Summary
New funding has been secured for The Fleece Hotel in Gloucester but it is just a drop compared to what is needed. The historic gem has sat empty in Westgate Street for 14 years and so far plans to bring it back to glory have failed to come to fruition. The 15th-century timber-framed building is on Historic England’s Heritage at Risk Register and needs complex, specialised work to make it suitable for public use.
Details
There have been at least three failed proposals for the site and funding of £6.3million to transform it into a boutique hotel was syphoned off for The Forum and City Campus in January 2024. Gloucester City Counci l has pumped thousands of pounds into trying to prevent the buildings, some of which date back to the 1200s, from crumbling away.
Now, after almost two years of no progress, civic chiefs have been offered £261,500 from Historic England to help conserve the hotel complex. The cash will support essential surveys and repairs to the Westgate range roof and contribute towards the refurbishment of the vacant Westgate Street shop unit so it can once again be brought back into use.
It will also be spent on hosting public open days and a new exhibition exploring The Fleece’s rich history and plans for its future. “Securing investment in Gloucester’s heritage assets is an important part of supporting the city’s long-term regeneration”, said a council statement on LinkedIn.
“While The Fleece remains a large and complex site that will require additional funding to achieve its full potential, this grant marks a significant milestone in safeguarding the building and laying the foundations for its future reuse.” The Fleece Hotel was first opened in 1497 as one of the three major inns of Gloucester to house pilgrims.
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A 12th century undercroft was incorporated into the structure and Gloucester Abbey opened it as an inn during the 16th century. It was first recorded as the Golden Fleece Inn in 1673.
It was owned by numerous people over a 500 year period including: Dean & Chapter of Gloucester Cathedral , Josiah Tucker and The Rich Family who ran it as a hotel and expanded parts of it rapidly and “unsympathetically” according to Gloucester Civic Trust. The site sat derelict for nine years after being sold to the since SWRDA (South West Regional Development Agency) in 2002 and was then bought by the council.
Punchline-Gloucester.com was given an exclusive tour inside the complex in 2023. Proposals by the YMCA, Dowdeswell Group and The Phoenix Village were all touted over the last five years but all faded away and the council has been silent since then on any future plans. But last week it was revealed The Fleece was a priority on the authority’s draft Gloucester City Masterplan .
What You Need to Know
A 12th century undercroft was incorporated into the structure and Gloucester Abbey opened it as an inn during the 16th century. It was first recorded as the Golden Fleece Inn in 1673.
Report source: Punchline Gloucester
