18.3018.30 Dinner. 19.45t9 .45 Lecture: The StroudStroud Area andand thethe Textile Industry,Indus t.ry, by Lionel Walrond.
Tuesday 15th15 th September:September:
8.008 .00 -- 9.009.00 Breakfast.Breakfas t. 9.159.15 Day Excursion: StroudStroud areaarea and textiletextile mills.mi11s. 18.3018.30 Dinner.D inner . 19.45t9 .45 Lecture: Gloucester Docks by Hugh Conway- Jones.
WednesdayI{ednesday 16th15th September:September: 8.008.00 -- 9.009.00 Breakfast.Breakfas t . 9.159.15 DayDay Excursion:Excursion: Docks: Gloucester and Sharpness,Sharpness, andand Berkeley PowerPower Station.Station. 18.3018.30 Dinner. 19.45t9 .45 Lecture: Cotswold StoneStone Quarrying by Arthur Price.
Thursday 17th17 th September:September: 8.008.00 -- 9.009.00 Breakfast.Breakfas t. 9.159.15 DayDay Excursion: Forest ofof DeanDean (areas(areas not visited onon Monday). End of Conference.
SaturdaySaturday 1212 SeptemberSeptember TOURTOUR (a):(a): A Walklialk Round Cheltenham'sCheltenhamrs Ornamental Ironwork.Ironwork. Leader:Leader: Amina Chatwin.Cha twin. The ornamentalornamenLal ironworkironwork ofof Cheltenham cancan basically be fittedfifted intointo threelhree periods. TheThe firstfirst oror Early PeriodPeriod fromfrom aboutabout 18001800 toto 1820.1820. SimpleSimple wroughtwrought. ironiron designs,designs, based on vertical, usually inin frontfront ofof individualindivi-dual windows, andand decorateddecorated with il$ leadIead castings.castings. The SecondSecond oror Middle PeriodPeriod coverscovers the il 1820s1820s and 1830s.1830s. Wrought ironiron designs u$ became more complicatedcomplicated and by 18231823 FirstFirst oror EarlyEarly PeriodPeriod castcast ironiron panels were equallyequally inin use, oftenofEen across thethe frontfront of longlong terraces.terraces.
3 TheThe thirdthird oror LateLate PeriodPeriod fromfrom around 18401840 onwards,onvards, consistedconsisted entirelyent.irely ofof elaborateelaborate designs inin castcasE iron.iron. StartSlart atat thethe St.St. George'sGeorgets roadroad carcar park andand dive down anan alleywayalleyway beside thethe George Hotel ifif you wouldrrould likelike toto seesee severalseveral buildings ofof IndustrialIndustrial Archaeological interest;interes E; sitesite ofof Marshalls, a fire-enginefire-engine house inin St.St. SecondSecond or MiddleHiddle PeriodPeriod James'sJanests Square,Square, goodgo-od architecturalarchi tectural terra-cottaterra-cotta work on aa bakery inin St, George'sGeorgers Place,Place, and onon aa finefine ItalianateItalianaLe electricityelectricity sub-stationsub-station inin Clarence Street. Overover thethe entrance toto thethe new Museuml{useum extension aa major piecepieee ofof modern ironworkironwork inin thethe formform ofof aa threethree dimensional grillgri11 by Alan EvansEvans ofo f Whiteway.I{h i ueway. At thethe junctionjunetion ofof Crescent Place andand Royal Wellllell Crescent looklook atat balconies on thethe Crescent begun inin 1806.1806. The railingsrailings purchased fromfrom WorcesterWorces t.er ThirdThird oror LateLate Period.period- ironmongerironmonger John Bradley date fromfrom 18101810 onwards.onwards. SeeSee ifif you cancan findfind his name on any ofof thethe gate locks.locks. On John Dower House balconies areare transitional,transitional, becoming more elaborate,elaborate, andand onon Crescent Terrace scrollscroll crestingscrestings have been added. InIn thethe PromenadePromenade walk past thethe Municipal Offices commencedcommenced inin 18231823 but thethe centralcentral part, with thethe pediment, stillstill not built by 1834.1834. The railings by R.E. & C. Marshall, who operated inin thethe towntown forfor more thanthan 200200 years. FindFind thethe name castcast onon thethe urn finials,finials, alsoalso looklook forfor thethe severalseveral differentdifferenE indentedindented symbolssymbols below thethe horizontal double lineslines onon thethe hand wroughtvrought spearspear railrail heads, probably thethe individualindividual marks ofof thethe smiths.smiths. ImperialImperial SquareSguare has balconies, on twotwo sides,sides, of castcast ironiron panels inin thethe heart andand Honeysuckle pattern; illustratedillustrated by L.C. Cottingham inin 18231823 andand made inin ScotlandScotland by CarronCarron works. FourFour complimentarycomplimenEary designs; most successfulsuccessful and toto be foundfound allall overover thethe world.wor1d. Trafalgar Street Regency cottages.cottages. Also Dragon andand OnionOnion lamplamp standardstandard c.c. 1897,1897, designed by Borough EngineerEngineer and castcas! by McDowall,McDowal1, StevensStevens && Co Ltd atat a coastcoast of £9.15s..€9.15s. Od.0d. each.eaeh. CornerCorner ofof Vittoria WalkHaIk Claremont Lodge c.c. 1810,1810, earlyearLy serpentineserpentine balcony, roofroof andand supportssupports addedadded later.later. (Here(Here divertdivert forfor a longerlonger walk toto Oxford Parade,Parade, delightful terraceterrace withwit.h earlyearly balconies andand conicalconical hoods overover thethe windows. TheThe sixsix earliest,earliest, easteast of Oxford Street,Street, built 1816-1816- 17.17. A Victorian castcast balcony onon cornercorner house addedadded after 1845.1845.
