Gloucester

Sister cities

• Metz
• Trier
• Saint Ann's Bay
• Gouda

History

Glevum was established around AD 48 at an important crossing of the River Severn and near to the Fosse Way, the early front line after the Roman invasion of Britain. Initially, a Roman fort was established at present-day Kingsholm. Twenty years later, a larger legionary fortress was built on slightly higher ground nearby, centred on present-day Gloucester Cross, and a civilian settlement grew around it. Probably the Roman Legion XX Valeria Victrix was based here until 66 and then Legio II Augusta as they prepared to invade Roman Wales between 66 and 74 AD, who stayed later until around 87. Gloucester became a Colonia in 97 as Colonia Nervia Glevensium, or Glevum, in the reign of Nerva. It is likely that Glevum became the provincial capital of Britannia Prima. *Many archaeological artifacts and some in-situ walls in the Gloucester City Museum & Art Gallery *The remains of the Roman and mediaeval East Gate in the East Gate Chamber on Eastgate Street. *Northgate, Southgate, Eastgate and Westgate Streets all follow the line of their original Roman counterparts, although Westgate Street has moved slightly north and Southgate Street now extends through the site of the Roman basilica. Withdrawal of all Roman forces and many societal leaders in about the year 410 may have allowed leading families of the Dobunni tribe to regain power within the now Roman-influenced, interconnected and intermixed Celtic Brythonic local people. This intermix is reflected by the fact a large minority of basic words and available synonyms in Welsh have a Latin base. In the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle Gloucester is shown as part of Wessex from the Battle of Deorham in 577. At some point afterwards, along with the rest of its shire excluding the Forest of Dean, Gloucester was part of the minor kingdom of…

Geography

Gloucester is the county town of Gloucestershire, and is the 53rd largest settlement in the United Kingdom by population. In 2010, its population was 123,400. It has the traditional lowest bridging point of the longest river in Great Britain, connecting it with Over. The 2011 census recorded that the city had a population of 121,921 and by 2016 its population was estimated to be 128,488. The city's urban area extends beyond its boundaries, with several outlying districts. The 2021 census gave the population of the Gloucester Urban Area as 169,061, absorbing areas such as Brockworth and Churchdown. The city is located on the eastern bank of the River Severn, sheltered by the Cotswolds to the east, while the Forest of Dean and the Malvern Hills rise to the west and north, respectively. Gloucester is an inland port, linked via the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal which runs from Gloucester's docks to the Severn Estuary, allowing larger ships to reach the docks than would be possible on the tidal reaches of the river itself, which go well north of the city to Haw Bridge. The wharfs, warehouses and the docks themselves fell into disrepair until their renovation in the 1980s. They now form a public open space. Some warehouses now house the Gloucester Waterways Museum, others were converted into residential flats, shops and bars. Additionally, the Soldiers of Gloucestershire Museum is located in the Custom House. Gloucester is made up of a variety of neighbourhoods, some of which correspond to electoral divisions of the City Council. † Quedgeley is the only town within the city's borders. Because of this it has its own town council. The city itself contains no green belt; however, it is bordered to the north east by the green belt in the surrounding Tewkesbury district,…

Most-observed species

• Common Wood-Pigeon

  Columba palumbus Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  9,026
• European Robin

  Erithacus rubecula (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  7,404
• Carrion Crow

  Corvus corone Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  6,753
• Eurasian Blue Tit

  Cyanistes caeruleus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  6,750
• Eurasian Magpie

  Pica pica (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  6,462
• Eurasian Blackbird

  Turdus merula Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  6,424
• Western Jackdaw

  Coloeus monedula (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  6,003
• Meadow Brown

  Maniola jurtina (Linnaeus, 1758) · Insecta
  5,972

Most recent

• M 3.4 — 2023-02-24
  1 km ENE of Brynmawr, United Kingdom
• M 3.2 — 2022-02-21
  5 km N of Hockley, United Kingdom
• M 3.1 — 2020-09-22
  5 km N of Aylesbury, United Kingdom
• M 3.9 — 2008-10-26
  2 km N of Bromyard, United Kingdom
• M 2.7 — 2006-11-05
  4 km NNE of Tenbury Wells, United Kingdom
• M 2.7 — 2006-09-26
  4 km SSW of Dorstone, United Kingdom