I had mixed feelings about putting a cache here as this little
open space has had a dubious reputation in the past.
But I hope that people will not be put off by the occasional
incidents of unruly behaviour and vandalism. It IS a public place
for public pleasure.
The cache is approximately 5' 6" off the ground and may
require a degree of "reaching".
The Jubilee Garden opened in (or about) 1976.
The Aviation murals, designed and executed by Darsie Rawlins.
They were commissioned by the Civic Trust to commemorate famous
aircraft built by the Gloster Aircraft Company, which closed in
1960.
The murals were restored by the Trust in 1998 after damage caused
by vandalism and the elements.
The gardens are at the rear of the recently updated/upgraded
City Museum and is next to the Conservative Club.
The gardens used to be a busy service area for the Eastgate Market
when is was much busier and more conventional in its operations.
Lots of butchers, fishmongers and greengrocers. Sadly, it has now
lost so much of its character.
The Gloster Aircraft Company was formed in 1917 as the
Gloucestershire Aircraft Company, renting what was the Sunningend
works in Cheltenham. In 1926, the name of the company was
abbreviated to the Gloster Aircraft Company because customers
outside of the United Kingdom found the original name too difficult
to pronounce.
In 1928 the company bought the aerodrome at Hucclecote with all the
hangars and office accommodation.
It's most famous and ground-breaking achievement was the
development of the Gloster E28/39, with the turbo jet engine
invented by Sir Frank Whittle. The aircraft was trialed and had its
first very brief flight at the companys airfield at
Brockworth.
Then followed the equally legendary Meteor and Javelin.
The Company finally disappeared as a name in 1963.
This garden is there for us ALL to enjoy - if the unruly
elements are given free range, then it is lost.
Enjoy this celebration of part of Gloucester's history.
FTF goes to Glosjools - 09/11/11!