The Fleece Hotel, Grade I listed hotel in Westgate Street, Gloucester, England
The Fleece Hotel is a timber-framed building from the 15th century with a 12th-century stone undercroft beneath Westgate Street. The lower level originally served as a residential or storage space, while the upper stories later housed guest rooms.
From 1497 onward, it served as one of three major inns in Gloucester, drawing pilgrims visiting the tomb of Edward II. Over the centuries, it changed hands and purposes multiple times before becoming a protected historic building.
The name reflects the wool trade that brought wealth to Gloucester in medieval times. The building shows how a merchant's dwelling transformed over centuries into a place that welcomed travelers and guests.
The hotel sits on Westgate Street, a main thoroughfare in the city center, easy to reach on foot. Access is straightforward, and the surrounding area has parking and public transport nearby.
Dendrochronology studies in 2017 revealed the building is older than previously thought and originally contained shops with living spaces above. This finding shifted understanding of how the structure functioned before its role as an inn.
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