Gloucester is the non-metropolitan county of Gloucestershire with a population of around 121,900 according to 2011 census. It is a 53rd populous city in the United Kingdom. It is situated near the Welsh border on the eastern bank of the Severn River. Gloucester is a city in the southwest England and lies between the Forest of Dean and the Cotswolds rural area. Roman Emperor Nerva founded the city in AD 97. The first charter was granted to the city in 1155, gave the inhabitants the same rights as the civilians of London and the second charter gave the freedom of passage on the Severn River. The town’s economy is largely based on the service industry. The city is said to have been dominated by the aerospace industry in its earlier times.
History
The early settlement of the city found its root back to the Roman period. Romans built the Glevum, a Roman fort that became a colonia of retired legionaries. The number of remains, parts of the walls and coins have been discovered, and other Roman artefacts and tombstones are stored in the Gloucester City Museum. During the 4th century, Celtic Dubonni tribe had taken control of the city after the withdrawal of the Roman Empire. Until 584, the city became a part of Wessex in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. The city derived its name from the Anglo-Saxon fort.
In 577, the Saxons occupied the city. Its geographical location and the foundation of St Peter abbey contributed towards the growth of the town. The city was a borough with a castle before the Norman invasion of England. The remains of Northumbria King, Saint Oswald, brought to the small church at the beginning of the 10th century, attracted many pilgrims to the town. Recently, a unique coin was discovered in the north of the city dates back to 1077-80. The city had a large fishing industry in the medieval period. The main export was wool, leather, weapons and tools at that time. During the 14th century, the most significant period began in the history of the town with the convention of Parliament in Gloucester. The two grammar schools were built in the city in the 16th and 17th century: Sir Thomas Rich’s School and the Crypt School.
Transport
M5 motorway serves the Gloucester and runs to the east of the city. The north, central and south city is also served by Junction 11, Junction 11 a and Junction 12 respectively. The A38 connects the town with the cities of Bristol and Tewkesbury (civil parish in Gloucestershire) and runs to the north-south of the city, while A40, A46, A417 links Gloucester with the towns of Cheltenham, Monmouth and Cirencester. The city was the lowest bridging point on the river before the construction of Severn Bridge in 1966. The central railway station serves the city of Gloucester in England and connects to the cities of Reading, Nottingham, London, Cardiff and Birmingham.
Industry
Historically, the city was dominated by the aerospace business. The Gloucestershire Aircraft Company renamed as Gloster Aircraft Company in 1926 as international customers found difficult to pronounce ‘Gloucestershire’. The aviation history is celebrated by the sculpture in the city centre. The city is home to the large insurance company Ecclesiastical Insurance and Allchurches Trust, a large national charity in the United Kingdom. The TSB Bank and Lloyds Banking Group have their offices located in the city. A Business Park is located on the periphery of the city and has close links to the A417 and M5. The big brands including Detica, Direct Wines, Ageas and Fortis have their presence in the business park. The industrial history of the city is celebrated at the National Waterways Museum with interactive displays and canal boats.
Attractions
The famous places to visit in the city include Gloucester Cathedral, The Museum of Gloucester, National Waterways Museum, Gloucester Quays and Docks, Gloucestershire Arts and Crafts Centre, Jet Age Museum, Prinknash Abbey, The Barn Owl Centre and much more exciting locations.
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