50 Gems #: 50 Gems of Gloucestershire

- Blurb -

Gloucestershire is a county of great variety with three distinct areas - the Cotswold Hills, the Forest of Dean and the Severn Vale. The gently rolling hills of the Cotswolds, dotted with picturesque towns and villages of honey-coloured limestone and the Forest of Dean, overlooking the Wye Valley and Welsh mountains beyond, with a dark and mysterious beauty quite distinct from the rest of the county is separated by the mighty River Severn, which over countless centuries has carved a course through the land to create the Severn Vale. In this low-lying land builders commonly used timber frames in the construction of dwellings, notably in Tewkesbury but some of Gloucestershire's most impressive stone buildings - Gloucester Cathedral, Tewkesbury Abbey and Berkeley Castle - are found in the Vale area. On the heart of the county lie its two major settlements - the historic city of Gloucester and the spa town of Cheltenham, famous for its festivals.In 50 Gems of Gloucestershire author Mark Turner explore the many places and their history that make this part of the West of England so special. The 50 Gems include ancient sites of the earliest settlers in the area, Roman remains, historic towns and villages, landmark buildings, parks and gardens, Gloucestershire's mining, transport and industrial heritage, nature reserves and natural beauty spots and many other treasures. Alongside the justly famous the author includes many lesser known gems that are equally deserving of attention.