4 "...the"...the entranceentrance to Cheltenham isis worthy itsits acknowledged beauties -- itit isis of elegantelegant uniformity, inin thethe best superbsuperb stylestyle ofof thethe West Of0f London. But itit has an airiness which that has not. ItIt has thethe resemblance,resemblance, soso lightlight isis it,it, of an atmosphericatmospheric illusionillusion created by optical deception. The houses ,verandas,,verandas, and ironiron rails,rai1s, looklook as ifif theythey were composed of paper, silk,si1k, and netting".netting'r. FosbrokeFosbroke 1826,1826, p 48.)48.) Bath Road, ParagonParagon Terrace,Terraee, beautiful anthemion wrought balconies 1823;1823; the sixsix houses atat the southernsoulhern endend completedeompleted 18331833 have very nicely detailed railings, bellbe11 pulls andand boot scrapers.scrapers. Notice thethe threethree Grecian lamplamp holders. Montpellier Terrace goodgood variety ofof balcony designs all along date fromfrom 18201820 onwards, also dividers and porches. BehindBehind MontpellierMonlpellier SpaSpa latelate period Coalbrookdale balconies onon Lauriston House. Also latelate castingscastings atat entranceentrance toto SavoySavoy Hotel and down Bayshill Road. At junctionjunction withwj-th ParabolaParabola Road aa PenfoldPenfold PillarPillar Box ofof 1855.1855. "Cheltenham's"Cheltenhamrs Ornamental Ironwork"Ironsork" givesgives a detailed account ofof ironworkironwork inin thethe town,town, includingincluding firms,firms, andand gasgas andand electric lighting.lighting. Lavishly illustrated.illustraled. PricePrice £4.50{4.50 oror by post £5.0015.00 includingincluding p&p fromfrom thethe author,aut.hor, thethe Coach HOuse, ParabolaParabola Close, Cheltenham GL50 3AN.3AN. TOUR (b)(b) Gloucestercloucester Docks.Docks. Leader: Hugh Conway-Jones. Historical BackgroundBackground InIn 1792,1792, aa canalcanal was proposed toEo bypass thethe narrow winding stretchstretch ofof thethe RiverRiver SevernSevern southsouth ofof Gloucester which was onlyonly passable a fewfew daysdays eacheach month onon thethe springspring tides.tides. This would not onlyonly helpheJ.p the existing barge traffictraffic between thethe Midlands and thethe great port of Bristol,Bristol, itit would alsoalso allowallow thethe largestlargest sea-goingsea-going shipsships ofof the day toto come rightright up toto GloucesterGloucest.er toto discharge. Work startedstarted inin 17941794 with thet.he intentionintention of having thethe southernsouthern entranceen!rance near Berkeley, butbuE thethe lineline was laterIater changedchanged toto make thethe entranceentrance at Sharpness.Sharpness. ConstructionConsEruclion was delayed by poor management andand war-time financialfinancial difficulties,difficulties, andand thethe great work was not completedcompleted untilunLil 1827.1827. TheThe finalfinal stagestage was\ras supervisedsupervised by ThomasThomas Telford inin his capacitycapacity as consultant engineerengineer toto thethe Exchequer Bill Loan Commissioners who provided much ofof thethe money. Gloucester Docks TheThe Main Basin atat Gloucester isis thethe terminusterminus ofof thethe shipship canal,canal, and a locklock givesgives accessaccess forfor barges andand canalcanal boats toto pass throught.hrough intoint.o thethe SevernSevern andand soso on towardstowards thethe Midlands. TheThe North Warehouse was built by thethe Canal Company justjust inin timetime forfor thelhe opening ofof thethe canal,canal, andand other warehouses followedfollowed asas tradetrade developed.developed. Most were built forfor storingstoring corn brought fromfrom
