Friday 7th August pm - Cirencester

Cirencester was founded by the Romans in 49AD and was the second largest Roman town in Britain originally called Corinium. The Romans built a fort here to protect the traders as even in early times the town was well know for it's wool trade. The Roman amphitheatre still exists.

In 577AD the Saxons took over the town until William the Conquerer turned the town into a prosperous market town. Henry IV gave the town a Guild Merchant in 1403 much to the annoyance of the Abbot and this was later rescinded with much protestation from the townsfolk. Henry VIII got rid of the Abbot and their ways and things became easier for the traders who now did not have to pay taxes to the Abbott as had been the case.

The Abbey was originally built in the 12th Century and was rebuilt in 1520 and other parts of the Church were added at various stages, with the East Window being the last to be added and consists of much travelled 15th and 16th Century glass. The now Parish Church of John the Baptist has a wooden ceiling unlike most of the cathedrals that we have seen which have stone ceilings.

We had lunch and headed back to the car park for the journey back to Bourton.