An afternoon stroll in Gloucester - buildings

UPDATED: Asthma taken a downturn again and after a night of just 2 1/2 hours sleep I took myself back to the Doc's and have had to up my steroids again and a full week's dose then a week of weaning myself off them.  A necessary evil with pollen levels this high.  Ah well, needs must.  I am looking forward to being able to go out for proper walks again though.  Have a lovely weekend.


We had fully intended to have a slow wander around the Cathedral, but unfortunately it was closed for half an hour due to a private service, so we will go next time.  I managed  a couple of photos to show how it looks after being spruced up, and renovated outside following the removal of the car park which used to be there.

The remains of St Oswald's Priory, near the Cathedral.  It has a prestigious history, having been founded by none other than Alfred the Great's daughter Aethelflaeda around AD900 and by 909 the bones of St Oswald had been taken there and it was dedicated to him.    Full history HERE.  I've been told there are celebrations there next week, in celebration of Aethelflaeda, Gloucester's Warrior Queen.  I'd love to go, but it's a long way for a day out.  (We were in the area for a reason last week).

This is where Bishop John Hooper was martyred on 9th February 1555.  His full history is HERE.  As you can tell, this is a post I have researched!!!

St Mary's Gate, t he entrance to the Cathedral.  Lovely old buildings remaining again.

A lovely old building, Robert Raike's house, 38

Southgate Street.  Many thanks to Wikipedia again.

Costa Coffee is housed in the most splendid 17th C Jacobean Merchant's House in Southgate Street.  I think it was originally a building called the Bell Inn.    I'd love to see inside . . .  It's apparently haunted by a ghost called Elsie, who has a penchant for moving the cutlery around! 

This one I HAVE identified, as it is the Baker's Clock.  It shows Father Time and the other four figures appear to be representing the four countries of the United Kingdom.  

The New Inn - which apparently has a fabulous courtyard out the back.  Built on the site of an earlier inn by John Twyning (a monk) in 1450, it was used as a hostelry for the former Benedictine Abbey of St Peter.   Following the dissolution the inn became the property of the Dean and Chapter of Gloucester Cathedral, and had tenant innkeepers until its sale in mid-Victorian times.  (For that history, many thanks to Wikipedia.)  It too has a ghost, which pushes glasses around on tables (there is a Youtube film of this if you care to look for it) and HERE is a little write-up.

Ye Olde Restaurant and Fish and Chip shoppe.  8 Hare Lane, Gloucester.  A fabulous old building.  This is an early 16th C merchant's house with jetties.  Perhaps we could have lunch there another time, and have a nosy round upstairs!

A strange street name I thought, and apparently it derives from "ox" and "blood" so this was probably the shambles area of Gloucester in Medieval times and earlier.  Here is a lovely link to lost buildings/streets of Gloucester, found whilst looking up Oxebode Street.  There is a picture of what the street used to look like and yes, it did lead to the nearby cattle market.

Ox Eye Daisies and Wild Barley growing on rough land between the canal and the Priory.  When we were kids we used to palm a Barley head and then pat someone on the back to make it stick there.  We did the same with Goosegrass (Cleavers) and called it Sticky Willy!!

Ox Eye Daisies also have a medicinal use and were used as an antispasmodic, diuretic and tonic.  It was also used to treat asthma, whooping cough and nervous excitability.  Also used as a lotion for wounds, bruises and ulcers.  It was dedicated to Artemis, the goddess of women.

Common Mallow nearby.  Its Botanical name (Malva) comes from the Greek word, "malaxos" meaning slimy or to soften.  Its use in herbal medicine was as a remedy for asthma, coughs, throat infections, emphysema etc, and it contains Vitamin C, mucus, tannins and flavinoids.  It was also used to treat wounds or inflammation of the mouth, throat, stomach etc.  Not too surprising that it is growing near the Priory then.  Please follow the link - it's a really interesting site.