| The Fleece Hotel | |
|---|---|
 The Fleece Hotel (centre) | |
 | |
| Former names | Golden Fleece Inn |
| General information | |
| Type | Hotel |
| Address | 19 Westgate Street |
| Town or city | Gloucester |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Completed | 1497 |
| Renovated | 2014 |
The Fleece Hotel, Westgate Street, Gloucester is a timber framed building dating from the 15th century, which incorporated a 12th-century stone undercroft. The building is part grade I and part grade II listed with Historic England.
The Fleece Hotel was first opened in 1497 as one of the three major inns of Gloucester to house pilgrims visiting the tomb of Edward II of England. The 12th century undercroft, known as the "Monk's Retreat" was originally part of a merchant's house, and was incorporated into the structure. [1] [2] By 1455, it was a property owned by Gloucester Abbey, and was developed into an inn by the Abbey during the 16th century. It was first recorded as the Golden Fleece Inn in 1673. The building was made part Grade I listed on 24 January 1952, [2] with other parts of the building made Grade II listed on 15 December 1998. [3]
After the building was left empty for around nine years, the hotel was purchased by Gloucester City Council in 2011. [4] Later that year, the council announced a £350,000 restoration scheme, with the leader of the city council, Paul James, saying "We want to restore it to bring it back into use and we want to do that as quickly as possible." [5] They subsequently undertook waterproofing work in both the salt loft and the kitchen block, with further repair works and partial demolition afterwards. [4] Two years later, plans were revealed for the building to be run as a backpacker's hostel by the YMCA, and with the undercroft operated as a cafe/bar. [1]
On 20 July 2017, the building suffered an arson attack which caused extensive damage, particularly to the roof, which made it unusable until repair work could be carried out. [6]
On 17 September 2019, Gloucester City Council announced that the site would be redeveloped into a boutique hotel in partnership with Dowdeswell Estates [7] [8] Before any firm plans were agreed however, Dowdeswell Estates Limited ceased trading [9] (not related to this project) and the scheme was therefore abandoned. Since then a number of potential partners and possible schemes have been proposed but none have so far progressed to the stage of an agreed proposal.
An extensive programme of stripping out to expose the structure, to facilitate building recording, was carried out in association with Historic England and a detailed report was published in 2023. [10] The property is currently being maintained on an essential repairs only basis by the owners (Gloucester City Council) pending decisions regarding the long term future of this important site.
Gloucester is a cathedral city and the county town of Gloucestershire in the South West of England. Gloucester lies on the River Severn, between the Cotswolds to the east and the Forest of Dean to the west; it is sited 19 miles (31 km) from Monmouth, 33 miles (53 km) from Bristol, and 17 miles (27 km) east of the border with Wales. Gloucester has a population of around 132,000, including suburban areas. It is a port, linked via the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal to the Severn Estuary.
Gloucester Cathedral, formally the Cathedral Church of St Peter and the Holy and Indivisible Trinity and formerly St Peter's Abbey, in Gloucester, England, stands in the north of the city near the River Severn. It originated with the establishment of a minster, Gloucester Abbey, dedicated to Saint Peter and founded by Osric, King of the Hwicce, in around 679.
Wythenshawe Hall is a 16th-century timber-framed historic house and former manor house in Wythenshawe, Manchester, England, 5 miles (8.0 km) south of Manchester city centre in Wythenshawe Park. Built for Robert Tatton, it was home to the Tatton family for almost 400 years. Its basic plan is a central hall with two projecting wings.
Amport House is a country house near the village of Amport, Andover, Hampshire, England. It is a Grade II listed building.
Stonehouse is a town in the Stroud District of Gloucestershire in southwestern England.
Northleach is a market town and former civil parish, now in parish Northleach with Eastington, in the Cotswold district, in Gloucestershire, England. The town is in the valley of the River Leach in the Cotswolds, about 10 miles (16 km) northeast of Cirencester and 11 miles (18 km) east-southeast of Cheltenham. The 2011 Census recorded the parish's population as 1,854, the same as Northleach built-up-area. The 2021 Census recorded the population as 1,931.
