrine of St Oswald. During that era, individuals embarked on extensive voyages known as pilgrimages to pay homage to the relics of revered saints. The mortal remains of St Oswald were relocated to Gloucester in 909 AD. Numerous individuals flocked to Gloucester with the intention of visiting the mortal remains of St Oswald, thereby contributing to the local economy through their expenditures.
Gloucester in the 20th century
Gloucester experienced rapid growth in the 20th century, with the surrounding countryside expanding and reaching outwards to encompass Longlevens, Hucclecote, Wotton, and Tuffley in the 1900s.
In 1929, buses took the place of the electric ones, which had previously taken over from the horse-drawn trams in 1904 and acquired an electricity source in 1900. The conditions in Gloucester experienced significant improvement during the 20th century.
The year 1902 saw the establishment of a museum in Eastgate. Later, in 1913, a fire station was constructed in Southgate Street. Subsequently, in 1956, a brand new fire station was erected on Eastern Avenue.
However, in 1923, there was another occurrence of smallpox in Gloucester. This time only 3 individuals lost their lives.
During the 1920s, the process of removing slums commenced in Gloucester. Council residences took the place of these impoverished areas. The Oxbode, a building constructed in 1929, now stands where the slums of Oxbode Lane once existed. Furthermore, in 1933, the Gloucester folk museum was inaugurated.
Gloucester opened the Advertising and Packaging Museum in 1984. A museum dedicated to Beatrix Potter was established in 1979. The Eastgate shopping center was inaugurated in 1973.
The city council relocated a renovated warehouse to the rest of the docks in 1987, followed by the opening of a heritage center in 1988.
Urban renewal persisted in the city center of Gloucester. Housing developments were constructed at Lower Ruffleu, Podsmead, Elmbridge, and Matson during the 1950s. Gloucester continued to experience substantial growth in the latter half of the 20th century.
In the 1980s, more private houses were built in Abbeymead. In the 1970s, private houses were built in Saintbridge. Private houses were also built in Hucclecote and Barnwood.
Aircraft production commenced in Gloucester in 1915. A municipal airport was established in Gloucester in 1936. The Gloucester docks experienced a decline in the later part of the 20th century.
In the late 20th century, Gloucester included industries such as increased banking and insurance services, while the importance of manufacturing declined. Nevertheless, Gloucester was involved in industries such as printing and ice cream manufacturing, timber mills, aircraft manufacturing, railway rolling stock, and farm machinery production.
Gloucester in the 17th century
During the 16th century, Gloucester remained a relatively large town with a population of approximately 4,000. However, it had previously held greater significance compared to the beginning of the 17th century.
During the 17th century, there was a significant increase in pin production in Gloucester, despite the decline of the cloth trade. Moreover, Gloucester remained a bustling seaport and a hub for trade in the nearby area.
The school charity, known as the “blue school” because of the blue school uniforms, was established in 1668. The population of Gloucester in the late 17th century was approximately 5,000.
When they heard that a parliamentary army was coming, the royalists withdrew and held out in Gloucester. However, the Gloucester army, in 1643, fired their cannons and laid siege to the king’s army. They also erected some earthwork defenses and demolished the houses outside the walls to deny cover to the enemy. Gloucester went in support of parliament, while the king supported the royalists. Gloucester suffered severely in the civil war between parliament and the king, which lasted from 1642 to 1646 in the Southwest.
King Charles commanded the demolition of the fortifications encircling Gloucester, yet he remained unimpressed. In order to gain his favor, the city constructed a monument of Charles I in 1662. Gloucester acquired its inaugural fire apparatus in 1648.
Gloucester in the Middle Ages
In 1085, William the Conqueror arrived in Gloucester and during his stay, he commanded the creation of the Domesday Book.
Gloucester was said to be ranked 10th among the towns in England in terms of wealth. Today, these towns are much smaller than they were in those days. It was a fairly large town by the standards of that time. Gloucester may have had a population of about 3,500 in the Middle Ages.
The people of Gloucester benefited from warfare because the garrison of the castle provided goods for the market. Gloucester was strategically important in the 12th and 13th centuries due to frequent warfare between the English and Welsh. It was rebuilt in stone in the 12th century, after the Normans had built a wooden castle in the late 11th century.
In 1155, the king granted Gloucester a charter (a document granting the townsfolk specific privileges).
The wool was dyed when it dried. The wool was thickened and cleaned by pounding clay and water in it, which means that the wool was then fulled and woven in Gloucester. Raw wool was brought from the Cotswolds to the town. The main industry in Medieval Gloucester was wool making.
The Severn River had a substantial fishing trade. France imported wine, fabric, and grain that were exported from Gloucester. Iron was utilized in Gloucester to produce tools, weapons, and nails. Craftsmen, including glovers, shoemakers, and cappers, crafted items from leather, alongside tanners and other skilled workers. Additionally, medieval Gloucester boasted a thriving leather industry.
Roofs thatched with wood were banned as a result of a fire in Gloucester in 1223. Since the Middle Ages, towns with mostly thatched roof buildings were constantly at risk of fire.
In 1275, all Jews in Bristol were compelled to depart, while in 1268, in Gloucester, they were unjustly accused of a ritual murder. During the 12th century, there existed a Jewish community in Gloucester.
In 1231, Franciscan friars came. They were referred to as Grey friars due to the shade of their attire. In 1239, Dominican friars, recognized as black friars, came after. During the 13th century, the friars arrived in Gloucester. Friars resembled monks, but instead of isolating themselves from society, they ventured out to deliver sermons.
Gloucester’s wealth was enhanced by the influx of tourists to his burial place, where the remains of King Edward II were interred at St Peter’s Abbey in 1327.
Constructed on the location of a previous lodging, thus earning its name, the New Inn came into existence during the early 15th century. As Gloucester faced a decline during the same century, the town experienced a prolonged economic downturn. It is likely that the primary cause of this decline was the growing rivalry from other towns involved in the wool trade. Additionally, Gloucester’s loss of its strategic significance, possibly due to the conquest of Wales, could have served as an additional factor.
In 1483, Richard III granted Gloucester a fresh charter. This time, the merchants were bestowed with the privilege of choosing a mayor and 12 aldermen.
Gloucester in the 21st century
Gloucester is a prosperous city today. Additionally, the shopping center Quays Gloucester was established in 2009. Gloucester also commemorates the end of the siege in 1643, which is celebrated as Gloucester Day in 2009. Gloucester experienced significant damage from severe floods in 2007.