CITY OF GLOUCESTER
There are a number of pay and display car parks in the city; these are very reasonably priced

GLOUCESTER CATHEDRAL
The Cathedral Church of St Peter and the Holy and Indivisible Trinity
Gloucester Cathedral is a cathedral of the New Foundation; at the Reformation it was a Benedictine Abbey
Parking is referred to above: you can park quite close to the cathedral. No entrance fee, no charge or restriction to photography.
Altogether a friendly and helpful church, as well as an interesting one
We visited the Cathedral in the autumn of 2021, hoping to add some photographs which were missing from the original collection, such as an aspect of the whole of Edward II's monument, some wall monuments and others. Unfortunately it was the day of the Bishop's conference which did not finish until 4.00 p.m so it was a quick run round with not as much care taking the photographs as I should have liked. I managed to do most I had planned but not all, while others were not as satisfactory as I had hoped.

The first religious community at Gloucester is recorded in 681. In 1058 Ealdred, Bishop of Worcester rebuilt the church but the foundations of the present building were laid following its destruction in 1088 by the first abbot Serlo, who had been appointed by William the Conqueror.  (see below). Walter Frocester (d. 1412) became the first mitered abbot in 1381. Gloucester had been in the diocese of Worcester but in 1541 was separated from Worcester and the church became a cathedral, the mother church of the new diocese of Gloucester. Its first bishop was John Wakeman, who had been the last abbot of Tewkesbury. Fortunately, Tewkesbury Abbey, although it did not become a cathedral, did survive the Dissolution as a parish church. Wakeman was succeeded by Bishop John Hooper, one of the bishops to be burned at the stake by Queen Mary
Abbot Thorky in 1327 accepted the body for burial of the deposed (and possibly murdered) King Edward II after three other religious communities had refused to do so, so risking the anger of the late King's enemies. However times change and this act added to the Abbey's future prosperities.

<City of Gloucester>  <Gloucestershire>

The Lady Chapel  The North Aisle The North Ambulatory The North Choir (Tribune) Gallery The North Transept The Presbytery  Seabroke Chantry Chapel  The South Aisle The South Ambulatory The South Transept

The North Aisle

Above left: Alderman Thomas Machen, Christian  Children (c. 1615)  Perhaps by Samuel Baldwin of Stroud.  Above right: Canon E D Tinling (1897) by Henry Wilson. He kneels before Christ. In bronze with semi-precious stones.
This latter monument can be somewhat difficult to make out - even in the Cathedral - so I have included a photograph at an angle of both monuments in the centre.

Sarah Morley (Richardson) (1784)
S
e died at sea returning home from India and following childbirth
By Flaxman
Hester Gardner (1822)
by James Cooke
See also below
Col. Edward Webb (1839)  by H Hopper
See also below

These four sets of 'long shots' below are an attempt to overview the wall monuments in the limited time we had left and in the failing light in this part of the Cathedral. Because I used a large ISO setting on the camera, it is not always easy to read some of the inscriptions. Some I took individually and these can be read without much difficulty. A few appear in both the long shots and the individual photograph sets.



Top Row:
1) 2) 3) I have been unable to read this row

Middle Row:
1) Sir Chas. Hotham Bt (1811); the  second oval is to Dame Elizabeth Hotham (later wife of Rev George Morgan) (1834). 2)  Noah Hill Neal (1826); and his nephews, Richard John Jackson (1813) and Robert Henry Jackson (18[16]); also his wife, Helen (1860). 3)This has not been possibly to read; on the left: 'Also Mary..Frances Roberts. Mother of Mary...'; on the right, 'Mary (Pitt) his widow (1838)...'

Bottom Row:Albert Mansbridge GH LD (1952).

 

  Top Row:
1) Mary Stanford (1812). 2)  John Harvey Ollney (1856) JP, Deputy Lt of the County etc, and his sister-in-law,  Margaret Powell (1857), daughter of Rev Cervas Powell. His wife (sister of Margaret) Joanna (1878). 3) Joshua North (1813) and his wife, Rebecca (1816); their eldest daughter, Elizabeth (1821); and two sons who died in infancy.
 
 
Bottom Row: 1) Mjr-Gen Sir Fabian Ware KCVG KBE CB CMG LLD (1949). He was founder of the Imperial War Graves Commission (now the Commonwealth War Graves Commission) Buried at Holy Trinity Churchyard, Amberley. 2) Sir Michael Edward Hicks-Beach Bt (later Earl St Aldwyn)  (1916)  Conservative politician who served two terms as chancellor of the exchequer; known as 'Black Michael'.