Hardwicke is a large village on the A38 road 7 km south of the city of Gloucester, Gloucestershire, England. Despite its proximity to Gloucester, the village comes under Stroud Council. The population of the village taken at the United Kingdom Census 2011 was 3,901.
Shenington is a village and former civil parish, now in the parish of Shenington with Alkerton, in the Cherwell district, in the county of Oxfordshire, England. It is about 5 miles (8 km) west of Banbury, it was an exclave of Gloucestershire until the Counties Act 1844 transferred it to Oxfordshire. Shenington is on Oxfordshire's boundary with Warwickshire. Shenington was an ancient parish of 1,628 acres (659 ha). In 1961 the parish had a population of 232. On 1 April 1970 the parish was abolished and merged with Alkerton to form "Shenington with Alkerton".
Cold Aston is a village and civil parish in Gloucestershire, England, approximately 18 miles (29 km) to the east of Gloucester. It lies in the Cotswolds, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. In the 2011 census, the population was 255.
Crudwell is a village and civil parish in north Wiltshire, England. The nearest towns are Malmesbury, about 4 miles (6.4 km) to the south-west, and Cirencester, Gloucestershire 8 miles (13 km) to the north-east. Also to the north-east is Cotswold Airport. Kemble village, about 4 miles (6.4 km) away, has the nearest railway station, with services to London Paddington and Gloucester.
The New Inn, 16 Northgate Street, Gloucester, England, is a timber framed building used as a public house, hotel and restaurant. It is the most complete surviving example of a medieval courtyard inn with galleries in Britain, and is a Grade I listed building. The announcement of Lady Jane Grey's succession to the English throne was made from the Inn gallery in 1553.
Bredon School, formerly Pull Court, is a private school in Bushley, Worcestershire, England. The house was built for the Reverend Canon E. C. Dowdeswell by Edward Blore between 1831 and 1839. The site is much older and Blore's house replaced an earlier mansion. The Dowdeswells had been prominent in local and national politics since the 18th century, with many serving as members of Parliament. The family sold the house in 1934 to the parents of Richard Seaman, a prominent pre-war racing driver, who lived there until his death in a crash in the 1939 Belgian Grand Prix. In 1962, the court became a school, Bredon School, founded by Lt-Col Tony Sharp and Hugh Jarrett, for the education of boys who had failed the Common Entrance Examination. It remains a specialist school with a focus on educating children with specific learning difficulties, such as dyslexia and dyspraxia.
The Westgate area of Gloucester is centred on Westgate Street, one of the four main streets of Gloucester and one of the oldest parts of the city. The population of the Westgate ward in Gloucester was 6,687 at the time of the 2011 Census.
There are no records to state that the house was built in the 1200's. It was in fact built in the 1400's.
Hillfield Gardens is a public park on London Road, Gloucester, England. It houses several historical monuments. The description in December 2020 stated: "Now a Council-owned public park covering about 1.6 hectares, Highfield Gardens is supported by an active Friends group which organises annual events".
Gloucester Quays is an outlet shopping centre on St Ann Way, Gloucester, in the area of the city formerly known as High Orchard. The outlet is situated close to Gloucester Docks, a historic area of the city.
9 and 9A Southgate Street is a 17th-century Jacobean timber-framed merchant's house on Southgate Street, Gloucester. It has been a Grade I listed building since 23 January 1952. 9 Southgate Street is now occupied by Costa Coffee and 9A Southgate Street is occupied by The Tiger's Eye restaurant.
Colesbourne is a village and civil parish in the Cotswold district of Gloucestershire, England. The village and parish lies within the Cotswolds, a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
The Little Thatch is a 14th-century timber-framed building at 141 Bristol Road, Quedgeley, Gloucester. It is now used as a public house and hotel.
Tanners Hall was a 13th century town house and is now a ruin located on Gouda Way in Gloucester. It is the oldest non-religious building and only surviving medieval domestic stone house in the city. It became a Grade II listed building on 29 July 2015.
Media related to The Fleece Hotel, Gloucester at Wikimedia Commons
51°51′57″N2°14′49″W / 51.8658°N 2.2469°W
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