own a seaport, and it is one still. More than that,
it is the most inland port in Britain, owing to the Berkeley Ship Canal,
which enables ships to dispense with the awkwardness of a voyage up and
down the tortuous and dangerous Severn. It is to this canal that
Gloucester owes much of its present trade, as, by sea-going vessels,
corn and timber, its staple commodities, are brought in to the many
wharves in ever-increasing quantities. To the railways--the Great
Western and the Midland--the town also owes much of its prosperity, and
one great industry, that of railway waggon building, gives employment to
many pairs of hands.

In Gloucester, or its neighbourhood, will be found the following
buildings of interest:--

#Llanthony Priory.#--This was formerly an Augustinian convent, with a
church attached, founded by Milo, Earl of Hereford, in 1136. It was
founded as an asylum for the convenience of the priory in Monmouthshire
of the same name, which was so liable to be harried and pillaged by the
Welsh. This priory was dissolved in 1539. The church was finally
destroyed to make way for the Ship Canal. Some remains exist in a farm,
of which the masonry is good. A gateway, in the Perpendicular style,
still survives.

[Illustration: The Old Judges' House. Westgate St. Ed Burrow 1894]

#St. Oswald's Priory.#--In 909 the Princess Elfleda caused the canonised
relics of King Oswald to be removed and richly entombed at Gloucester.
She also founded a college for secular priests, but later on it was
converted into a priory for regular canons. (Refounded 1153.)

Attached to this priory was a chapel dedicated to St. Catherine, which,
after the dissolution of the priory, served for a parish church until
its destruction in the siege in 1643. On this site the present Church of
St. Catherine was built in 1867-69.

The #Grey Friars# (or College of Friars minor, or Franciscans).--This
building formerly stood at the east end of the Church of St. Mary de
Crypt.

The #White Friars# (or College of Carmelites).--This building, which was
situated without Lower Northgate Street, was founded by Queen Eleanor.

In the time of Elizabeth the college was converted into a house of
correction. During the siege in 1643, it was used as a fortress.
Portions of it remain incorporated with private houses.

The #Black Friars# (or College of Friars, Preachers).--This college was
established by Henry III. in 1237.

Remains of the building are still to be