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St. Margarets Road, CHELTENHAM, GL50 4DT

Pretty fanlights and wrought-iron balconies. Wider view: Image

Built in 1819-25, possibly to the designs of G.A. Underwood. Six three-bay houses with pilasters and wrought-iron balconies (Image]). Grade II* listed.

Just what you would want to see if you were driving - where you want to go has been closed to traffic.

Portland Chapel, in North Place, was the first nonconformist Gothic Revival building erected in Cheltenham. Built in 1816 of ashlar over brick with a slate roof. The portico was added in 1865 and may have come from another chapel. It ceased to be a chapel in the late 20th century and since has been used as a gymnasium and as a spa. Listed, grade II, with details at: https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1387374 Cheltenham is located at the foot of the Cotswold scarp with the small River Chelt flowing through the town. After the discovery of mineral springs in 1716 Cheltenham became a spa town and many Regency houses and other buildings were erected. The town is home to the renowned Cheltenham Festival, four days of horse jump racing culminating in the Gold Cup, held annually in March at the nearby racecourse.

Taken from St Margaret's Road, this photo shows the North Place car park with Trinity Church in the distance to the right of the photo. This car park used to be the site of the coach station where Black & White Motorways Ltd used to run coach services to London and other places. The coach station closed in 1984 with coach services being transferred to the Royal Well Bus Station, SO9422 refers. However, the final departure from this site took place on Sunday 27th May 2012 following a rally that was held that day, https://glostransporthistory.visit-gloucestershire.co.uk/Bus_Take%20The%20Last%20Coach%20From%20Cheltenham.htm refers.

The St Margaret's Road car Park is on the site of the former National Express bus station.

A Bedford OB bus in the old coach station at Cheltenham, at an event marking the 75th Anniversary of Associated Motorways. The bus is painted in Slad Valley colours.

I risk the wrath of fellow Cheltonians by including this building amongst my photo collection! This was a controversial building from its conception to its inevitable demise. The whole concept of placing a futuristic design amongst the elegant buildings of Portland Street, certainly raised eyebrows at the time. When the restaurant first opened, it had an astronaut attached to the roof, perhaps it is just as well that I don't have a photo of that! The restaurant closed and the building became a fitness centre for a while. But its days were numbered, not many people shed a tear when it was finally demolished and replaced with a block of flats.