West

Walking Tour of Gloucester, 14th April

N.B. Please note a change of date from the draft programme.

This will now be on Saturday 14^th April 2018, 10:30am – 3pm, and will be led by one of our members, Adam Dyer, Conservation Officer at Cheltenham Borough Council.

The tour will focus on the city centre, where often the buildings from the twentieth century are overlooked during tours in favour of the Roman remains, and the recently redeveloped docks. The centre of Gloucester has seen considerable development throughout the twentieth century, from art-deco through brutalism to contemporary.

The tour therefore explore the inter-war developments including King’s Square, art-deco cinemas and department stores, and the post-war re-planning of Gloucester as part of the 1962 Jellicoe Plan. This saw demolition of large parts of historic Gloucester and extensive redevelopment, often led by the municipal architects. Many of these c20 buildings are juxtaposed with 17^th, 18^th and 19^th century buildings. Gloucester City Council has, however, recently initiated a project to re-clad a significant number of these notable c20 buildings.

The tour will also examine an extensive collection of public art in the form of interpretation panels that continue to adorn buildings from the 1970s and the somewhat novel solutions to displaying Roman remains, such as glass panelled viewing chambers.

The afternoon will focus on the continued change in Gloucester ranging from the initial sparks of heritage-led regeneration of the 1980s and associated public realm schemes to the recent re-development of the Cathedral quarter.

Buildings include: The Regal (art-deco former cinema), Kings Square, Boots, East Gate Shopping Centre, and Shire Hall.

Cost of the event is £10, cash on the day please.

There are 20 places available, to book please contact Jack Konynenburg at jackkon@hotmail.co.uk by 9^th April 2018.