    



Top Row: 1) Samuel Hayward of Wallsworth Hall (1790) by Bryan of Gloucester.  2) Ralph Bigland (1784) Garter Principle King of Arms. See also below. 3) Hester Gardner (1822) See also above.

Bottom Row:



Top Row: 1) Isaac Thomson (1787)  2) Col. Edward Webb (1839)  by H Hopper (see also above ). 3) Susannah Mason (Jones) (1830)

Bottom Row: 1)
Anne Rudge (1759), wife of Thomas Rudge. James Rudge (1786) Coroner, Proctor, and Attorney at Law; Son of Thomas and Anne (above). Susannah Rudge (1790); wife of Thomas Rudge. Mary Ann Gardiner  (1801), daughter of James Rudge. 'Of an infant son of theirs'. Sarah Murcot (1802), sister of Susannah. Sarah Rudge (Barnes) (1802), wife of Thomas. Thomas Rudge (1806) aforementioned. Mary Rudge (1824), relict of the above James and mother of Rev James Rudge. By Millard.  2) James Wood (1761) and his wife Dorothy (Weeksy) (1762). Their son, Richard Wood (1792), and his wife, Eliz.r (Agg) (1803)


 
Abraham Rudhall (1798), Charles Rudhall (1815) & Sarah Rudhall (1805) They were bell makers Note the three bells Bishop Martin Benson (1752)
Bishop 1734-52
  Ralph Bigland (1784) Garter Principle King of Arms.

Other Monuments
Charles Brandon Trye (1811) Bust in medallion
Rudge Family Tablet
Bishop Warburton (1779) by King of Bath
Ivor Gurney (1937) poet & musician by Bryant Fedden

The South Aisle

Left: Alderman John Jones (1630). Above left: Richard Clarke (1805) Barrister-at-Law, Inner Temple. Died at 34. Added below: Jane Martin (1839). Added beneath: 'In the same vault with her brother and sister...' Maria (1841) Widow of Rev George Martin. Above centre:The inscription reads: 'In Memory of JANE FENDALL Wife of WILLIAM FENDALL Eſq And Youngest Daughter of the late Revd JAMES BENSON L.L.D. Who departed this life December XXIV MDCCXCIX Aged XLI Years And lies interred in the neighbouring Church of MATSON. Unfortunately the lettering begins so close to the shelf above her name is in shadow. Above right:  James Benson LL.D. (1785) Prebendary and Chancellor Right:Anthony Ellys DD (1761) Bishop of St David's but buried near the monument by Ricketts of Gloucester


Left: Bishop William Nicholson (1671)  Latin inscription He was said to have been a fearless champion of the church during the Commonwealth.
Above:
Thomas Cunningham JP (1835)
'Governor of the County Goal and Penitentiary'

Right:
Mjr William Davy MEICS (1784) Died at sea on return from India at 39. His son, Midshipman Edwin Davy (1794) Died of yellow fever at 13; his daughters: Harriet (1796) at 19, and Elizabeth (1835). Gen Sir William Gabriel Davy CB KHC (1856), and his wife, Mary Anne Davy (Arthrington) (1836)


Above: see left
Right:
Rev Richard Raikes AM (1825) By Rickman
Far right:
Dame Mary Strachan (Popham) (1770) By Ricketts of Gloucester

Foreground:
Sir George Onesiphorus Paul Bt (1820) Marble by Sievier. Prison reformer and philanthropist; the monument alludes to John Howard of the Howard League.

 Background (Wall) - left: Sir John Guise Bt LL D. (1794) Alderman; formerly Lt-Col of in Gloucester Militia. Added below on the lower section is 'ob' followed by a blur.  By W. Stephens of Worcester. - centre: Jane Moore (1772); her husband, George Moore (1776). Also John Cook, son of Jane by a former marriage (1786). Also son and daughter of Jane and George: George Moore (1792) and Jane Moore (1823). - right Dame Mary Strachan, whose monument is shown above

