Town Centre, Cirencester, Gloucestershire
The Market Place and St John the Baptist's Church are in the centre of this aerial view of the town. To the right of the church is Abbey House. It was built in 1774-6 on the former site of Cirencester Abbey. The abbey was totally demolished in 1539 following the dissolution of the monasteries. Abbey House was demolished in 1964. Flats for the elderly were then built on the site. The grounds were presented to the town as a public park by Mr R.G. Chester-Master in 1965. At the top of the photograph is Cirencester Park. Cirencester House was built in 1714-18 by Earl Bathurst. It has a high, semi-circular yew hedge in front. Behind it are the landscapeed park and pleasure grounds developed by the first Earl Bathurst from 1714 until 1775. The very straight road leading off from the top left is Tetbury Road. The cattle market can be seen opposite the lake. A leisure centre now (2011) stands on this site.
