Sun setting on the The Cross

I went up to the top of Hill Paul again to take some particular views from that high vantage point of the adjacent land down below the building where there is going to be imminent development next to the canal wharf. Unfortunately the apartment I had access to turned out to be on the wrong side and I couldn't see the sites I needed to record for the publicity we are producing for the neighbourhood plan newsletter.

As the sun was just setting I went to the far side of town to try and use the light to illuminate the northern 'gateway' to the town. The Cross is rather a misnomer now, as it was originally a cross roads and a key market centre in the early history of the town. When the 1980s redevelopments occurred some of the main buildings there were torn down to make way for a new wider road, which was due to be part of a large scale bypass to the town centre. Luckily this was the only part of the scheme that was delivered.

The 1930s deco style building has had a variety of different users, many of which have been recorded in photographic records. Today there is a launderette on the left and the rather wonderful Black Books cafe is on the right hand side. The old road out to the 'top of town' bears up to the right hand side of it where horse drawn coaches once headed uphill to began their journey along the Golden Valley on their way to Cirencester and beyond. We live about a mile away up that road.