Gloucester was one of Roman Britain’s most important cities. Before the M4 and M5 motorways were built it was known as the crossroads of England. The city’s street layout is much the same as it was when planned by Queen AEtheflaed, daughter of Alfred the Great. Behind modern shopfronts there is still much to be seen of its heritage, including the finest medieval merchant’s house in the UK and a fifteenth-century coaching inn that was the country’s largest when it was built. The city’s cathedral is one of the finest in Britain, the place where William I decreed that the Domesday Book should be produced, where Edward II is buried and where Henry III was crowned. The historic docks were once the most inland port in the country, and many of the old buildings remain and tall ships can often be seen there.

A-Z of Gloucester offers an engaging portrait of the city and takes readers on a fascinating tour, highlighting the people, places and events that have played their part in its history. This book will appeal to all those with an interest in this remarkable city.