Above from left to right: 1) Eli Dupree (1707) and his wife, Celia (1715). The monument refers to two of their children who 'died in their Infancy they lye in this Churchyard.' It also refers to their son,  Eli Dupree (174I) who was 'abuſed unto death at Hayes in ye County of Middleſex... and was there Buried' Aged 74. Also Jarvice Hyde and his wife, Isobel, and their daughters, Isobel Hyde and Isabel Webly. No dates, but 'they lye in St Nicholas Church.' Also John Dupree (1746). 
2) Rev Thomas Stock MA (1805) Chief Master of the College School, Rector of St Johns, Perpetual Curate of St Aldates, in the city, also Vicar of Glasbury in the County of Brecon. Buried in St Aldates churchyard. 3) Wiiliam Percy Cunningham (1838) Lt Col in the East India Company, Madras. Also his wife, Sarah (1879)

From left to right:
1) Jane Mary Catharine Webb (Guise) 2) John Webb LL D, MP (1703). Their son, John Webb (1797) and his wife, Arabella (1801) Signed by Bryan of Gloucester; and their daughter, Frances Webb (1846)  3) Mary Singleton (1761) by J & J Bryan. Coloured marbles and much symbolism.

From left to right: 1) John Smyth STP (1809) Latin text.  2) William Adams D D Prebendary at Gloucester Cathedral and Archdeacon of Llandaff. By King of Bath.  3) Rev Thomas Parker AM (1800) Rector of Saintbury and Vicar of Churchham, Gloucestershire. His wife, Susanna Frances (1851), and their second son, Henry (1803) at 18.

From left to right:
1) William Pembridge (1690) Latin text.  2) Mary Clarke (1792) By W Stephens of Worcester  
3) Richard Clarke (1796) (husband of Mary) Also by W Stephens of Worcester

Other Monuments
Hubert Parry (1918) Musician Dr Edward Jenner. Statue by R W Sievier 1918



Thomas Brydges of Coberley & Wife Recumbent effigies of early 15th century on a 14th century tomb chest. In recessed wall tomb. SS collars. 

Seabroke Chantry Chapel



Above and right bottom: Abbot Seabroke (1457) Chantry chapel and Alabaster effigy

Right top:
Francis Barber (1669)


North Transept

John Bowker (1615), Ann (Bower), his wife and their children.
The figures are painted

JOHN BOWER hade nyne Sones  Seaven Daughters by his Wife ANN BOWER

There names are written on the shields above the above inscription.

Richard, Gvy, Gyles, Thomas, Thomas, Kingſton, Peter, John, Ann, Margrate, Dorothy, Elizab, Nanſan, Karter, Joane, John

South Transept


 
Alderman Abraham Blackleech (1639) & Gertrude
. Black marble tomb chest with alabaster recumbent effigies. By
Epiphanius Evesham or Edward Marshall
Note the footrests: he on an eagle while she on a mailed fist holding a curved dagger. His epitaph, in English, is show on the top right
Richard Pates (1588)
Founder of Pates Grammar School, Cheltenham

          
Above from left to right: 1. Frances Gorges (Fettisplace) (1800). 2. Sir Charles Saxton Bart (1808) and Dame Mary Saxton (Bushe) (1825). 3. Mary Gwynne (Gorges) (1808). By Reeves of Bath 4. Benjamin Baylis (1777) and his wife, Elizabeth (1798) ; their daughter, Hester (1765) aged 5; their son, Benjamin (1783); their daughter, Martha (1800); and their daughter, Elizabeth (1811). By Bryan of Gloucester
Left:
Thomas Barkwick Lloyd Baker (1886) Marble bust by W S Frith. Educationalist, Social Reformer, and
Ornithologist
Near Right:
Rev Josiah Tucker (1799) Dean
Far Right: Prebendary John Plumptre STP (1734); Canon Robert Plumptre STP (1825)

Other Monuments
Canon Evan Evans (1891) Brass and marble tablet by Henry Wilson
Canon Trotter (1913) Tablet
Canon Scobell (1917) Tablet

The South Ambulatory

Rev John Kempthorne (1838) Gothick tomb chest and canopy in the style of c.1300. No effigy.
Bishop Charles Elliott (1905) Alabaster tomb chest with effigy. By W S Frith
   


The North Ambulatory





King Edward II (1327) Also called Edward of Canarvon.  He was the fourth son of Edward I and became heir apparent after the death of his older brother, Alphonso, the other two sons having died before he was born.  He was deposed in 1327 and died - probably murdered - in Berkely Castle later the same year.
The effigy is of alabaster, the tomb chest of Purbeck marble and the canopy an oolitic Cotswold limestone. The construction date is about 1330. How Charles Stothard managed to draw the effigy is quite  amazing.
Above left: Tomb of King Osric.  Above right: William Parker (or Malvern
From the ambulatory. Also see below
Above: King Osric (fl. 676) was a king - or joint king - of the early Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Hwicce, which had been incorporated in Mercia in 626 so by the time of Osric it was presumably a sub-kingdom. He was honoured by Abbot Parker as the founder of the monastery at Gloucester and his sister Kyneburg the first abbess. He is shown as holding a model of his foundaion. This monument date from about 1530.

