AFTER the business and the welcoming of four visitors, Jenny, Stephanie, Tina and Judith, we started 2015 with ‘400 Years of Stroudwater Textiles’ presented by Ian Mackintosh from the Stroudwater Textile Trust.

Ian is a very evocative speaker who really brought to life the history of the woollen industry which used to be the main employer of the Stroud Valleys and to which we owe our heritage.

The rivers that flowed through the valleys supplied the mills with water to power the machinery.

Throughout the Five Valleys there were numerous mills, some of which still survive to this day although now producing more diverse products for the modern age and also used as offices.

The names, Playne, Capels, Marling, Winterbotham, all associated with the clothiers that made up the wealth of the valleys and produced the Scarlet cloth for the uniforms for the army, the blue cloth for the navy and the green baize for snooker tables.

In the summer months the hills surrounding the valleys would be a blaze of colour with all the wool drying out on frames.

Quite a few of the mills supplied the East India Company from whom one of the founders was Sir Leonard Halliday (1550-1612) who originated from Rodborough.

As well as giving talks, Ian also arranges guided walks and tours of the mills where you can still see weaving demonstrations enabling us to see just how important the woollen industry was in our area.

Thanks was given to Ian for his excellent talk and presentation.

Our next meeting is on February 18 where Lyndsey Braune from Cotswold Auctions will be viewing items bought in by members for valuation.

All visitors most welcome.