GLOUCESTER, glosIter (AS. Gleowceaster, fair city, Lat. Glenn/in, Claudia). An inland port, city, and civic county of ancient date, the capital of Gloucestershire, England, on the left bank of the Severn, 33 miles northeast of Bristol (Map: England, D 5).
The city is built on a slight declivity, sloping to the Severn, and is sheltered by the surround ing Coteswold and Malvern Hills. The modern portion is in the neighborhood of the public park and spa, which contains the chalybeate spring, discovered in 1814. The four main streets, named after their orientation, are wide, and built on the ancient Roman ground plan, meeting at right angles in the centre of the town, where the' for mer town hall, the historic Tolsey, stands at the intersection, on the site of the old Roman Capitol. Other buildings and objects of interest are the picturesque deanery, formerly the old priory lodge; the New Inn, a pilgrim's hostelry, built in 1540; the episcopal palace; the new guildhall; and many quaintly gabled timbered houses. A cross marks the spot where Bishop Hooper was burned. The principal building in Gloucester is the cathedral, restored since 1853, the founda tion of which dates from the eleventh century. Formerly a Benedictine abbey, skillful altera tions and additions evolved from the Norman body a fine building of Perpendicular aspect, which, in 1541, after the suppression of monas teries, was converted into a cathedral by Henry VIII. The chief external ornament is the stately central tower, 225 feet high, with its beautiful tracery and pinnacles. It contains the 'Great Peter' bell, weighing over three tons. Gloucester has three endowed ancient schools, in addition to several modern schools. It has an important municipal record: it received special charters from several monarchs, and Richard III. made it a county. It is governed by a mayor, nine aldermen, and twenty-seven burgesses. It owns
its markets, water-works, cemetery, public baths, technical schools, public library, electric-lighting supply, and dust-destructor works. It has manu factures of railway engines and wagons, agricul tural implements, and cutlery. There are boat and ship building yards, foundries, flour and saw mills, and chemical, rope, match, marble, and slate works. Bell-founding and cloth and pin manufactures were once important in dustries which no longer exist. A ship canal 17 miles long, communicating With the estu ary of the Severn below Sharpness Point, gives access to the spacious docks. The famous bore or tidal wave' of the Severn attains its greatest height just before reaching Gloucester. Considerable commerce is carried on with the Baltic and other foreign ports; corn, timber, wines, and spirits are' imported; iron and coal, bricks, pottery, salt, malt, and agricultural prod ucts are exported. Gloucester is the seat of an American consular agent.
Gloucester was an important Saxon town, styled by Bede 'one of the noblest cities in the land.' It suffered greatly during the period of the Danish incursions. It was a favorite resi dence of the Norman kings, and was the seat of eight parliaments. Gloucester afforded a refuge and support to Queen Matilda in her contest with Stephen, and Henry III., who 'loved Gloucester better than London,' was crowned in the abbey. In 1643 Gloucester successfully re sisted the royal army under Charles I. until relieved by Essex, and at the' Restoration its fortifications were dismantled for this 'malig nity.' Robert of Gloucester, the metrical his torian, Whitfield, and Wheatstone are among Gloucester's celebrities. Consult Masse, The Cathedral Church of Gloucester (London, 1898).