I'm Cerdic First King of Wessex. Welcome to my Kingdom.

The Anglo Saxon invasion started around 400AD and Gloucester was conquered in 577AD .The Anglo Saxon Chronicles state " In this year Cuthwine and Ceawlin fought against the Britons and killed three Kings, Conmail,Condidan, and Farinmail at the place which is called Dyrham; and they captured three of their cities, Gloucester,Cirencester and Bath " In 628 AD the west Saxons were defeated by the Mercians and it is thought that about this time the Kingdom of Hwicce was created. This Kingdom corresponded roughly to the counties of Gloucestershire and Worcestershire.  Below you will find a list of Tourist Offices in Gloucestershire who will be only too pleased to make your visit pleasant. After that are the Great Gloucestershire  Attractions. The Cotswolds are one of the most attractive areas of Britain and are a must for any visitor to Britain. we have a multitude of reference pages which were created some time ago and are now under reconstruction. So on here you will find dedicated pages to specialist activities in Wessex & Mercia. These include a list of Agricultural ,Horse Shows etc, The Wessex Hall of Fame, Michelin starred restaurants in Wessex,Seaside Resorts,Theatres in Wessex & the UK, List of Films made in Wessex, Wessex Names, Golf Clubs, Football Clubs, Rugby Clubs, and Racetracks . Campers & Caravanners have their own dedicated section too. I have even got my own page for readers letters and news snippets, mainly from my ancient capital Chard.  Click here to contact us

The earliest verifiable recorded history of Batsford Park, of which Batsford Arboretum forms the central part, dates back to the Freeman family who owned the estate in the early part of the 17th Century. We know that a substantial house existed on the site which was altered and extended over a period of some 200 years. The gardens were extensive and originally formal in their layout, evolving into a more relaxed theme in the late 19th century.

Hangar E2,
Kemble Airfield,
Cirencester
Gloucestershire about 4 miles south west of Cirencester on the A429.
BRISTOL AERO
COLLECTION CLICK

Cerney House Gardens

This historic Elizabethan house, home of the Lowsley-Williams family, contains much of interest to the discerning visitor. During the tour of the house, usually conducted by a member of the family, visitors can see the tapestry rooms and furniture and relics of the Cromwelllian period.During the Civil War (1641-49) Chavenage was owned by Colonel Nathaniel Stephens, M.P. for Gloucestershire who was persuaded by Oliver Cromwell, to whom he was related by marriage, to vote for the King's impeachment. Soon after the King was beheaded, Colonel Stephens died and it is said that his ghostly form was seen being driven away from Chavenage by a headless coachman wearing the Royal vestments. Featured in the BBC2 programme 'Stately Suppers', hosted by the celebrity Chef James Martin. The house has also been used as a location for many television productions including Agatha Christie's Hercule Poirot, Casualty, House of Elliot, Berkeley Square, Cider with Rosieand the US series Relic Hunter III. Available for weddings & Corporate entertainment.

Chedworth Roman Villa

Chedworth is the best site in the country for exploring and understanding the remains of a large country house of the Roman period. Chedworth Roman Villa is very much an interactive attraction, with many events being staged so that your experience of the site is ehanced and your understanding of the Roman way of life improved. The villa was discovered by accident in 1864, when a gamekeeper found fragments of paving and pottery on the bank of soild which covered what is now referred to as room 32. The importance of these finds were recognised by James Farrer who uncovered most of the buildings now visible over a period of two years at the expense of the then owner, the Earl of Eldon, who also provided the Museum and roofing for some of the structures. In 1924 the site was bought for The National Trust by means of subscriptions raised largely by the Bristol and Gloucestershire Archaeological Society. Since that time, further discoveries have been made such as a child's coffin in 1935, the excavation of Room 4 in 1954 and a series of excavations by Sir John Richmond from 1958 until his death in 1965. The site today looks different from how it would have looked in the Roman period. The vegetation of the area now largely comprises of modern plantations and at the time when the villa was built the trees were probably less dense than they are today. The contours of the site would have been much sharper than they are now. When maintenance and repair of the building stopped, when the buildings were eventually abandoned, the roofs and walls would have collapsed. Soil eroded from the slopes by the weather would have collected behind the walls and eventually would have covered them thereby preserving some walls to a considerable height. A large amount of this debris was moved in the excavations of the 19th century and now forms the platform on which the custodian's house, originally a shooting lodge, was built before 1870. The edge of this modern terrace runs along the lawn east of the modern house, thus softening the outlines of the modern landscape.

