On the move (3): Scriven’s Conduit
Just a few yards from the building in my previous post is another structure that has been relocated from its original site. This ornate octagonal pavilion is Scriven’s Conduit, built in 1636 in Southgate Street in the centre of Gloucester as part of the city’s water supply. It displays a wonderful mix of architectural styles, Gothic rubbing shoulders with Classicism in a way not unusual in the 17th century. The top was rebuilt in 1705 and originally bore a finial featuring Jupiter Pluvius (Jupiter in his role as rain-bringer) pouring water on to Sabrina (the goddess of the Severn). Although this has now gone, there are still some magnificent lion masks and some very worn roundels depicting notable trades found in Gloucester. Like the King’s Board, it was taken down when no longer needed in the city centre and moved. It went to Edgeworth Manor before returning to Gloucester, this time to the site in Hillfield Gardens where it remains to this day. Gloucester, an ancient city that has lost much through redevelopment, actually preserves quite a lot of historic architecture – several medieval churches, some friary buildings, its great dock warehouses, not to mention its magnificent cathedral. Search a little further, and, as I hope this and my previous post have helped to show, it’s amazing what riches the city discloses.
Strangely, Gloucester is a city that has always remained below the radar for me. We usually head for Cheltenham if in that part of the world. It may be time to change that!
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Also in Gloucester or nearby: the Holy Well in the field at Hempsted, the forlorn church tower with no church attached at Lassington, Telford's original bridge towards Wales, with its narrow waist and flattened arch, and St Oswald's Priory (remains of) - arches in a piece of greensward next to the railway and near the station, that turn out to be Anglo-Saxon of the unusual period of early tenth century. Try too climbing up to the church at Churchdown with its carvings set in the wall. Also the Victorian church at Highnam, decorated, it is reported, by the father of the composer Charles Hubert Hastings Parry - but I couldn't get inside when I visited.Another Victorian church, not particularly exciting, is St Peter's Catholic Church, with its buildings crammed in next to the railway - an interesting use of a site. There's also a mosque or two, but I haven't managed to visit these yet. Oh, and a chapel with a kind of tympanum commemorating George Whitfield the Methodist preacher. Not quite architectural are the remains of the Anglo-Saxon carved stone crosses in the museum - they might provoke a discussion as to why when they could carve stone with such consummate skill there were so few early stone churches...
ReplyDeleteJoseph: Most of these are interesting - I've not been in the Catholic church, or the mosques. Highnam is excellent if one can get in. There used to be a keyholder at the former rectory across the road, but he's long gone and I don't know what the arrangements are now – I culdn't get in either, when I last tried.
ReplyDeleteBazza: Cheltenham in more visitor-friendly in many ways - good places to stay and eat. Gloucester has been poorly done by when it comes to 20th-century development, but there are still some good things there and the cathedral is terrific.
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