St. Thomas's Hospital or Weavers Hall is said to be the oldest secular building in Cirencester. It was founded by Sir William Nottingham Attorney General to Edward IV in 1483 and endowed with rents from his properties in Down Ampney, Stratton and Shorncote for four poor weavers. The almshouse was administered by the Master and Wardens of the Weavers’ Company. Today it continues to be overseen by a charitable trust. There are now two modern tenanted flats behind the facade. Over the last few years the interior has been extensively refurbished by Character Conservation (who were responsible for the work on the Church Porch)
The building usually opens for the Heritage Open Days in September but I've always managed to miss the tour, and I guess it won't be happening this year. The conservators have posted this picture of an interesting old wall painting which they have preserved inside:
Here is the write-up from Buildings of the Cotswolds:
An austere building, of coursed rubble, with ashlar dressings and flush quoins. Two storeys of remarkably small rectangular windows with splayed jambs (on on the right replaced by a cross-window) and central four-centred-arched doorways with defaced image above. Through-passage plan, with plank and muntin screen; originally two dwellings either side (p.268)
British Listed Buildings: Weaver's Hall, Cirencester
On Gloucestershire Historic Environment Records
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| 19th-century sketch by James Stothart (Wellcome Collection) on ArtUK |
Wesley visited Cirencester on several occasions. In 1743 he rode here from Bristol and preached "on a green place at a little distance from the town", riding on next day to Oxford. He returned once more in August 1745. By 1787, his final visit, the indefatigable Wesley was an old man of 84.
Here is the relevant snippet from his Journal
Tuesday 20th March 1787: "Between eleven and twelve I reached Cirencester; and, no larger place being to be procured, I preached at one in our own room, to as many as could hear, either in or near it. And the labour was not lost: they all drunk in the word, as the thirsty earth the showers..."
George Whitefield, a Gloucester man, also came to Cirencester and in 1742 preached in the amphitheatre.