Chedworth Roman Villa

Chedworth Roman Villa is 3 miles northwest of Fossebridge on the Cirencester to Northleach road (A429)
Approach from A429 via Yanworth or from A436 via Withington (coaches must approach from Fossebridge). Many of the roads on the approach to Chedworth Roman Villa are quite narrow so drive with care.
CHEDWORTH ROMAN
VILLA CLICK

Cheltenham is the most complete Regency town in England and one of the few English towns in which traditional and contemporary architecture complement each other. Cheltenham began as an Anglo-Saxon village over 1200 years ago. In1226 it became a market town, which was the basis of its economy until the 18 century, when its medicinal waters were discovered in a field to the south of the town, where Cheltenham Ladies� College now stands. These were regarded as beneficial for a whole range of illnesses and by the late 18 century the town was one of England�s leading spas.In 1788 King George III spent five weeks at Cheltenham, drinking the waters for his health�s sake. His visit �set the seal� on the town�s popularity and during the following years the number of visitors and residents increased dramatically. Between 1700 and 1800 its population rose from 1500 to over 3000 and by 1850 it was the largest town in Gloucestershire, with a population of more than 35,000. Among famous visitors were members of the English and Continental Royal families, including Princess (later Queen) Victoria, the Duke of Wellington, and the novelists Jane Austen and Lord Byron.Visitors to the town would drink the waters at either the original spa or one of the rival spas that were established in the early 19 century, such as Montpellier and Pittville. Several of the spas had tree-lined walks, rides and gardens in which the visitors could �promenade�, often with a band of musicians in attendance. Regular public breakfasts, gala fetes, firework displays and other entertainments were held at the larger spas. Visitors could also attend balls, assemblies and concerts at the Assembly Rooms, plays at the Theatre Royal and horse races at the racecourse. They could also shop for souvenirs along the High Street and, from the 1820s, in the fashionable new shopping areas of Montpellier and the Promenade.Cheltenham�s heyday as a spa lasted from about 1790 to 1840 and these years saw the building of the town�s many fine Regency terraces, crescents and villas. By 1840 it had also become a popular residential town, particularly for military families, many of whom had served in the Empire. It also gained a reputation for the quality of preaching in its many churches and chapels and for its schools and colleges, which encouraged still more families to settle in the town.

Cheltenham Archers Club Ground is located at 

 Cheltenham Race Course

Email: admin@bacontheatre.demon.co.uk

Ballooning Network
Coronation Rd,Bristol, BS3 1RN
Monday to Friday  8:00-am to 5:00pm
BALLOONING CLICK

Cheltenham College is a great school in every sense. Founded in 1841, it grew quickly to become one of the largest boarding schools in the UK, with a distinctively Christian foundation and emphases on scholarship and public service. Today there are approximately 450 full boarders and 150 day-pupils, both boys and girls, and it occupies the most beautiful of buildings close to the centre of the Regency town of Cheltenham.Whilst proud of its history, the College is not at all pretentious. It has a tremendously positive ethos and is a place where pupils with all sorts of talents and interests are happy and flourish. Preparing pupils for public examinations is central to its purpose, but the pursuit of academic success is balanced by the provision of a rich vein of extra-curricular opportunities. Pupils take part in sport, music, art, drama, academic societies and a whole plethora of activities, all of which contribute to making them self-confident and well-rounded young people.

How to enterSend a short summary of your short film, on one A4 page or less, and to
By email :
lucy@screenwritersfestival.com By post:
SCRIPT_1 Competition
International Screenwriters' Festival
Arturi Films Ltd, Fern House
Bath Road, Stroud
Gloucestershire GL5 3TL.