55 Ireland,Ireland, northern EuropeEurope and thethe Black SeaSea ports aroundaround thethe mouth ofof thethe Danube. TheThe otherother main importimport wasnas timbertimber fromfrom theEhe BalticBaltic ports andand fromfrom North America, and timbertimber yards were establishedestablished downdown thethe easteast bank ofof thethe canalcanal southsouth of Gloucester. InIn thethe earlyearly days, much ofof thethe importsimports were sentsent by boat toto Birmingham andand thethe Black Country.Country. WorcestershireI./orce s lershire saltsalt was theEhe main export,butexportrbut many shipsships leftleft empty.empty. As tradetrade developed, thethe Main Basin became overcrowdedovercrowded atat times,times, andand toto provide more space,space, thethe Victoria Dock was openedopened inin 1849.1849. Around thisthis time,time, thethe Midlands Railway laidlaid lineslines toto serveserve thethe easteast sideside of thethe docks andand thethe GreatGrea! Western RailwayRailway brought aa branch intointo thethe west side.side. These benefited tradetrade inin thethe docks but provided severesevere competitioncompetition forfor thethe carrierscarriers onon thethe river. With allaII thethe corncorn andand timbertimber being imported,imported, itit was natural thatthat associatedassociated industriesindustries shouldshould be attractedattracted toto thethe docks,docks, andand thesethese added toto thethe economic importanceimportance ofof thethe area. By thethe 1860s,1860s, thethe general sizesize ofof merchant shipsships had increasedincreased soso much thatthat somesome were tootoo big toto pass up thethe canalcanal fullyfully laden.laden. A huge new dock wasnas thereforetherefore built atat SharpnessSharpness inin thethe 1870s,1870s, and thethe importanceimportance ofof Gloucester began toto diminish.diminish. The lastlast major development atat Gloucester was thethe openingopening of Monk Meadow Dock inin 1892,1892, but itit was littleIittle used initially.initially. TheThe number ofof sea-goingsea-going shipsships reaching Gloucester gradually declined, andand increasinglyincreasingly thethe cargoescargoes arrivedarrived inin lighterslighters and barges fromfrom SharpnessSharpness oror fromfrom ports lowerlower down thethe estuary.estuary. There was thereforetherefore lessless need forfor thethe warehouses, andand inin thisthis centurycentury many were put toto otherot.her uses or justjust leftleft empty.empty. TheThe development ofof petroleum importsimports gavegave Monk Meadow Dock aa proper use fromfrom thethe 1930s,1930s, but tankertanker barges were replaced by pipelines inin thethe 1970s.1970s. The dry-cargo barges had alsoalso finishedfinished by then,then, and thethe only commercialcommercial traffictraffic nownor.r isis anan occasionaloccasional coaster.coaster. SeventeenSeventeen largeIarge warehouse/millwarehouse/mi11 buildings survive,survive, of which onlyonly one isis now inin industrialindustrial use. The remainder areare being re-developedre-developed forfor office,office, retailretaiL andand leisureleisure purposes.
TOURTOUR (c)(c) LeckhamptonLeckhanpton Quarries Leader: David BickBick Nearly aa thousandthousand feetfeet aboveabove sea-level,sea-level, Leckhampton Hill isis aa prominent featurefeature ofof thethe Cotswold escarpment,escarpment, andand was forfor centuriescenturies quarried extensively forfor building stonestone andand limestone.limestone. The works greatlygreatly enlargedenlarged aboutabout 17981798 when Charles Brandon Trye thethe landland ownerowner-laid laid downdown tramroadstramroads of 3'3t 6"5" guage andand anan inclineincline to!o conveyconvey thethe stonestone toto thethe main road leadingleading toto Cheltenham.Chel tenham. The innovationinnovation provided aa stimulusstimulus forfor aa much more importantimportant development, thethe Gloucester and Cheltenham Tramroad,Tramroad, 18111811 - 1861,1851, which linkedlinked up with thethe quarries and was one of thethe firstfirst railways inin EnglandEngland authorised by act of Parliament.Parliament. ItsIts
66 use was mainly forfor carryingcarrying coalcoal toto Cheltenham. Over thet,he yearsy ears at leastleast twotrro attempts were made toto introduceintroduce steamsteam onon thethe lineline (the(the standardstandard motive power was horses) inin 18251825 andand 1831/2,l83l/2, butbu t. unfortunately thethe trialstrials proved abortive.abortive.
