After nearly three years of planning and fundraising the passageway leading from the Market Place to the churchyard behind St. John Baptist Church in Cirencester has been re-laid in York stone pennant setts.
The medieval passageway was a trip hazard, poorly lit at night and badly in need of re-laying. Because the Parish Church is a Grade 1* listed building, the work had to be approved by the Gloucester Diocese and Cotswold District Council, and an archaeologist had to oversee the work to check for Roman artefacts.
Competitive tenders were obtained in June 2024 and D A Cook of Evesham was awarded the main contract, and local blacksmith Ben Prothero was appointed to create the new entrance archway.
After over a year of fundraising by the project group working on behalf of the Parochial Church Council, some £90k had been secured from a variety of local sources, including The K D Winstone Trust, Bathurst Estate and other local property owners, the friends of the Parish Church, Gloucestershire County Council and Safer Streets, Cirencester Civic Society, Cirencester Town Council and the Benefact Trust. Another £77k was needed and the Heritage Fund agreed to provide grant in December 2024.
Delays in obtaining approval for the choice of stone and obtaining it from the quarry in the Forest of Dean meant that work did not commence until late April, but the work was completed in early September.
Canon Rev. Graham Morris, vicar of Cirencester said” I am delighted with the new passageway, the contractors were excellent, and I cannot thank the project team too much for their dedication to the task over the past three years- what a legacy to leave for the town”
Enquiries to John Tiffney (01285 671888) and Meg Blumsom ( 01285 657696)
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