Playing in 2006
Lee Konitz
Clare Martin
Dianne Reeves
Abdullah Ibrahim
BBC Concert Orchestra featuring Clare Teal and Ian Shaw
World Saxophone Quartet
Vijay Iyer Quartet
Eri Yamamoto
David Binney Quartet
Townhouse Orchestra with Evan Parker

Soweto Kinch
Herbaliser
DJ Format
DJ Norman Jay with Leftfoot and Sugar Beats
Puppini Sisters
Cleveland Watkiss
Tunde Jegede
Jerwood Rising Stars presents...
Abram Wilson
Julia Biel
Sugar Beats
Gwilym Simcock

For 60 years, the people of Cheltenham have enjoyed the notable facility of their own Theatre. A Theatre in which talented amateurs from all walks of life can work together with a single purpose; the presentation of non-professional drama of exceptionally high standards to the theatre-going public.The Playhouse is owned by the Cheltenham Borough Council but the management of the building and its activities are undertaken entirely voluntarily. The Playhouse Theatre Cheltenham, which leases the building from the Council, has currently around 300 members who are represented by an elected committee which administers the facilities of the building. The PTC's income is generated almost entirely by the Theatre Box Office and its two bars. It receives no grants or public money and continues to thrive due to its policy of good housekeeping. Over the years, the PTC has made significant improvements to the Theatre to the benefit of its audiences and performers. The club employs box office and cleaning staff who ensure the smooth running of the theatre during normal office hours, when the majority of club members are at their jobs! It is in the evenings that the theatre comes alive; performances to the general public change every other week, groups utilise rehearsal rooms to work on their current productions, members meet to plan and design future shows, backstage crews construct and paint scenery and those members not actually involved in a show may meet for a social drink in the members' club bar. The Cheltenham Playhouse Theatre is an important amenity to the people of Cheltenham. It gives pleasure to thousands of people who regularly demonstrate their support by continuing to enjoy the performances staged here. Tthis is Cheltenham's own Theatre, managed, supported and maintained by the people of Cheltenham, for the people of Cheltenham.

Welcome to Regent Arcade. With 70 shops and stylish brands to tempt you, 5 restaurants to refresh you and 500 parking spaces to relax you. It's your place to experience Cheltenham -2 floors of stylish shopping brands at the heart of Cheltenham -Six cafes to refresh you. Stop for coffee, grab a pretzel or relax over lunch -Regent Arcade restrooms are available on the first floor near the lifts -Photo Me booth and ATM Machine are located on the Ground Floor

Cirencester, known as the "Capital Of The Cotswolds", is an historic Roman town in the heart of the Cotswolds with attractions from a Roman Ampitheatre to the nearby Chedworth Roman Villa. The Corinium Museum in an important source of information on the local history.The Greek writer Ptolemy mentions Korinion in his Geography, written about AD 150, and it is agreed that the Romans based the name Corinium on a Celtic word Corn or Corin. This may derive from the name of the British tribe, the Cornovii, and in any case it is connected with the name of the River Churn.Cirencester is an historic wool town that had great importance in Roman times. It's impressive church dominates the Market Place and can be viewed for miles around.Cirencester has great road links to the surrounding area which makes it the ideal base for touring the Cotswolds.In the town you will find the famous Corinium Museum which has recently be re-opened after a major refurbishment and improvement programme. And the Cirencester outdoor swimming pool is one of the oldest open air swimming pools in Britain.

Corinium Museum, Cirencester

The Corinium Museum, Cirencester, re-opened its doors on Wednesday, September 15 2004 � after a �5m transformation which has made it the must-see visitor attraction of the Cotswolds.The Corinium Museum had been closed for two years to undergo a stunning makeover, doubling its size and allowing many fascinating treasures to go on show for the first time.The project was funded by owners Cotswold District Council (�1.775m); the Heritage Lottery Fund (�2.725m) and donations through the Cotswold Museums Charitable Trust.Visitors can trace the story of the Cotswolds from Prehistory to the late 19th Century, with hands-on exhibits, interactive displays and a wealth of precious artefacts. There are animated and practical games, and audio-visual screens to bring the past to life for everyone from schoolchildren to grandparents.Special emphasis is placed on the town�s Roman heritage, reflecting Cirencester�s importance as the second biggest Roman town, Corinium, outside London. The Roman collection is now spread over two floors and includes marvellous mosaics, tombstones and sculpture as well as room and shop reconstructions and objects from everyday Roman life. A dramatic new Anglo-Saxon gallery has been created to house the finds � including rare gold pendants - from the cemetery uncovered at Butler�s Field, Lechlade, in 1985. Here, visitors will come face to face with their ancestors in the shape of a forensically-reconstructed Anglo-Saxon man and child who were among the 219 bodies.The centrepiece of this new gallery is the reconstruction of the grave of �Mrs Getty�, the 6th Century Anglo-Saxon princess so nicknamed because of the 500 treasures buried with her.The revamped medieval gallery focuses on the impact that the wool trade had on the town of Cirencester and its Abbey � the second largest Augustinian foundation in the country. Although almost completely destroyed during the dissolution of the monasteries, it has left a wealth of sculpture and architectural carvings.

