Monday 22nd August, 2022 - Stroud, Gloucester, Ledbury

 After 3 nights at our accommodation at Norbin Farm, which was about 20 klms from Bath, and a couple of visits to a farm shop, that was close by, we left and made our way to Stroud, purely to visit the Made in Stroud Shop.  It was different to what we remembered, so we were a little disappointed.  

We continued on to Gloucester, and after a stop for coffee at the Costa near the Docks, we continued to the Historic Docks at the top of the Severn Estuary.  These docks are England's most inland port and they include 15 Victorian Warehouses, which are now listed buildings.

There is also a Waterways Museum, but unfortunately it was closed today

The Mariners Chapel at the docks was built in 1849 and was frequented by seaman from many different nations.

From here we went to Gloucester Cathedral, and being a typical Medieval City, and as per King John's instructions, High streets must be wide enough for 5 fully armoured knights to ride abreast, therefore, a car and a bus (and sometimes even another car) cannot pass each other in the street.  The first time this happens, it is a bit scary !!! (luckily, that wasn't today)  Anyway, this makes parking difficult as well We were able to find a parking station reasonably close, and on the way to the Cathedral, down a small laneway, we came across a shop we wanted to visit "The Tailor of Gloucester". It is a shop full of Beatrix Potter things.  An avid interest of ours (maybe even an obsession!!)

So after a slight delay, we made it to the Cathedral - Wow !!!

 It originated in 678 or 679 with the foundation of an abbey dedicated to Saint Peter (dissolved by Henry VIII).

King Edward the 2nd is buried in the Cathedral. He was murdered by his mother at nearby Berkeley Castle in 1327

This is a close up of the detail on the ceiling of the Cathedral

The stained glass window known as The Great East Window is the size of a tennis court.  During WW2 it was dismantled and kept in the crypt for safe keeping, along with the Coronation Throne from Westminster Abbey.   It was moved in 1939 and stayed in the cathedral for the duration of the war

In December 1085 William the Conqueror, visited Gloucester and ordered an inventory of all wealth and possessions in England.  This became the Domesday Book.

In recent time The Cloisters at the Cathedral have appeared in 2 Harry Potter Movies, Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.

After leaving Gloucester, we headed towards Ledbury, 

looking for accomodation, but there was nothing suitable, we tried a couple of places along the way, including a Premier Inn in Hereford, but to no avail.  After a stressful half hour we eventually found accomodation at the Three Counties Hotel in Hereford.