Stroud

The Five Valleys, historically known as Stroud, Golden Nailsworth, Painswick, Slad and Cuckold's Brook converge on the town of Stroud. It is among these valleys that The Cotswold Hills are seen at their best.

Wherever you stand in Stroud, the rolling countryside surrounding the town is visible, and from the higher points, the Forest of Dean and the River Severn dominate the skyline.

Stroud today is a fascinating blend of the old and the new. For centuries wool was spun in cottages around the town and sent down the valleys to the mills to be woven into cloth. To this day, all the tennis balls used at Wimbledon and the cloth for the snooker tables used for the World's ranking tournaments are made in Stroud. Most of the mills have now closed but many have been renovated to their former glory and are being used as accommodation, inns, hotels and offices.

Stroud is widely regarded as something of a bohemian town, with arts and crafts, many locally generated, being frequently on show at the various centres and in often the streets.

In the past, Stroud has had its fair share of firsts and lasts. The last duel in England was fought here in 1807 and the unlucky loser, a Lieutenant Delmont, is buried in the churchyard of St. Laurence. The lawnmower began here in 1830, invented by a Stroud townsman, Edwin Budding. The original is housed in the town's museum.

It is well worth while for the first time visitor to pick up a map of the town at either the Bus Station, Railway Station or the Town Library in Lansdown.

There are numerous places of interest within a comfortable days outing. The cities of Gloucester, Cheltenham and Cirencester, with their colourful Roman History are only a short drive away. Bristol with all its famous attractions is only 25 miles to the South. There are regular trains and buses to and from London and elsewhere. Also local services are frequent, so whilst a car is an asset for touring the area around the villages, it is not essential.