As inin othero t.her districts, I notably theEhe Forestf'ores t ofof I Dean, itit wasrras thethe originaloriginal branch tramroadstramroads thatEhaE enduredendured thethe longest,longest, andand thosethose onon Leckhampton Hill did not finallyfinally closeclose until 1924,1924, completecomplete withwi t,h threethree working inclinesinclines outout ofof sevenseven ) altogether.altogether. TheThe closureclosure a:, was hastened by anan over-ambitious, not toto saysay recklessreckless,, development afterafter World t t War I,I, inin which thethe Trade FacilitiesFacilities Act t,t t lt'l* provided governmentgovernment "nt fundsfunds forfor settingsetting up new enterprises.enterprises. The , new quarry companycompany t directors were largelylargely major-generalsma j or-generals and thethe like,1i ke, none of whom asas one ofof themthem afterwardsaf terwards admittedadmitted knewknew thethe firstf irst thinglhing aboutabout quarrying. Huge gas-firedgas-fired limelime o rooo at kilns built by PriestPriest of Middlesborough, thethe firstfirst inin thethe countrycountry wererrere erectederected high onon The sevenseyen tramroad inclinesinclines of Leckhampton Hill.Hill thethe hill, with a standard-gaugestandard-gauge railwayrailway andand inclineincline connectingconnecting toto thethe GWR Cheltenham-BanburyChe l tenham-Banbury lineline a couplecouple ofof miles away.away. The costeost did no bear thinkingthinking about,about, andand thethe venture, thoughthough impressiveimpressive enoughenough by appearances,appearances, was hopelessly conceivedconceived andand lastedlasted onlyonly aa fewfew years. TheThe plant camecame under auctionauction inin 1927,L927, afterafter which thethe towntown Council acquiredacquired thethe quarries andand 400400 acresacres forfor aa mere £6000.f6000. Today Leckhampton Hill isis aa favouritefavourite recreationalrecreational areaarea asas itit always has been, thoughthough sadlysadly thethe quarries inclinesinclines andand railwayrailway routesroutes areare slowlyslowly subsidingsubsiding beneath scrubscrub andand undergrowth. Still,Stil1, aa great dealdeal remainsremains toto be seen,seen, includingincluding thethe famousfamous Devils Chimney, which itselfitself isis aa productproduc! ofof thethe industrialindustrial activities near twoEwo centuriescenturies ago.ago.
71 Bibliography Bick, David, 1971,197L, Old Leckhampton. Bick, David, 1987,t987 TheThe GloucesterG louces ter andand CheltenhamChelEenham TramroadTr amr oad (Oakwood(0akwood Press).Press ).
Sunday 1313 SeptemberSeptenber TOURrouR (d)(d) Cirencester and DistrictDigtrict Leader;Leader; DavidDavid Viner. ThisThis tourtour concentrates upon canalcanal andand railway themes,themes, but will alsoalso taketake inin aa number ofof other sitessites ifif timeEime andand weather permits. SomeSome towpathtowpath walking isis involvedinvolved andand stoutstout footwearfootwear isis recommended. Leave RAC andand drive intoinEo CirencesterCirencester toto visit Site One: CIRENCESTER TOWN STATION.STATION. This building isis virtually allaI1 thatthat survivessurvives ofof thethe GWR Kemble toto CirencesterCirencester branch line,line, which was opened inin 18411841 andand closedclosed inin 1965.1965. SinceSince thenthen thethe stationstation sitesite has become a carcar park and thethe building now seemsseems marooned inin tarmac.tarmac. However, itit has anan earlyearly date andand isis an interestinginteresting survival,survival, albeitalbeit with an uncertain future.future. (Internal(Internal accessaccess may be possible.)possible. ) Then throughthrough CirencesterCirenceste! towntown centrecentre intointo Cricklade streetstreet toto visit Site Two:Tro: CIRENCESTER BREWERY MALTINGS, COLE'SCOLETS MILL (Cotswold(CotswoId Association) andand CIRENCESTER WATERWORKS.IIATERIIORKS. These buildings representrepresent and interestinginteresting group,group, inin oneone of thethe town'stownrs main shoppingshopping streets.streets. The maltings closedclosed inin 1980,1980, andand onlyonly somesome buildings survivesurvive (an(an impressiveimpressive streetstreet frontagefrontage toto Cricklade Street);Street); Cole'sCole's MillMiIl continuescontinues toto function,function, andand thethe Waterworks building alongsidealongside has been used recentlyrecently asas aa smallsmal1 engineeringengineering works. Then via Querns LaneLane toto leaveleave thethe towntor{n onon A429 forfor Kemble, passing sitessites Three and Four: sitesite ofof SmerrillSmerrill Aqueduct on Thames andand SevernSevern Canal (demolished(demolished c.1927),c.t927), andand sitesite ofof over- bridgebridse ofof formerformer Kemble-CirencesterKemble-Cirence s ter railwayrailway branch lineline toto reachreacf, thethe up (London)(London) sideside ofof (site(site Five)Five) KEMBLEKEfuBLE STATIONSTATION (BR).(BR). Almost aa classicclassic ofof itsits typetype ofof a GWR countrycountry station,station, Kemble onon thethe Cheltenham-SwindonChel t enham-Swindon lineline has aa good levellevel ofof usage, asas itsits extendingextending carcar park bears witness.hritness. An excellentexcellent exampleexample ofof aa junctionjunction stationstation (1882),(1882), itit stillst,ill containscontains substantialsubst,antial remainsremains ofof thethe branch lineslines toto Cirencester (closed(closed 1965)1955) andand toto TetburyTetbury (closed1964).(c1osed1964). Then leaveleave Kemble BR toto joinjoin A433, returning towardstorrards Cirencester, andand passing SiteSite Six:Six: Great Western InnInn (formerly(formerly Thames Head Inn),Inn), aa roadsideroadside tavern;tavern; andand Site Seven: Coates sidings,sidings, sitesite of thethe TetburyTetbury Road stationstation which preceded Kemble junctionjunction fromfrom c.1845c.1845 until c.c. 1882;1882; and SiteSite Eight: ThamesThames HeadHead Wharftlharf andand thethe nearby Thames Head pump onon thethe Thames andand SevernSevern
