Discover Gloucester at your own pace... ‘Eavesdrop on History’ Audio Trails available from St Michael’s Tower and the Tourist Information Centre Hire the audio trails to discover Gloucester's architectural gems and uncover its rich heritage. Combined with a fascinating audio experience, they recreate the atmosphere of a bygone era! Memories of a Bygone Gloucester Civic Trust News A Victorian Gloucester Family by Una Dowding Gloucester Civic Trust Ltd Reg. Charity No. 264719 In the last half of the 19th century, Great steamer from Cardiff to Gloucester where Mr Baker, a friend of their father, had seen Registered Charity No. 264719 Grandpa Taylor ran what Gloucester people a horse and cart took them straight to Ette speeding over the cross and stated www.gloucestercivictrust.org.uk may remember as Urch’s restaurant and Southgate Street. his disgust at the sight of a young lady Email [email protected] bakery in Southgate Street opposite Bakers, acting in such an abandoned way. It was the jewellers. Mr Taylor was a master baker, Ette, my Grandmother, seems to have been the only time that Grandpa Taylor became Spring 2012 visiting the Lamprey Inn, in Westgate Street rather ahead of her time, as she aspired to cross with his lively daughter, for she had No. 121 each year to make the pastry crust for the take part in all her brothers’ activities. Sid displayed her ankles in public, though they lamprey pie which was the City’s traditional and Will owned a bicycle, one of the first wereStart shrouded in button boots.your discovery of yearly gift to the ruling sovereign. Whether local ‘modern’ ones. Queen Victoria ever sampled my ancestor’s This did not quench Ette’s spirit for long, as cookery skills, we never knew. At the side of the shop was a narrow alley she was soon roller skating on the boards A Bell Returns to St Michael’s Tower through which deliveries were made to the whichhistoric were fixed over the swimming Gloucester! baths, Four children were born to the Taylors; bakery. This enabled Ette to practise on her near Barton Gates, each winter. It was there William who became manager of the local brothers’ bike, rebounding from wall to wall that she met Eric Keys, a trainee teacher at After a break of nearly 60 years a bell is Bell Foundry which is still in existence to The inscription reads:- branch of Pickfords removal firm, Sidney while she learned to balance and, crucially, the NationalSupported School. by back in St. Michael’s Tower. this day. The bell was re-cast in 1919 but as who directed one of the tax offices in the to stop. The front door being left open one it was deemed a heritage bell the original ‘Through many ages did I rang true, City and who played cricket for Gloucester, day, she was out into Southgate Street They had a long and happy marriage, with On the rather chilly evening of Wednesday, inscription had to be reused. ‘Neath shades of war my voice my grandmother Harriette (who would with no walls to shelter her and her floor Eric ending his teaching career at Linden April 4th THEthe bell from All Saints Church, faint grew, understandably, only answer to Ette) and length skirts inhibiting a safe descent. She Road after becoming Head of what was SUMMERFIELDHigh Wycombe that has been purchased With dawn of peace new hopes arise, the youngest sister who was only ever managed to turn right into Eastgate Street, then ‘Night School’ for apprentices. He CHARITABLEfor us by our business TRUST partner Ecclesiastical My wound is healed through sacrifice.’ referred to as Queenie because of her then right again into what was then Queen is even now remembered as the founder Insurance Group, was delivered to St. imperious manner. Street where another right took her back to of schoolboys’ Rugby, becoming their Michael’s Tower. It is hoped the bell will be Southgate Street. By this time, the brothers President and sowing the seeds in the hung in the Tower in time for the Queen’s The bell will be rung on special occasions The Masonic Hall, with its entrance off had found that their bicycle was missing young for what has become the successful Diamond Jubilee celebrations in June. such as Gloucester Day, Heritage Open Westgate Street, was behind Taylor’s and had rushed into the street to see if they ‘Glawsters’. Days and of course, Market Days. bakery, so to facilitate any cooked food could spot the thief. Mr Bill Berry, an expert on bells, particularly being delivered hot to the Hall, a connecting Ette returned to the baths for many years Gloucester bells, oversaw the delivery. corridor was built over the narrow To their horror, they saw their hoydenish as swimming teacher for all the school girls. Bill’s father removed