Arts and crafts in Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire (including Cheltenham, Cotswold, Forest of Dean, Gloucester, South Gloucestershire, Stroud and Tewkesbury) is in the South West of England. It has a population of around 960,000 and covers approximately 315,000 hectares. Here is a list of nearby or neighbouring counties: Berkshire, Bristol, Herefordshire, Monmouthshire, Oxfordshire, Somerset, Warwickshire, Wiltshire, Worcestershire.
The county of Gloucestershire includes within its borders the Forest of Dean, part of the Cotswolds and royal residences such as Highgrove House and Gatcombe Park. Visitors to the county town of Gloucester can see Gloucester Cathedral, where King Edward II of England was buried and where scenes from the Harry Potter films were filmed. The city has many medieval and Tudor houses with architecture surviving from previous centuries and the Guildhall is the venue for a wide range of cultural activities, such as theatre, concerts and an art gallery. There are a number of museums, such as Gloucester City Museum and Art Gallery, and Nature in Art, which exhibits art works inspired by nature and includes examples by artists such as George Edward Lodge, Archibald Thorburn and Pablo Picasso. Based in the Old Silk Mill in Chipping Campden, The Gallery at The Guild is a cooperative of artists and craftspeople, creating traditional and contemporary pieces, using media such as textiles, ceramics, photography, glass, wood, stone and metal. There are regular exhibitions held of the work that members have created and visitors have the opportunity to meet the artists and designers.
The town of Cheltenham attracts visitors who appreciate its Regency architecture, and many of the buildings are listed. Places worth visiting in the town include Cheltenham Art Gallery and Museum, which has a nationally designated collection of pieces from the Arts and Crafts Movement, such as ceramics, textiles, furniture and jewellery, including work by William Morris and Ernest Gimson. There are also archaeological exhibits from the region, as well as paintings, and costume collections. National trust properties in Gloucestershire include 17th-century Dyrham Park, with a mansion that includes period interiors and art works, and the ruins of Chedworth Roman Villa, which dates from the fourth century and is one of the largest Romano-British villas in Britain, with mosaic floors and examples of its wealthy former owners opulent lifestyle such as underfloor heating. Performing arts venues in Gloucestershire include the Everyman Theatre in Cheltenham, the Roses Theatre in Tewkesbury and the Playhouse Theatre in Cheltenham. Other attractions in Gloucestershire include Corinium Museum in Cirencester, Kelmscott Manor, Chastleton House and Garden and Berkeley Castle.