8B Canal,Cana1, where theLhe canalcanal isis culvertedculverled beneath the modern road, and part ofof the originaloriginal canal bridge isis preserved. Then via CoatesCoates village,vi11age, and by thethe lanelane toto TarltonTarlton to reach Site Nine:l{ine: TUNNEL HOUSE INNINN and thethe COATES PORTAL OF THE SAPPERTONSAPPERT0N TUNNEL on thethe Thames and SevernSevern Canal.CanaI. StillSti1l the thirdthird longestlongest canal tunneltunnel inin England, SappertonSapperton remains impressive,impressive, and both itsits portals are includedincluded inin thethe tour.tour. At Coates, the classical facadefacade has been restored as part ofof thethe canal restorationrestoration programme. Itslts settingsetting isis also impressive,impressive, inin a cuttingcutEing (The(the Kingsfings Reach), andand alongside thethe Tunnel House Inn,Inn, constructedconstructed originally forfor tunnel workmenLrorkmen inin thethe 1780s.1780s. With good weather, aa half-mile walk alongalong thethe towpathtowpath willwi,ll enableenable us tolo reachreach thethe TarltonTarlt.on Road Bridge andand onon toto SiteSite Ten: COATESC0ATES ROUND-HOUSE,ROUND-HOUSE, one ofof thethe T&ST&S distinctive cottagescottages forfor maintenance men, andand now under restoration.restoration. ThenThen fromfrom Coates toto crosscross thethe main Cirencester-Stroud Road inin thethe woods ofof Cirencester ParkPark andand thencethence toto SappertonSapperton (skirting(skirting thethe village) toto descend intointo thethe "Golden"Golden Valley"Valleyt' ofof thethe riverri.ver FromeFrome toto reach:reach: SiteSite Eleven:Eleven: thelhe canalcanal settlementseltlement atat DANEWAY. Here thethe sequencesequence ofof Golden valleyvaIley locksIocks inin littlelittle more thanEhan oneone andand aa half miles (seven(seven inin thethe toptop half mile toto Daneway). Here isis thethe summitsummit basin with itsits wharf cottage,cottage, plus a listedlisted canalcanal bridge and thethe formerformer BricklayersBricklayers Arms, built toto house canalcanal workers, andan
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„k"y'6o^-,^.^t....<1,00kat."..ev.t Gt E *Atl';t;o' Pveh.ist_bvie,P,eA:st.vic- y) (EleeeYi(e te.t';':e;t t 7; 'route_rc ut e- 10l0 andand afterafter aa walk inin Wallbridge, will drive on toto Dudbridge. The coachcoach will leaveleave fromfrom Kimmins Corn MillMiLt returningreturning toto CirencesterCirencester via Rodborough. ForFor informationinformation onon thethe geography andand history ofof thethe areaarea asas aa whole please refer toto thethe notes suppliedsupplied forfor thethe excursionexcursion onon 1515 September.September. TheThe aimaim ofof thisthis excursionexcursion isis threefold,threefold, toto observeobserve (1)(1) how thethe industriesindustries relate toto thethe natural resources, (2)(2) how thethe industriesindustries relaterelate toto eacheach otherother eithereither throughthrough thethe products or by thethe genealogicalgenealogical tiesties of theirtheir ownersowners and (3)(3) thethe density ofof sitessites onon thethe ground. Sites:Sit.es: AtAE Wallbridge we shallsha1l seesee thethe Brunel GWR StationStation (1843),(1843), broad gauge engineengine shed,shed, Barlow railsrails which must have been used onon thethe localloca1 wooden viaducts, andand thethe railway bus garage. The factoryfactory was built 18991899 forfor making clothing.clothing. We seesee thethe sitesite ofof StroudStroud Brewery-stroudwater andand thethe westsest terminusterminus of thethe canalcanal near itsits linklink with thethe Stroudwater canalcanal andand (now(now filled)fil1ed) basin. TheThe office resemblesresembles thatthat atat Cirencester andand Cricklade but lackslacks thethe warehouse. NearbyNearbv aa cranecrane once loweredlowered sackssacks toto one ofof thethe leastleast known navigablenariigable 'rivers',triverst, thethe shallowshallow PainswickPainswick Stream.S tream. JustJust offoff thethe roadroad Lodgemore MillMi11 stillstill makes traditionaltraditional clothscloths while oppositeopposite Wallbridge millmi11 and dyehouses have been demolished. John Cole'sColers house, 1715,1715, has been demolished but itit togethertogether with anotheranother dye house, aa shearshear mill, aa corncorn millmiII andand aa smithysmithy areare shownshown inin aa picture inin StroudStroud Museum. He oftenoften entertainedentertained Rev John Wesley andand his son-in-lawson-in-1aw was aa prime mover inin thethe brewery. ImportantImportant itemsitems fromfrom thethe house were preserved by thethe museum when thethe house was demolished. Most of thethe roadsroads were turnpikesturnpikes andand we shallsha11 seesee remainsremains ofof thethe Midland Railway's branch intoint,o StroudStroud (1886).(1886). Dudbridge isis a more complicatedcomplicated site.site. thethe map will explain more thanthan pages of notes. WeIle finishfinish atat Kimmins Mill. Note theEhe unusual sitingsiting of thet.he water wheel.nheel. The storedstored machinery was collected by thethe Museum'sMuseumt s Textile Group and will formform thethe nucleus ofof aa major museum project currently under negotiation.
