The original building (now Shaftesbury Hall) opened as St Mary’s College – a teacher training college for women – in 1869.
The site expanded and changed names but remained an educational establishment, eventually becoming part of the new University of Gloucestershire.
It housed a theatre and performance space and many who were not students here remember it as a venue for films, dance, drama, music and discos.
However, it fell into disuse and disrepair in the late 1990s and was sold for development.
It was purchased by Kingerlee developments (of Kidlington in Oxford) who appointed the Arbuthnott Ladenberg Partnership of Cirencester as architects.
The present developments was completed in 2001.
There are 84 properties in Chelsea Square:
Shaftesbury Hall – 31 units (leasehold)
St Georges Tower – 24 units (leasehold)
Union House – 7 units (leasehold)
Chester House – 8 units (leasehold)
Clarence Walk – 14 units (freehold).
When it was completed it received a ‘highly commended’ award from Cheltenham Civic Society.
In addition, Shaftesbury Hall is a Grade II listed building and the whole development is within the Central Cheltenham conservation area.
In 2014, Chelsea Square was given a Silver Award as a wildlife friendly garden under the Living Gardens project of Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust.
Source: Chelsea Square
