Francis Close Hall
University of Gloucestershire, Francis Close Hall, Swindon Road, Cheltenham, GL50 4AZ
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II*
- List Entry Number:
- 1387995
- Date first listed:
- 12-Mar-1955
- List Entry Name:
- Francis Close Hall
- Statutory Address:
- University of Gloucestershire, Francis Close Hall, Swindon Road, Cheltenham, GL50 4AZ
Location
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Images of England Project
- Date:
- 2002-08-01
- Reference:
- IOE01/08295/20
- Rights:
- © Mr Rodney Allen. Source: Historic England Archive
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Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II*
- List Entry Number:
- 1387995
- Date first listed:
- 12-Mar-1955
- Date of most recent amendment:
- 26-Nov-1996
- List Entry Name:
- Francis Close Hall
- Statutory Address 1:
- University of Gloucestershire, Francis Close Hall, Swindon Road, Cheltenham, GL50 4AZ
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
Location
- Statutory Address:
- University of Gloucestershire, Francis Close Hall, Swindon Road, Cheltenham, GL50 4AZ
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- County:
- Gloucestershire
- District:
- Cheltenham (District Authority)
- Parish:
- Non Civil Parish
- National Grid Reference:
- SO 94626 23044
Details
This list entry was subject to a Minor Amendment on 25 November 2021 to update the name and address and to reformat the text to current standards
SO9423SE
630-1/5/884
CHELTENHAM
SWINDON ROAD (North side)
Francis Close Hall (University of Gloucestershire)
(Formerly listed as St Paul's College, Cheltenham and Gloucester College of Higher Education, previously Listed as: SWINDON ROAD St Paul's Training College)
12/03/55
GV
II*
Training college, now part of University of Gloucestershire. 1849 with later additions and alterations. Architect, SW Daukes. Stone with ashlar dressings and plain tile roof. Quadrangular plan with rear projecting blocks.
EXTERIOR: two-storey central porch with octagonal tower between single-storey, four-bay ranges and with outer two-storey-and-attic gabled blocks with two first-floor windows and further outer porches to recessed ends. Three-storey porch to rear range. Quoins to angles. Buttresses between bays. Three- and four-light mullion and transom windows, those to ground floor with cusped heads, in double-chamfered surrounds and with hoodmoulds, some with foliate or head stops. Central pointed entrance has studded plank doors with hoodmould. Similar fenestration to return elevations with chamfered, straight-headed mullioned windows. Rear porch with tower, similar pointed-arched opening with castellated two-storey oriel with four-light mullion windows. The quadrangle has castellated breakforward to ground floor; first floor has alternate two-light and single-light cusped windows.
INTERIOR: simply detailed with stone staircases. Porch has quadripartite vault with chamfered pointed archway and plank studded doors.
HISTORICAL NOTE: Founded as 'an Institution for the training of masters and mistresses upon scriptural and evangelical principles in connection with the Church of England'. The grounds, together with »500, were donated by Miss Jane Cook. This site houses 82 male students. St Paul's Training College is often regarded as the greatest achievement of Revd Francis Close, incumbent of the parish Church of St Mary (qv). A very fine Gothic Revival composition, this being the style chosen for other Church Training Colleges built in the period, such as at Bristol.
Forms a group with Entrance Lodge, Gates and Boundary Wall (qv).
Verey states, 'the best C19-20 Gothic work (in Cheltenham) is to be found here'.
(Beck WE: A History of the Cheltenham College of St Paul and St Mary: 1947-; The Buildings of England: Verey D: Gloucestershire: The Vale and The Forest of Dean: London: 1970-: 137; Hart G: A History of Cheltenham: Stroud:1965-1990: 198-199).
Listing NGR: SO9465023028
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
- Legacy System number:
- 475991
- Legacy System:
- LBS
Sources
Books and journals
Verey, D, The Buildings of England: Gloucestershire 2 The Vale and The Forest of Dean, (1970), 137
Hart, G, A History of Cheltenham, (1965-1990), 198-199
Hart, G, A History of Cheltenham, (1965-1990), 198-199
Beck, W E, A History of Cheltenham College of St Paul and St Mary, (1947)
Legal
This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.
Map
This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 05-Jun-2026 at 20:31:02.
Download a full scale map (PDF)End of official list entry
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