I CANNOT understand why Brimscombe Poly and the Ship Inn were not listed.

Is it an impossible dream that this historic building (the Poly) could rise again from beneath Benson’s car park using the original stone which lies buried there – the drawings must be in the canal archives.

Apparently it was a condition of the sale to Benson’s that it must be demolished, due to lack of maintenance, neglect by GCC and road widening proposals.

There were years of slippage and traffic lights in the late 1960s on that stretch of the A419, after its demolition.

Conservation was a dirty word then in Gloucestershire, that is why so many historic buildings were lost.

Now the time is ripe to make reparation and restore this area at least, with its open water and wildlife, as the rare inland port it was, not covered in buildings but a heritage site.

The photo is courtesy of Minchinhampton Local History group, which has an exhibition this week.

Can anyone name all the pupils?

Jenny Bailey

Stroud

If anyone can identify any of these pupils at Brimscombe Polytechnic or has any memories to share please write to the usual address or email tla@stroudnewsandjournal.co.uk