Lost Cirencester

The Gloucestershire town of Cirencester has a rich and diverse history dating back to Roman times when, known as Corinium, it was the second largest settlement outside London. Today, apart from its heritage many visitors are drawn here by the town's enviable location amid the glorious Cotswold countryside. In Lost Cirencester, author Robert Heaven, who writes for the Wiltshire and Gloucestershire Standard, offers a fascinating visual ride though the last 100 years of the town's history. Here is a snapshot of life as it was, before and after the wars. Through a series of archive black-and-white and colour images, readers can discover the buildings and streets that were once here; places of recreation and worship; parks that have changed; and activities that were, at one time, popular but which today few can remember. The book provides a reminder of the mop fairs and carnivals that enthralled the people of Cirencester and gives an insight into the lesser-known spectacles such as the flying circus and high-wire acts that once visited the town. Also included are the associations and clubs that held the community together in the good times as well as the bad. The unsung heroes and the locally famous people will also be represented individuals who were once so familiar but are now names etched on headstones. This engrossing visual chronicle, revealing the changing face of Cirencester, will be of interest to residents and visitors alike.