Gloucester's High Street Heritage Action Zone
Find out how the scheme will capitalise on Westgate's untapped potential to boost Gloucester's Cathedral Quarter.
Work to conserve the Grade I listed medieval building is under way as part of Gloucester’s Cathedral Quarter High Street Heritage Action Zone.
Vital repairs to the former Meeks Shoes shop have also started.
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The medieval building, which is on Historic England’s Heritage at Risk Register, is being prepared for major conservation works as part of Gloucester’s Cathedral Quarter High Street Heritage Action Zone. This partnership between Gloucester City Council and Historic England will see £3.9 million invested in Westgate over the next three years.
Work has begun to remove modern material and expose more of the medieval timber framework so that it can be properly recorded and understood prior to conservation work and refurbishment of the building.
The Fleece is a 15th-century timber-framed building with later additions including an 18th-century frontage. It is built over a stone undercroft dating to the late 1100s, an early surviving example of its type. The Fleece is believed to have been developed as an inn, in around 1500, by the abbey (now cathedral). It is first recorded as the Golden Fleece Inn in 1673.
This first phase of work is likely to take three to four months and then the City Council will seek match funding towards the larger, Levelling Up-funded scheme to restore the building as a much-needed boutique hotel in the historic heart of the city.
The Fleece is a real historic gem, and it is wonderful that we are now taking this first step towards uncovering and consolidating the building ready for future phases of work, thanks to the Historic England funded High Street HAZ scheme.
Repairs are also under way a few doors up at number 14 Westgate Street. Formerly 'Meeks Shoes' shop, this Grade II* listed building has a fine 17th-century plasterwork ceiling. Funding from the HSHAZ will be used to renew the shop front to a traditional design, repair the plaster ceiling and convert the upper floors into housing.
We’re delighted that repairs to two of Westgate’s outstanding historic buildings have begun. This is an important milestone in the High Street HAZ and an important step for The Fleece which has been at risk for a long time.
Find out how the scheme will capitalise on Westgate's untapped potential to boost Gloucester's Cathedral Quarter.
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