Cirencester Civic Society was founded in 1966 following a public meeting held in the Corn Hall and addressed by the then MP for the town, Nicholas Ridley (later to gain fame as a prominent member of the Cabinet in the Thatcher Government). Some time later, the idea of a guided town walk evolved to follow some of the streets in the older part of the town, although not the Roman part which is almost wholly under tarmac with little to see above ground. The Roman Amphitheatre located just behind Cirencester Hospital is a good example of an amphitheatre of the Roman times which would undoubtedly have played a major part in the town’s public life, but today, unfortunately, is cut off from the town by the ring road, although still accessible from Cotswold Avenue. It is maintained by English Heritage and mainly used as an exercise area for modern-day joggers and walkers and their dogs!
The route of the Town Walk is marked out by 23 brass waymarks set into the pavements and footpaths. By purchasing a booklet (price £1) from the Tourist Office located in the Corinium Museum, Park Place, it is possible to follow the walk which takes, on average, around 1 ¼ hours to complete depending on how fast the walker is and how much interest there is. Alternatively, a guided walk can be taken every Sunday and Bank Holiday Mondays during the summer season (early May to end September), meeting at 3 p.m. at the Church Porch in the Market Place. The walk is led by a voluntary Civic Society guide and costs £1.50 per head with children free.
In addition to the above, group bookings can be taken at other times and the walk can be adapted to suit the wishes of whoever is booking it.
Further details may be obtained from the Tourist Information Office (tel. 01285 641182) or from the Walks Organiser coordinator@cirencestertownwalks.co.uk .