South-west
Gloucester
In the twelfth century
Gloucester, the Roman Glevum, commands the lowest crossing of the Severn and the road into South Wales. The abbey of St Peter, rebuilt by Abbot Serlo, is among the leading Benedictine houses in England. Its foundation stone was laid in 1089, and the east end was dedicated in 1100. Around 1100 the town has some five hundred burgesses. In the Anarchy it is a stronghold of the Empress Matilda's party under Miles of Gloucester, who founds Llanthony Priory beside the town in 1137. Gloucester's trade is in iron: it is the natural place to work the iron of the Forest of Dean, and its smiths supply the king's wars. Around 1170 Henry II frees the men of the town to bring wood and coal down the Severn. Henry II also grants the town its first charter of liberties.
Landmark: The Norman abbey church of St Peter (east end dedicated 1100; now Gloucester Cathedral, whose Norman nave survives).
Known for
- Iron and ironworking (Forest of Dean iron)
- Severn river trade
- Wine (a leading merchant was trading wine by 1183)
- Cloth (a fuller among the richest burgesses by 1173)
- Lampreys and Severn fish
Caveats (confidence: high)
The 'coal' in Henry II's grant may be charcoal rather than mineral coal. The regular supply of lampreys to the royal table is recorded from King John's reign (from 1199), right at the end of the period. The castle was rebuilt by Walter of Gloucester before 1100; its later stone keep is not firmly dated. The precise date of Henry II's charter is not given in the source.
Sources: british-history.ac.uk · british-history.ac.uk · british-history.ac.uk · gloucestercathedral.org.uk
Playtest: in development, may be reset
In the playtest world now
What the test world shows at Gloucester, as of Year 12, winter, month 10, day 26. About the playtest
Last season's market
Autumn, year 12. Each good's price at the close of last season, against its usual price in this town: dear, usual or cheap.
- Usual
- Pick, Ox cart, Pit saw, Adze, Awl, Axe, Iron hammer, Chisel