• Welcome An historic Tudor building in Gloucester
Bishop Hooper’s House, 99-101 Westgate Street, Gloucester, GL1 2PG
info@thefolkofgloucester.co.uk
• Please Help us to Protect this Building Love The Folk
The Folk of Gloucester, one of the city’s most historically significant buildings, is launching a crowdfunding appeal this Valentine’s Day to ensure vital restorations can go ahead.
Trustees of the Westgate Street venue, which dates back to 1506, need £20,000 to carry out sensitive repairs to its magnificent timber facade.
They are calling on Gloucester’s residents, visitors and businesses to rally behind and #LoveTheFolk by contributing donations which will enable long-term improvements to its frontage.
The full cost of the necessary work is £74,000, but volunteers from Gloucester Civic Trust who run and maintain the site have already raised £54,000 towards the total themselves.
The final £20,000 will complete the fundraising and it’s hoped the #LoveTheFolk crowdfunder will reach its goal within six to eight weeks.
Please help if you can, by donating to our crowd funder https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/love-the-folk
Discover Our Story
Gloucester Folk Museum (for the last couple of years called the “Gloucester Life Museum”) was one of the first Folk Museums to be established in the Country in 1935.
At the end of 2018 the Council closed the Museum and agreed a deal to transfer ownership to Gloucester Historic Buildings/Gloucester Civic Trust who will be re-opening it as an events, education and exhibitions space.
The building has been known for many years as Bishop Hooper House because some people believed that Bishop Hooper stayed here on the night before he was burnt at the stake in 1555. However there is no evidence that this actually happened!
The museum has what is claimed to be part of the burnt stake.
For a more detailed description of the building’s history. Please click the button below.
The building has an excellent café where visitors can take a break including a delightful “Tudor” garden area when the weather suits.
Also on site are a pair of excellent, state of the art, meeting rooms, called the “EdShed”, which are available for hire.
If you’d like to help us with this amazing place, please considering donating or volunteering.
The Ed Shed Two Meeting rooms available to hire
Courtyard View
Facilities Include
- Wifi
- Smart Board
- Disabled parking
- Disabled toilet and lift
- Flip chart
- Fridge
- Projector
- Sink & Worktop
- Tea and Coffee facilities
Tower View
Room Layouts
- Board Room
- Cabaret Style
- Classroom
- Clear Space
- U Shape
- Horeshoe chairs only
- Theatre
Events Events at The Folk
Hard Hat Tours of the Folk
The last two Hard Hat Tours are taking place in July while the scaffolding is still up!
If you would like to experience this wonderful row of three Tudor buildings really close up then this is your opportunity. All the work being carried out to improve the façade will be explained by a professional and, of course, questions will be welcome.
The view is great too!
You will also see the newly discovered well and be shown the other work being carried out on the ground floor.
The tour will take approximately 90 minutes. Booking is essential as places are limited. This tour is operated by Corbel Construction and involves the use of ladders. Answers to a brief medical questionnaire will be required before participation. Please wear suitable footwear, (no heels or open toes.)
Special Price Tickets for £10 can be bought HERE
News Latest NEWS
Cafe & Duty Manager Required
The Folk of Gloucester is looking for an enterprising Café manager/ Supervisor to join us at
the beginning of our mission to reawaken the Folk and give people the opportunity to enjoy
the building, gardens and our beautiful café.
This person would need to:
● Help to plan an irresistible catering and refreshment offer for our much-loved Café
and events spaces. Including buffets and treats for our beautiful meeting and
conference suite.
● Run the daily café operation including food and drink preparation, cleaning and
making sure the service areas are ready.
● We would like you to source local ingredients or work with local suppliers to make
our café a must visit destination.
● The ability to open and run a temporary events bar when required.
● Maintain supplies and reduce waste where possible.
● Train volunteers and colleagues on drink and food preparation and presentation
and proper use of coffee equipment- or be prepared to learn and then inform
others.
● Maintain records and update income and expenses.
● Nurture a friendly relationship with customers and stakeholders. The Folk is in the
heart of the Westgate Community as well as the city and everyone will be
welcome. An interest in local history and a passion for Gloucester will be an
advantage.
● Make sure the Café operates safely and adheres to all regulations.
● Be able to manage a team as the business grows.
● We would like you to be involved in the development of The Folk and deputise for
the manager including keyholding, opening and closing.
● Assist with the Administration of The Folk of Gloucester- including Administrative
tasks, financial report preparation, marketing and advertising.
● Be prepared to assist with Civic Trust Events and activities as required.
Person Spec-
● Level 3 Food Hygiene Certificate.
● Maths grade C/ 5 or above.
● Customer Service Qualifications or Experience.
● Previous catering or hospitality experience.
● Catering qualification or the ability to cook.
● Be a personal licence holder or prepared to be one.
● This person must be able to work weekdays and weekends and some evenings for
Events. At first the standard opening days will be Thursday- Saturday.
Hours- 37.5 hours per week- full time.
Salary: £20-22k pa
We would consider a job share.
Appeal for Shanks Pony for Apple Day
The Folk of Gloucester is appealing for a pony to pull their Apple Mill at their annual Apple Day Event on Saturday 23 rd October.
The mill, which is one of the last surviving stone mills in the West is brought to life every year at the event with the help of a small horse or pony.
Rosie, The Folk’s regular pony, is pregnant this year and is unable to play her part.
The event celebrates Apples and the Cider industry, and the day program includes music, dancing,talks and demonstrations from The Orchard Trust‘s Martin Hayes.
Marc Waters of the Folk Events team said “The Apple Press is such an important part of our heritage and our Apple Day event; it really wouldn’t be the same without it. We are working on a tight budget and would be thrilled if someone who has a pony who is no more than 14.2 HH could consider supporting us and join in the fun ”
Alex Bailey, Chair of the Folk Project team said, “We are thrilled with our progress since taking on this wonderful venue, however we have a long way to go and supporting this event is something that would mean a lot to us.”
The Free Event is open from 10am to 4pm.
There is something for everyone from Cider Tasting to activities for the children. The Secret Garden Café will be open serving Fair Trade Tea and Coffee and homemade delights.
Martin Hayes of The Gloucestershire Orchard Trust will be giving two talks during the day.
At 11:30am orchard in the Environment, from large fields to balconies there could be a tree for you.
At 1:30pm Where does your fruit come from? A talk based around the book “Memories of life as an itinerant” by Martin Hayes, a light hearted, with a serious edge, look at my experience as an Itinerant working the land
Roman Stones Discovered at deCrypt
Gloucester City Archaeologist Andrew Armstrong talks about the important Roman stones found during excavation work in Southgate Street, Gloucester, near St Mary deCrypt Church.
Protecting St Oswalds
Gloucester City Conservation Officer Kate Biggs introduces the repair and conservation work currently being done on Aethelflaed’s St Oswald’s Priory. Followed by a detailed talk and demonstration of the works by historic building conservationist Jake Etherton