Right: William Parker (1539) (or William Malvern) - the last abbot before the Dissolution. Alabaster effigy of c. 1535. He did not resist the surrender of his abbey nor had the heart to surrender it, but rather abandoned his post, leaving the prior in charge, and fled to relatives. He died soon afterward. This tomb is probably not his as he was presumably buried elsewhere: a Marian and Elizabethan bishop probably lie below

The Presbytery



 Robert Duke of  Normandy (1134) 

The effigy is painted of wood and dates from the 13th century, and represents the style and armour of that time, not that of the time of the subject; the tomb chest is also painted wood but dates from the 14th/15th centuries.





Note the structure over the effigy - the 'hearse' - one of only three in the country.
 

Abbot Serlo (1104)

He was abbot of Gloucester for 33 years and rebuilt the abbey following its destruction in the rebellion of 1088.
The effigy is 13th century and of stone

    Robert 'Curthose' Duke of Normandy, born about 1053,  was the eldest son of William the Conqueror and his wife Matilda of Flanders. From his father in 1087 he inherited the Duchy of Normandy and the County of Maine while his younger brother, William Rufus, inherited the Kingdom of England.  In other words William the Conqueror separated the English and French parts of his lands and divided the two parts between his two eldest sons; however there was a third son, Henry, to be taken into account.

   Robert was not a successful ruler but, on the other hand, he was an excellent military commander  and soldier. For the next two years Robert and his Norman allies attempted to wrest England from his brother and thereafter his rule in Normandy was undermined by William and the youngest brother Henry.

   In 1096 Robert mortgaged Normandy to William for 10,000 marks so that he could take part in the First Crusade, in which he excelled himself as a soldier. On his return to Europe he found that William had been killed, probably accidentally although this can never be proven, and that Henry now ruled in England as King Henry I. Once again he attempted an invasion of England which again failed, the  brothers coming to terms at Alton, Hampshire in 1101. In 1106 Henry invaded Normandy  defeating and capturing Robert at the Battle of Tinchebrai. Thereafter Robert was held captive in comfortable circumstances mostly, in Cardiff Castle.

    He died in his early 80's and was buried in Gloucester Cathedral.

   The Rebellion of 1088. The barons who held lands on both sides of the Channel were unhappy about the division of William the Conqueror's land, as mentioned about, as Robert and William were natural rivals and they foresaw that this division would cause problems for them in the future and trying to serve two masters - and rivals at that - would be a difficult, if not impossible, task.  In 1088 a group of barons led by the half brothers of the late king - Odo, Bishop of Bayeux, and Robert, Count of Mortain, set out to depose William Rufus and reunite the lands under Robert Curthose.  Incidentally these brothers are shown with William the Conqueror on the Bayeux tapestry. They began the rebellion by laying waste the lands held by King William and his supporters.

   King William diffused this rebellion against him both pragmatically and intelligently. Odo - once the richest man in England - was banished to Normandy for life; Duke Robert was allowed to keep his Duchy.

The Lady Chapel

Above: Elizabeth Williams (1622), A daughter of Bishop Miles Smith. Note the baby lying on her pillow. By Samuel Baldwin of Stroud


Left: Margery Clent (1623) Another daughter of Bishop Smith.  By Samuel Baldwin of Stroud.

Right: Judge John Powell (1713)
marble by Thomas Green of Camberwell (signed)

Above and near right: Bishop Goldsborough (1604) Behind his head is an inscription panel. In the north chapel, where you can just get a camera through the spaces!

Far right: Thomas Fitzwilliam (1579) Painting onstone; beside a plain tomb chest. Removed from St Owen's church on its destruction in 1643. In the south chapel.

Other Monuments
Dorothea Beale. Inscription by Eric Gill (c. 1907) on bronze tablet by Dury.


North Choir or Tribune Gallery

William Lisle (1723) by John Ricketts the Elder of Gloucester Thomas Ware & Family (no date) with Greek and Latin Inscriptions
Note: Pevsner gives the monument on the left as that of William Little, clearly misreading the name as written - Liſle - as Little

 
 
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