Grade I Listed Gloucester Townhouse Restored

The building has been on Historic England’s Heritage at Risk Register since 2012 due to its decaying condition. When the repairs are completed, 26 Westgate is set to be removed from the Register this year, securing the building for future generations.

Local specialists from D.A.Cook (Builders) Ltd carried out the restoration, including repairs to the historic timber frame, wall panels and traditional oak windows, as well as roof repairs and fixing the rainwater system. Craft techniques like joinery and lime plastering were used throughout the project, preserving the historic features of the building.

The restored building has been redecorated with pigmented limewash and now features one of the finest Tudor facades in the country. It features reproduced historic signage for the Gloucester Antiques Centre and an elaborate gargoyle carving that was discovered during the repairs, now open to the public to see.

Remarkable history

During the medieval period, the building fronted the main market area on Westgate Street and was known as 'the mercery' due to its concentration of cloth merchants. The medieval cellar also survives under the building and likely gave direct access onto Westgate Street.

In the early 19th century, the building served as the Judges Lodgings, although judges visiting the city disliked the accommodation and even called the building a 'foetid dog-hole'. It was briefly used as an antiques shop and later became known as 'Winfields' after G. Winfield & Co, a seed merchant that occupied the site from 1893 until 2015.

26 Westgate is now home to the Gloucester Antiques Centre, which is open to visitors. Though it has been altered over the years, it retains features from the 16th and 17th centuries, with a remarkable survival of contemporary windows and glazing as well as rare patterned leaded glass.

Supporting Gloucester's regeneration

The £314,163 grant continues Historic England's investment into regenerating Gloucester's Westgate area, following on from the successful completion of the Gloucester High Street Heritage Action Zone (HSHAZ) last year. These projects continue to support the local businesses housed in the area's well-loved historic buildings, revitalising the historic streets of Gloucester.