Monday 1414 SeptemberSeptember
ForestForest ofof Dean Area: IronIron Makingl{aking sites.s i tes. Leader:Leader: StanStan Coates.Coates. Route: Note Telford'sTelfordrs bridge atat Over and thatthat wene pass by Flaxley,F1axley, anotheranother ironiron working site.site. Guns MillUill [S0675159]I50675159] A blast furnacefurnace here was inin possession ofof sirsir John Wyntour ofof Lydney inin 16351635 but was demolished when thethe Civil War resulted inin thet,he suppressionsuppression ofof aa number ofof ironiron works inin Dean aroundaround 1640.1540.
1111 The dates 16821682 and 16831583 castcast inin the lintelslintels of theEhe tying archarch indicateindicate thatthat thethe furnacefurnace was subsequentlysubsequently rebuilt and by 17051705 was inin possession of the Foleys. Output0utput figuresfigures are recordedrecorded forfor somesome years up tolo 17321732 after whichr.rhich itiu probably went out of use. InIa 17431743 a paper mill was constructedconstructed around the furnace,furnace, itsits shaftshaft being used to give accessaccess toto the upper floorsfloors of thethe mill with a drying room built onon itsits top. Both aa steamsteam engineengine and paper making machine were installed,installed, possibly around 1860,1860, but the millmi11 ceasedceased operationoperation aboutabout 1879.1879. TheThe main structurestructure of thethe furnacefurnace has survivedsurvived with remnants of thethe shaftshaft inin finefine condition, and the water powerpohrer arrangements can stills til1 be seen.seen. Dark Hill IronIron worksrrorks [S0590088]ISo590088] David Mushet,Mushet., thethe brilliant Metallurgist moved toto ColefordColeford inin 18091809 toto mange thethe Whitecliffl/hiteclif f ironiron works and inin aboutabout 18191819 startedstarted the works atat Dark Hill. ThisThj.s extensiveextensive sitesite seemsseems toto have been developed mainly forfor experimentalexperiment.al work although somesome smallsma1l scalescale production was undoubtedly carriedcarried out. No contemporarycontemporary plan ofof thethe works has been foundfound and asas the various buildings were used forfor different purposes andand were alteredalEered to suitsuit somesome onon severalseveral occasions,occasions, itit isis difficult toto establish with certaintycertainty theirlheir successivesuccessive uses. TheThe names given areare largelylargely conjectural.conjectural. TheThe sitesit.e was abandonedabandoned probably around 18621862 when RobertRobert ForesterForester Mushet, David'sDavidrs younger son,son, built theLhe nearby TitanicTiLanic SteelSteel- WorksI,iorks and followingfollowing thethe building ofof thethe SevernSevern && Wye RailwayRailway embankmentembankmenE inin 18741874 itiL laylay un-disturbedun-dist.urbed until excavationexcavation inin 1977.1977. Chronology 18091809 David Mushet moves toto Coleford 18121812 MilkwallMi1kwa1l Branch ofof S&WS&W Tramroad under construction 1818/191818/t9 D.M. builds cementingcement,ing furnacesfurnaces at Dark Hill 18191819 InstructionsInstructions givengiven to extendextend branch Tramway to serveserve new furnacefurnace 1845t845 D.M. conveysconvevs Dark Hill furnacefurnace etc to his 33 sonssons 18451845 (Nov)(Nov) "The"The'Dark Dark Hill IronIron Co"Co'r styledstyled Robert Mushet && Co formedformed with RobtRobt. MushetMusheL asas solesoie manager 18471847 (June)(.lune) David Mushet seniorsenior dies 1847t847 (July)(;ufy) Dark Hill furnacefurnace etcetc offered forfor salesale atat auction. Not soldsold SaleSaIe notice refers to "NewlyttNewly erectederecEed FurnaceEurnac e 1847t847 (Sept)(Sept) Deed of dissolution of agreement under conveyance of 1845.1845. Furnace probably never again inin blastblas t 18471847 (Sept)(Sept) Robt Mushet inin partnership with Thomas Daykin Clare startsstarts smallsmall experimentalexperimental steelsEeel works "R"R Mushet && Co Forest SteelSteel Works a fewfew hundred yards N.W. of Dark HillHi 11 1862t862 The "Titanic"Titanic SteelSteel && IronIron Co Ltd" formedformed and a largelarge new works builtbui lt 18681868 R Mushet'sMushetrs "Special"Special Steel"Stee1" produced