the original peel of intervening street. Years later, in 1936, sister, long skirts flying, pedalling like fury. She also returned to school in her 60’s, for bells from St. Michael’s Church in 1956 and Ette’s husband Eric would preside there as “I can’t stop”, she shouted. “Catch me next she was my local, true, living history lessons in the 1970s Bill himself removed the last Worshipful Master of the Zetland Lodge. time round,” which they managed to do, for my classes when I started teaching in bells from the country’s only Bell Museum although doubled up with laughter. Gloucester. when it was housed in the Tower. Queenie married a man from Cardiff, but found visiting her parents quite convenient, Sid and Will were either amused or loyal Una Dowding is a Civic Trust member. Bill will be installing the bell and says he is as she and her children travelled by paddle enough to keep the incident a secret, but really pleased to be returning a bell to St. Michael’s Tower. The Church of St. Michael the Archangel once had a ring of 10 bells, one of which Armchair Tours of was called the Curfew Bell. This bell also rang out on Market Days and was later Historic Gloucester called the Market Bell. ➧ Bill Berry oversees the unloading of the bell. ➧ The bell on display in the Tower. The bell from All Saints Church was first cast in 1711 by Master Bell Maker, Richard Tours of Gloucester’s historic gems, “So, John and Mike taught Phillips. He was based at the Whitechapel Flag Pole especially aimed at those with mobility themselves all the necessary problems, started on 19th April. IT skills to come up with a 55 minute power point presentation Erected Gloucester Civic Trust members, John of Gloucester’s history. It took hundreds of Larking and Mike Fox, have devised the man hours to put together. free tours, which mean the audience never ➧ John Larking begins his April Armchair Tour Postponed from Sunday 29th April, have to leave their comfortable chairs at St. “Last year 150 disabled people took with an introduction to St. Mary de Lode because of strong winds and heavy Michael’s Tower on the Cross. advantage of the service and we are Church. rain, the flag pole, which is also part repeating the exercise each month between of the Tower Bell Project, was finally Using the latest technology, including a April and September in 2012. Depending are available at the Tower which has full positioned in place on the top of St. video camera mounted on top of the Tower, on demand we can do more. disabled access and toilet facilities”. Michael’s Tower just after 8.00am on which can pan and tilt to focus on many of the morning of Wednesday, 2nd May. the city’s historic locations, John and Mike “John has also put together a series of five This year’s Armchair Tours continue on June tell of the buildings and the stories of the minute films about Gloucester’s history, 21st, July 26th, August 16th and September The flag of St. Michael is now flying on personalities that go with them. including the coronation of King Henry 6th. All presentations start at 10.45 am and the Tower and the flag of St. George III, the murder of King Edward II, the admission is free. and the Union Flag will be flown on Marilyn Champion, the Trust’s Tower project martyrdom of Bishop Hooper and the life appropriate occasions. leader, said: “Many people phone to say of Robert, Duke of Normandy. These are Press release from Hugh Worsnip which they want to go on one of our daily tours, available every Thursday of the season, appeared in the ‘Citizen’ on Monday 5th The flags have been donated by Trust but the walking is too much for them. when John is on duty. Refreshments March 2012. member Nigel Spry whose mother was christened in the Church of St. Michael the Archangel and who married Nigel’s ➧ St. Michael’s flag flies from the top of Information and articles are always appreciated. father there in 1938. the Tower. Please contact Terry Brooks, 44 Wheatway, Abbeydale, Gloucester GL4 5ER ➧ The bell arrives at St. Michael’s Tower. Tel: 01452 411827 or e-mail [email protected]. 8 1 Gloucester Rowing NewsNews fromfrom thethe DocksDocks Club Crew for Royal Marketing Gloucester, Gloucester Quays Pageant and Docks Attractions An eight-man crew from Gloucester Rowing Club will row the Old Balliol in the Thames Hospitality Day - 20th April 2012 Diamond Jubilee Pageant on 3 June. The boat, normally housed at the River & Rowing Museum at Henley-on-Thames, is Marketing Gloucester, Gloucester Quays, invitation and after refreshments and A further Hospitality Day is planned for the a replica of the craft used in the first ever Antique Centre, Waterways Museum, welcoming speeches were escorted autumn.