Daryl & Heather Overland

It was a couple of weeks ago now, but I thought it time to tell the world all about our little trip to the Jewel of the Severn*, Gloucester.

It was one of those places (Cardiff, Hereford, Glastonbury, Bath) that you can do in a fairly easy day trip from Bristol, so, having a fairly easy day spare, we went for it. There are not a huge amount of interesting things in the city, but there are a few gems. The three highlights of the trip were.

1. The Folk Museum. Full of old Gloucester bits and pieces (shovels, cooking implements, a replica classroom etc.) in a really old (outrageously warped floors old) building in the centre of Gloucester. The most popular exhibit is Old Spot, a big old stuffed pig.

2. The Nature in Art gallery (which is actually about 4km north of Gloucester, I'd suggest taking the bus, and not taking the shortcut through the corn fields, I know from experience). Lots of nice outdoor sculptures, lots of nice indoor paintings, photographs and sculptures, and even a resident artist creating a mosaic for someone's swimming pool.

3. Gloucester Cathedral, and in particular, the free private tour of the crypt we scored, just by being in the right place (the entrance) at the right time (when the tour guide was looking around desperately for someone to guide... she was very keen). We got a closeup look at all the extra foundations they've been putting in because the cathedral is sinking. It has a very nice Cloister as well (see photo).


*Jewel of the Severn logo and related trademarks copyright Daryl Holland (2006)

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