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tJ E o a J pue! i! J J 1*, 1*, t, B abSnoH i i ] (11!Vis ! 6 o u011'^'N) o 7 E (apfrAol) .4761ALmtliE J = ni vorna.i* isdcin c I I t, + 1 -o A cici'vfn 000 ! 714 V1e L't j \ 0 L1J d 3,1 J. g 9 \, 01 'd \ i.. -- U c-. t J VIVA, -\ /(1/K2c/ /,& 011 aOSC20,3t4 ), \ ert r3 t VI II' B I !t14 (164°1) (4 ab,o4q_ J?eisi()) 7t ti it'sk t o E A..ko4 t.405.!CS14ROL ci .? u d ,7 a _!> .$ 2IPP_i) IAN P42LP rJ , -a let.un4 {setao \ N \ K NW .712N/\ o' t- Ualaue4DGr. papa. CI t-lod N St \l: 0611e-i9(] - In JA J0. uJo 4Z i_Ncer-a - EI a S) I ri l\ \: t -_qJ Edm -r (, o Lrj -N Z UJ il a a t- 4 , F l.U V\G ).S AI ).a I 0 Nrq 3H1T Z '= D ut ) t- N. 4 o z o l-- ul ) NO STL1Sa 0 oos il 0 1871/74t87t/74 Financial difficultiesdif f iculties andand finalfinal winding up ofof TitanicTitanic Co 1874 187 4 SevernSevern & Wye RailwayRai lway Co embankmentembankment obliteratesobliterates S.E.S. E. part ofof works Coleford: Whitecliff FurnaceFurnace [S0569103]I50569103] This works datesdates fromfrom 17981798 andand thethe furnace,furnace, steamsteam blown, was inin blast fromfrom 1802.1802. InIn 18061806 thethe furnacefurnace was not goinggoing well andand inin 18081808 thethe help of DavidDavid Mushet, thethe eminenteminent ironiron maker ofof Alfreton inin Derbyshire, was$as enlisted.enlisted. There was much rebuildingrebuilding andand inin 1810,1810, shortlyshortly before thethe restructuralrestructural works was toto be re-started Mushet gave up his Alfreton interestsinterests andand moved toto Coleford becoming aa partner ofof Whitecliff. After much hard work thethe works failedfailed toto become profitable andand Mushet withdrew andand itit isis probable thatthat afterafter 18121812 therethere was no furtherfurther production.producEion. The works became derelict but thethe furnacefurnace stackstack remainedremained largelylargely intactintact becoming aa rarerare survivalsurvival ofof itsits type.type. InIn 1975L975 aa locallocal trusttrust was formedformed toto preserve thethe remainsremains of thethe furnacefurnace and itit was subsequentlysubsequently purchased. EssentialEssential repairrepair work was thenthen carriedcarried out as part ofof anan ongoingongoing restoration scheme.scheme. InIn 19831983 thethe adjacentadjacent cottagecottage and surroundingsurrounding landland camecame toto thethe market andand DeanDean Heritage Museum Trust raised nearly £20,000t20r000 andand purchased thethe sitesite whichr.rhich will eventuallyevgntually be developed asas aa DeanDean museum of ironiron andand steel.steel. The IndustryIndustry ofof thethe Angidy Valley [S0524002]I50524002] Wireworks were established inin 1566,1566, initiallyinitially toto make brass wire, but ironiron wire was made fromfrom 15581558 onwards,onwards, forfor over 300300 years until 1880.18 80. A particularly malleable ironiron calledcalled Osmond0smond ironiron was required toto withstand thethe drawing process without breaking and thisthis wasrras originallyoriginally made atat Monkswood, near Usk and laterlater Tintern.Tintern. The wire was inin great demand particularly forfor making "Cards""Cards" forfor combingcombing wool prior toto spinningspinning but alsoalso forfor nails, pins,pinst knitting needles, smallsmal1 chains,chains, mouse traps,traps, fishfish hooks, etc.etc. Water power was used forfor thethe drawing process forfor thelhe firstfirst timetime inin EnglandEngland and aa branch of thethe works was establishedestablished at Whitebrook aboutabout 16001500 which operatedoperated forfor aboutabout 120120 years. A blast furnace,furnace, possibly two,two, and forgesforges forfor thethe manufacture ofof ironiron were built probably earlyearly inin thethe 17th17th century.century. These produced material forfor thethe wire making andand alsoalso forfor salesale elsewhere.elsewhere. TheThe blast furnacefurnace operationoperation ceasedceased aroundaround thethe endend ofof thethe 18th18t.h centurycentury but thethe forgesforges continuedcontinued until thethe secondsecond half ofof thethe 19th19 th century.century. Tinplate making was introducedinEroduced inin 18801880 andand ceasedceased inin 1901.1901. 