Cirencester

Cirencester, a town of Gloucestershire, amid the Coteswold Hills, on the Churn, a headstream of the Thames, and on the Thames and Severn Canal, 14 miles SSE. of Cheltenham, and 18 by rail NW. of Swindon. It has a very fine Perpendicular church (restored 1867), a public hall (1863), some remains of an abbey (1117), and, 1 mile distant, an agricultural college (1846), a Tudor edifice (see AGRICULTURE). Near this is the handsome seat of Earl Bathurst. There is a considerable trade in wool and agricultural produce, and the town is a hunting centre. Till 1867 it returned two members; till 1885, one. Pop. (1851) 6096; (1891) 7441. Cirencester (pronounced Cisseter) was the Roman Corinium, at the junction of five Roman roads; and there is a good collection of Roman antiquities found in the neighbourhood. Canute held a council here in 1020. Rupert stormed Cirencester in 1642 and 1643. The early English chronicler Richard (q.v.) of Cirencester was a native.