The Home of Rare Breed Conservation offers the chance to meet over 50 flocks and herds of British rare-breed farm animals.Interactive, educational and fun, the whole family will find themselves easily entertained whatever the weather. New for 2006: "Quest for the Cotswold Lion" Maze.

Cotswold Motoring Museum
& Toy Collection

The Cotswold Motoring Museum is owned and run by csma (Civil Service Motoring Association).  csma is a not-for-profit motoring and leisure organisation which was founded in 1923 and now has more than 380,000 members. The Museum was acquired in 1999 when the original owner retired. The Museum reflects the motoring history of the csma and caring for the Museum is something for which we are extremely proud. Since 1999 csma have invested heavily in the Museum. Much of the initial investment has been made to repair and improve the listed buildings, raising health and safety standards, improving facilities for visitors with disabilities in accordance with the Disability Discrimination Act and providing opportunities to make the Museum commercially sustainable. Working with museum support agencies we have raised standards of visitor care and introduced policies to improve collections care, access, interpretation and education. In 2005/6 we are building a new gallery which will allow us to expand our collection to cover motoring in the 1960s and 70s. 

Welcome to the 'Queen of Forests' one of England's few remaining ancient forests covering over 110 square kilometres of woodland. The Forest of Dean lies in the western part of Gloucestershire, between the rivers Wye and Severn and on the borders of Wales and Herefordshire. It is one of the most distinctive areas of Britain, having a seductive charm and character that is uniquely its own. Its range of stunning landscapes and spectacular scenery has inspired artists, craftspeople, inventors, poets and playwrights, as well as the many visitors who return to the area year after year The Forest of Dean has a wealth of places to visit throughout the district. There is something to suit all tastes and ages, whatever the weather. So don't miss the opportunity to discover more about this fascinating landscape and culture, with a visit to some of the many attractions in the area.  With 27,000 acres of ancient woodland, hundreds of kilometres of off-road cycling, walking trails and riding paths, plus one of the country's most unspoilt rivers, all set within spectacular scenery, the Royal Forest of Dean is the perfect adventure playground, whatever the weather.  The Royal Forest of Dean is a truly inspirational place where creativity flourishes. The magical environment of the Forest has nurtured poets, potters and painters, and has been the inspiration for many writers of international renown such as JK Rowling, JRR Tolkien and Dennis Potter. 

Gloucester City Museum & Art Gallery

The City Museum and Art Gallery has been collecting archaeological finds, fine and decorative arts and natural history specimens representing Gloucester's rich heritage since 1860. The fascinating displays housed in a fine Victorian building in the heart of the City contain many items of national and international importance. The 200,000 objects in our care include: dinosaur remains, archaeology, pre-historic riches, Roman and Medieval treasures, coins, furniture and clocks, ceramics and silverware, paintings and drawings. Recent improvements include new hands-on exhibits and computer interactives, new visitor facilities and redesigned displays. We have an expanding programme of temporary exhibitions and activities.

Gloucester Folk Museum

Gloucestershire County Cricket Club is the most successful one-day side of the last 10 years, our achievement in winning seven trophies in just five years is second to none.This has transformed Gloucestershire, who are now recognised by the public, media and business community as a successful and ambitious organisation. With screenings of One Day Internationals and domestic matches, sponsors and advertisers receive maximum exposure on both Sky TV and Channel 4, as well as fantastic regional and national coverage in the media.By promoting successful partnerships with corporate clients we are able to create success for both parties. Gloucestershire County Cricket Club can provide a package of promotional opportunities designed to develop brand awareness and create sales for associated products where required.A partnership is one of the most successful ways of benefiting from an association with Gloucestershire County Cricket Club. We can package different corporate opportunities to help you achieve your own company's objectives.

Kelmscott Manor, a grade 1 listed Tudor farmhouse adjacent to the River Thames, was the summer home of William Morris  from 1871 until his death in 1896. Morris loved the house as a work of true craftsmanship, totally unspoilt and unaltered, and in harmony with the village and the surrounding countryside.
William Morris considered it so natural in its setting as to be almost organic, it looked to him as if it had 'grown up out of the soil'; and with 'quaint garrets amongst great timbers of the roof where of old times the tillers and herdsmen slept'.