Pre 1500

We know very little about the ordinary people of Gloucester at this time. Although there were many thousands of them, only the most wealthy, aristocratic and even royal residents were written about.

All there is to tell the story of most of Gloucester's past are clues from archaeology. We can only guess at what great events and important people were here. It is only in Saxon times that the historical record begins to bring the City to life.

There were many eminent residents of Gloucester's royal palaces and castle. Among them was Aethelflaed, `The Lady of Mercia', scourge of the Vikings, who also happened to draw up the blueprints for modern Gloucester.