An irreverent guide to the town's history (From Stroud News and Journal)

An irreverent guide to the town's history

THE latest addition to the stable of books about Stroud has a rare pedigree, taking a rather more quirky and contemporary look at the town than many of its predecessors.

Sam Bond talks to author Adam Horovitz and photographer Douglas Maxwell about a book that looks at the things, people and ideas that have made Stroud and the surrounding villages the unique place they are today...

Books on Stroud are not a new idea. For those prepared to do the digging, there are history books aplenty.

So why then, did Douglas Maxwell, Adam Horovitz and Ian Blackwell decide to put together Stroud: Heart of the Five Valleys for 700 years?

"It's not like the history books," said author Adam. "It's Stroud as it is now, a snapshot of the town today with a quick look at what's gone before.

"It's as much about the future as it is about the past."

Douglas, who planned the book as well as taking the photographs, added: "What we tried to do is make a book that's accessible to people who aren't necessarily into the heavy-weight historical stuff.

"It's for anybody who is interested in the town." The book has a refreshing irreverence and makes no claims to objectivity.

"We've looked at the quirky things about Stroud as well as the more serious aspects," said Adam. "The essay is very much written from the point of view of someone who's lived and worked here all his life."

Among the tongue-in-cheek elements is a photo of a sign to The Heavens pointing towards the ground and two pages of 'Stroudities' describing some weird and wonderful moments in the town's past.

"It has a light-hearted touch as well as being a good, sound history of the place," said Douglas.

His photographs have all been taken over the past year so it would be hard to find a more contemporary guide to the town.

"We've had great support from Ian Blackwell who's done most of the research for the book," said Douglas.

"His great grandfather was a stone mason and helped build this place. "He's steeped in the history of this town."

Adam has also been scouring the other books on Stroud and spoken to various authorities on the town.

"Ian Mackintosh's history lecturers at the beginning of the year were really helpful," he said. "And I constantly bugged a friend of mine, Ade Blair, for information. He knows an awful lot about the folklore of the area."

The book comes with a beautifully illustrated map of the Five Valleys by local artist Roger Harris which is dotted with clearly-penned local landmarks, from the anti-slavery arch at Paganhill to the colourful kites and ice cream of Minchinhampton Common and the distinctive spire of Painswick church.

Producing the book has not been easy, said Douglas but the effort has been more than worthwhile.

"t's been a hard slog and it's taken us nearly the whole year," he said. "But it has been great fun.

"The most enjoyable thing has been finding out more about this place than I ever knew before and going to all the outlying villages.

"Ian and I have had some wonderful pub lunches in the name of research." As well as being a fun personal project, he is hoping it will be a lasting historical document.

"It's nice to think that long after I've departed it will still be around," said Douglas. "It's always going to be there as a record of what Stroud is like today."

* Stroud: Heart of the Five Valleys for 700 Years is available from all good bookshops, priced at £9.50. ISBN 0-9548787-0-1

* Copies will also be available at Stroud's Goodwill Evening this Friday, December 3.