| 25 - 27 January 2008 | ||
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Every year our friends who come on the Winter Weekend vote for where they would like to go the following year. For 2008 Gloucester was the clear winner.
This charming Cathedral city lies on the eastern bank of the River Severn, sheltered by the Cotswolds to the east with the Forest of Dean to the west and the Malvern Hills rise in the north-west. Gloucester is a port linked by canal to the Severn Estuary, and although the docks fell into disuse they have now been renovated and house the National Waterways Museum, and the Soldiers of Gloucester Museum.
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People have lived here since Roman times. Many gabled and timbered houses remain; there are a number of interesting churches and of course the Cathedral. Originally an abbey, dedicated to St. Peter in 681 it is the burial place of Edward II. Gloucester was besieged in 1643 during the English Civil War - the besieged parliamentarians emerged victorious.
Gloucester has a long history in the aircraft business and is home to a famous regiment, the Gloucesters, whose museum we will be visiting. It would be a pity to visit this area without experiencing the beauty of the surrounding countryside and the wonderful houses. We will be welcomed at one of these, the historic Cotswold Manor House of Chavenage, by David Lowsley- Williams, Rona and Tricia who many of you will remember from previous ‘Winter Weekends’. We will hear its history, including the strong Cromwellian connection and have tea in this perfect English setting. |
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| Day 1 | (Friday): Meet at our Gloucester hotel in time for a welcome drink at 1800. A talk on the history of Gloucester. Dinner and overnight (2 nights). | |
| Day 2 | A guided tour of the city, including the Cathedral. Lunch break in the city. After lunch we drive south for our visit to Chavenage where we will learn about life through the centuries in one of England’s beautiful manor houses, and the story of this particular home. Tea and cakes with the family before our return to Gloucester. Dinner at the hotel. | |
| Day 3 | We spend time in the restored area of the canal and docks, visiting the Regimental Museum and the National Waterways Museum. A pub lunch has become a feature of these weekends and we will enjoy some traditional warming food before the tour disperses. Please ask our staff if you would like to extend your stay in this comfortable hotel. |
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