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Gloucester Heritage Action Zone

Gloucester City council & Gloucester County Council / Gloucester, UK

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McGregor Coxall led the transformative Historic England Heritage Action Zone Cathedral Quarter public realm improvement project on Westgate Street in Gloucester.

The initiative aimed to create inviting spaces for people to pause and enjoy historic views on the street, complimented by and nestled within biodiverse planting schemes which would grow and flourish.

Streetlife planters featured single and multi-stem trees and biodiverse plant species and include a mix of bench edge and conical planters, installed alongside existing benches.

New benches were inscribed with historical tales of Gloucester, and carefully situated alongside the street’s new interpretation plaques, which included the addition of ten Beatrix Potter mouse trail plaques. These elements highlight the street and Cathedral Quarter’s rich historic narrative.

The project installation was completed in Summer 2024.

 

Year

 2022-2024
A woman with curly hair stands against a plain background. She wears a loose-fitting, dark-colored dress with puffed sleeves. Her right hand is on her hip, and she looks slightly to the side with a contemplative expression. The photo of Úna Breathnach-Hifearnáin is in black and white.
Talk to Úna Breathnach-Hifearnáin about Gloucester Heritage Action Zone
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A street scene in Gloucester's Heritage Action Zone shows large square planters with flowers and young trees placed along a paved pathway. The backdrop features a historic building with a stone facade and arched entrance. Benches are integrated into the planters, and trees line the street.
A wooden bench with engraved text reads: "Colonel Massey, who led the Parliamentarian forces in the 1643 Siege of Gloucester during the English Civil War, had his headquarters here." This heritage bench is adjacent to a bed of pebbles and plants.
Large rectangular metal planters with shrubs, small trees, and various plants line a pedestrian pathway on a sunny day in Gloucester. In the background, a person walks past Heritage buildings including a yellow one, along with parked cars and street signs.
A close-up of a raised garden bed with various plants and grasses, situated on a paved urban street. In the background, two people walk along the sidewalk next to a building with a purple bin and bike racks visible. This heritage-inspired space enhances Gloucester's urban landscape within the Action Zone.
A person sits on a wooden bench next to a planting bed filled with various green and red-leafed plants in an urban setting. A tree and additional plants are also visible in the planter. The background shows Gloucester’s historic buildings with a few people walking through this vibrant heritage action zone.
A heritage metal corner with plants in the background.
A streetscape in Gloucester features several large rusty metal planters, each containing small trees, grasses, and succulents. The paved walkway, lined with greenery, leads toward buildings with a mix of architectural styles. The scene is brightly lit by sunlight in this Heritage Action Zone.
A wooden bench, set on a brick surface, is engraved with text about Richard "Dick" Whittington, a four-time Lord Mayor of London. The engraving notes his connection to the heritage of Gloucester Green and that his family lived there in the 1400s.
Close-up of a wooden bench with several planks engraved with text. One reads: "JOHN PRICHARD, the inspiration for Benedict Potter's tale, was a genuine 19th-century tailor who advertised his Gloucester business as 'where waistcoats are made at night by the fairies.'" This piece adds charm to our heritage action zone.
A street scene in Gloucester featuring several buildings with a mix of brick and white facades. There are trees and large wooden benches in the foreground. A person in business attire is walking on the sidewalk past a restaurant and other storefronts, creating a lively heritage atmosphere.

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