Across the city centre from the major works going on in Kings Square and soon in Kings Quarter, is an area commonly known as the Cathedral Quarter. The Cathedral Quarter project is funded by Historic England as part of its High Street Heritage Action Zone scheme. Gloucester City Council successfully bid for £1.8million towards the project, matched by the City Council, property owners and partners, and which will be delivered over the next three and a half years.

The funding will be used to improve the appearance of our historic Westgate buildings, encourage wider use of them and reduce vacant floor space, improve the street scene and offer a programme of activities and events to encourage a wider appreciation for the wealth of history and heritage we have in the Street.

Many properties with medieval origins

This area comprises some of the oldest properties in the city centre, many with medieval origins, but with their frontages covered by Victorian and more recent facades, hiding the original medieval buildings. Those who have taken the opportunity to explore the city with a Civic Trust tour guide, will have been told to look up, because on storeys above the facades, the original medieval frontages can be seen.

The first properties to receive a grant, hopefully, if all goes to plan, will be the two on the corner of Bull Lane; the barbers and the vacant unit next to it. These are deceptive properties, which on closer investigation have revealed themselves to be two of the earliest buildings in the street with significant timber framing. We can’t wait to see them transformed through this scheme and brought back to their former glory.

Other buildings which we hope will take advantage of the funding could be the façade of the Fleece Inn, the Dick Whittington pub, and the vape shop, which again hides a superb timber frame beneath a later façade. We will need to work with owners to develop schemes as the project progresses, as owners will have to find some match funding.

This is a unique opportunity for them to take advantage of some financial assistance to maximise the potential of their buildings and we hope that many will be able to work with us to bring about some significant transformations.

Back across the city centre will be the regeneration of Kings Quarter, with its new modern buildings, but at the same time the heritage of the Cathedral Quarter will be restored to its former medieval glory.