Beeches Green Friendship Circle: an illustrated talk which explored Stroud’s involvement in the history of the Woollen Industry with Professor Jennifer Tann

WE ENDED 2016 with two memorable events.

In November we had a coach a trip to Moreton in the Marsh Christmas Market and enjoyed an afternoon tea in the village hall.

December saw us celebrating Christmas with a traditional Christmas Dinner in our very own parish hall.

We were entertained afterwards by Mr Barry White who sang a mixture of traditional and modern songs.

For our January meeting Professor Jennifer Tann gave us an illustrated talk which explored Stroud’s involvement in the history of the Woollen Industry.

This trade shaped the Gloucestershire landscape and some of the big houses of this area are a legacy from those times not forgetting the impressive mill buildings we can still see in the valleys.

Many of the fine churches around this area Painswick, Northleach, Cirencester and so on were built by clothiers with money from the trade.

The surnames of some of the local people also reflect the industry of the area – Dyer, Weaver, Turner etc.

The woollen industry began as a domestic industry, wool, being spun and woven in cottages the work often being carried out by women and children.

To make the wool warmer and also more weatherproof the woven cloth was thickened by being trodden on, in tubs or troughs, containing fullers’ earth and water.

The mechanisation of the industry began during the 17th century and led to the woollen industry moving to the countryside near flowing rivers and streams which could generate the water power needed to run the mills.

The key processes in the manufacture of a piece of cloth were, wool preparation, yarn manufacture, spinning, weaving, finishing, dyeing and pressing.

While a number of mills have been demolished some are still operating or being put to other uses.

Cam Mill and Lodgemore Mill in the Stroud area still produces fine woollen cloth to this day.

Indeed the cloth for snooker tables and tennis balls is produced in Stroud.

Longford Mill in the Stroud Valley dates back to 1712 and is to become a textile centre for the Stroudwater Textile Trust.

Further details and information about open dates to other mills can be found on the Stroudwater Trust internet site.

Our next meeting will be on Tuesday, February 21, and will be a slide show given by Jenny Bircher local photographer and member of our Parish Church Community.