THE mystery picture in last week's issue has been identified.

The picture shows the side and rear of Merrywalks House - once the "Tax office" next to the railway viaduct on Merrywalks, Stroud.

The viaduct is on the left of the view, Rodborough in the background, and the original boiler house chimney for Strachan's Mill on the right.

It looks as if the land in the foreground is being cleared (there appear to be felled trees) in preparation for the building of the Rosary school.

Note that as well as the two main running tracks, the railway had a siding here, which went round to Townsends flour mill (where Tesco is now) so the hut by the signal would also provide shelter for a shunter sent to work the points (under control of the Stroud signal box).

Thanks to David Warner.

We have another picture that we would like information about - from a 1959 SNJ.

If you can identify the buildings, please come to the exhibition to tell us what you know.

This year's Stroud Local History Society Summer Exhibition is in St Laurence Parish Church in The Shambles from Tuesday, July 17 to Sunday, July 29, 11am to 5pm daily, plus Thursdays to 7pm.

(We are not in the Museum in the Park this time).

We have been doing a project about Stroud in the 1960s, and have lots of pictures to show how it used to be in the town, Paganhill, Ebley, and Cainscross before Tricorn House.

It all started last summer on a SLHS visit when there were reminiscences about The Flamingo Grill and do you remember...

It seemed a good topic to involve lots of people, so we have collected pictures and memories.

Then someone said we should have 60s music, so we have Sixties Night in Lansdown Hall on July 20, with popular local band The Boogie Bop Boys to take us back to the time of Beatles, Kinks, Shadows, Monkees ...

Tickets £9 in advance from Trading Post, Town Council or SLHS, £10 on the door (cash only).

We will also have slide-shows of the Stroud area in 1960s pictures and adverts, before the music starts and in the interval.

We are making history with this new venture, as it is the first concert we have arranged.

You'll need to come to the concert and the exhibition to see all the pictures we have.

Eight other local history societies are also joining us at the exhibition for 'A House In... '

For more information email: contact@stroudlocalhistorysociety.org.uk

Telephone 01453 759641

stroudlocalhistorysociety.org.uk