Cirencester Attractions
The range of attractions in and around Cirencester includes the excellent Corinium Museum, the remains of a Roman Amphitheatre and Cirencester Park (just a short walk from the town centre). The Abbey Grounds behind the church provides a convenient and pleasant location to sit and eat a sandwich as you have a break from walking around the town.
Slightly further afield, The Cotswold Water Park and The Cotswold Wildlife Park are a short drive from Cirencester.
The Corinium Museum, Cirencester
Mention Cirencester attractions, and you really must mention the Corinium Museum. Many people will have childhood memories of The Corinium Museum as it is on the list of school visits for many schools, but the quality of the Museum may only really be appreciated if you visit again as an adult.The Corinium Museum strives to encourage access for all to its nationally important collections. Access to the museum collections is provided through the permanent displays within the museum, plus an extensive education and outreach programme. Further access is achieved through a diverse and imaginative temporary exhibitions programme.
There is no parking for the Corinium Museum, so use one of the town centre car parks which are within easy walking distance.
Archaeology Sessions At Corinium Museum in July
TSee how crafts from the past were produced, with a series of talks, workshops and activities at the Corinium Museum in July.
As part of the Festival of British Archaeology, the Cirencester museum is hosting events from July 20th – 29th to embrace and explore traditional skills from times gone by. The series of talks will look at flint-knapping, prehistoric metal working and Roman ceramic-making, to the Anglo-Saxon weavers and the craftsmen of the Middle Ages.
Starting on Monday July 20th is a flint-knapping demonstration followed by a workshop with Karl Lee, where you can explore ancient tool-making traditions. The demonstration is held from 10am-12pm and the hands-on workshop from 1pm-4pm. The demonstration cost is included in the museum’s admission and the workshop costs £20 per person.
Following this on Tuesday July 21st is the Ancient Egyptian Crafts Afternoon Talk (2pm-4pm), with the Corinium Museum’s Outreach Officer Emma Stuart. This talk costs £5 per person or £4.50 for annual season ticket holders/Friends of the Corinium Museum. Booking is required.
The next date for your diary is the Anglo-Saxon Weaving session, from 10.30am-12pm on Wednesday July 22nd. This children’s craft workshop, aimed at 7-12 year olds, costs £4 per child or £2 for annual season ticket holders/Friends of the Corinium Museum. Again, booking is required.
Another talk with one of the Corinium Museum’s staff sees Dr Alison Brookes discuss Prehistoric Crafts in the Cotswolds during an afternoon talk from 2-4pm on Thursday July 23rd. This talks costs £5 per person or £4.50 for annual season ticket holders/Friends of the Corinium Museum. Booking is required.
An art workshop on Friday July 24th – from 10.30am-12noon – involves the interesting topic Putrid Paint. This children’s workshop is aimed at 7-12 year olds costs £4 per child, or £2 for annual season ticket holders/Friends of the Corinium Museum.
On Tuesday July 28th, from 10am-12pm, children can enjoy a Roman Gladiator Ceramics Workshop with Angie Sayer. This session is suitable for children aged 7-12 and costs £7 per child, with booking essential. The child’s creation will need to be collected on another day.
Again on Tuesday July 28th (1pm–4.30pm) will be the Roman Hunting Cup Ceramics Workshop, again with Angie Sayer. This event – which is aimed at adults – will cost £15.00 per person, and booking is essential. Again, the creation will need to be fired and collected on another day.
The final event of the series is on Wednesday July 29th and runs from 2–4pm. Medieval Craftsmen is an afternoon talk by Tim Porter, and costs £5 per person, or £4.50 for annual season ticket holders or Friends of the Corinium Museum. Booking is required.
The festival is a celebration of both British archaeology and the presentation of archaeology from around the world in Britain and is coordinated nationally by the Council for British Archaeology.
The Festival of British Archaeology is the new name for National Archaeology Week.
Call the Corinium Museum on 01285 655611 or visit www.cotswold.gov.uk/go/museum or http://festival.britarch.ac.uk/ for further details.
Cirencester Park
Cirencester Park, home to the Bathurst family, is a sea of tranquility just a short walk from the centre of the bustling market town of Cirencester.
The main pedestrian entrance to Cirencester Park can be found at the top of Cecily Hill. Entrance to the park is free of charge and it is usually open 8am to 5pm (opening times are posted on the gates at the entrance to Cirencester Park).Dogs are allowed in the park and they can run freely, apart from near the entrance where you are asked to keep them on a lead. You can also ride through the park on horseback.
On entering Cirencester Park from the Cecily Hill entrance you will see a long tree-lined path stretch into the distance. This is known as the Broad Ride and it is approximately 1 mile in length. You can walk up this pathway or take one of the many pathways which lead off the main route.
There are several follies and buidlings in the park one of which, Pope's Seat, was built for Alexander Pope, friend and advisor to the first Earl Bathurst.
Abbey Grounds
The Abbey Grounds can be found behind the Church and The Market Place. The grounds contain the site of St Mary’s Abbey which was consecrated in 1176 in the presence of Henry II. It remained until the Dissolution in 1539 when the Abbey was completely demolished. Today, the site of the Abbey isoutlined with paving stones.In the Abbey Grounds grounds you will find a lake (home to a large population of wildfowl), impressive trees and greenery and section of ancient Roman Wall.
The Abbey Gounds is also home to a bandstand (completed in 1999) on which bands perform during the summer months.
Roman Amphitheatre
Cirencester's Roman Amphitheatre lies to the West of the town, and eagle-eyed motorists may have seen it whilst driving along the dual carriageway between Waitrose and the roundabout by the Fire Station.
The Roman Amphitheatre in Cirencester is one of the best preserved amphitheatres in Britain and consists of a large oval arena with steeply sloping banked sides.
Pedestrians and motorists are advised to enter the amphitheatre from Cotswold Avenue.
The Cirencester Roman Amphtheatre is open all year round and there is no entrance fee.
