CIRENCESTER, or CICESTER, a parliamentary borough and market-town of England, county of Gloucester, and 16 miles S.E. of the town of that name; 88 miles by road, and 95 by the Great Western railway from London. It occupies the site of Corinum, Corinium, or Duro-cornovium, the capital of the Dobani and an important military station of the Romans, situated at the junction of three Roman roads. In 878 it was taken by the Danes; and was the seat of a great council held by Canute in 1020. A magnificent abbey for Black Canons, of which some remains still exist, was founded here in 1117 by Henry I. Numerous Roman remains have at various times been discovered here; and traces of the ancient walls, two miles in circuit, are still to be seen. It returns two members to parliament; and, not being incorporated, is governed by two high constables and 14 wardens, who are elected annually. Pop. (1851) 6096; electors (1851-2) 434. It stands on the river Churn, is connected by a branch with the Thames and Severn canal, and consists of four principal streets of generally well built houses, but is a place of no trade. The church is a fine old structure of the fifteenth century, with an embattled tower 134 feet high, a fine decorated porch, several lateral chapels, and many interesting monuments. It has a free grammar-school, three hospitals, alms-houses, savings-bank, museum, public library, dispensary, breweries, and a carpet factory. Market-days Monday and Friday. An agricultural college has been lately established in the vicinity, with chapel, lecture rooms, library, museum, laboratories, &c., and an experimental farm of 600 acres.