14t4 + o o I J J E, o z B a E, E, Y IJ' L uJ .L z J q? o 1 500 approx \ 0 SITE PLAN \ ••••. DARK HILL IRON WORKS \ •••••• r-_-- \F-, f--- \F' ••••••• \_ rr: \t: rlt \r (t o an LO g, O o @ @ OJ \t- Grid ref: SO 590088 \, I'll I f I I I I . _| tl t"-- fi fill t- t-- Spring E"\ ;\ E95sl*E,ItSr g'-;^86E"**st E3E I A Blast Furnace ' lova ft--° er111 1 F- F\ B Blowing Engine :\ E- -z- L (- 7 1,, r..' \..' L- (f(JouruYdly!, C Charging Incline :?-Frrirl L I \‘‘I\ENI\rcv <6 0 Charge PreparationEU'E o= Area — J E Smith's Shop 1 \ F Edge Runner Millstone G Furnaces Go fi,'' H Kiln Base vr--' : Y-- F=- J Brick Making.i' -V -t K Kiln Base .,.. Y. ,r- ,,- v L Storage Area3 t5 t_ ..fi -"! F v : Y,, L' E ?-. 7 Yl 2 r f.- r (,) rirrimic7-1-r-1\``.\ \ VvV\7 o frrpic ssk & ' \ TJ, I I r I 3 E survivesurvive inin whole or part.part,. Following a terribleEerrible depressiondepress ion (1825(1825 -- 1840)1840) many mills fellfell derelict oror went over toto othero ther industriesindustries likelike woodnood and ironiron working. We have already entered a new era.era. The public want the mills preserved. But they do not meet thethe needs of high speedspeed machinery, juggernautsjuggernauts andand open plan technology.technology. The age of familyfamily ownership has passed. ItIt isis stillstill tootoo early toto prophesy thethe pattern of thethe future.future. Route: Leave Cirencester by the samesame route as on Sunday.Sunday. InsteadInstead of dropping intointo Chalford pass throughthrough Minchinhampton, aa smallsmall market town formerlyformerly inin thet.he lordshiplordship of thethe Abbess of Caen. ItIt has aa good market house and interestinginteresting brasses inin the church. Continuing toto Balls Green we travel along the Avening valley. From Nailsworth we drive north, thenthen westrrest toto Stonehouse.Stonehouse. The returnreturn journeyjourney isis throughthrough Chalford visiting importantimportant sitessites en route. Sites:Sites: Balls Green isis one of severalseveral areas inin thethe county where stonestone quarries were expanded intointo mines inin an attempt toto obtain good stonestone without moving vast amounts of inferiorinferior material. Balls Green upper mine, c. 18001800 -- 191619L6 isis the largestlargest inin thethe valley with around a mile of galleries, stillstill containing two cranes andand tonsEons of sawnsawn stone.stone. Material fromfrom here was used inin building the houses ofof ParliamentParliament andand inin 19391939 itit was re-workedre-worked asa.s a sourcesource of hard corecore forfor the air craft runways at Aston down (Minchinhampton).( Minchinhampton ) . Most of our mines areare now gatedgat.ed toEo protect thethe bats. The importanceimportance of Longford'sLongfordrs MillMi11 isis only recently coming to light.light. Two ranges ofof buildings date fromfrom the firstfirst half of the 18th18th century.century. The earlier combines industrialindustrial andand domestic functions.functions. Was this a featurefeature of many other clothiersclothiers Houses? InIn 18061806 a pond of 1515 acres was made at aa cost of £100011000 to serveserve a new mill with twotno water wheels which fedfed intointo thethe truncatedtruncated remainsremains of the original pond. Closed inin 19911991 this was thethe lastlast clothcloth mill toto operate inin thethe upper valleys. Egypt Mill,Mi11, Nailsworth isis another 18th18th century mill,miI1, with a latelate 17th17th century house adjoining. TraditionallyTraditionaily built inin the reignreign of EdwardEdvard IIIIII itit was laterlater a corn and clothcloth mill under one roofroof with twintwin ponds sideside by sideside when runrun by Pharoh Webb therethere was always corn inin Egypt. Two water wheels and much of thethe machinery survives.survives. On toto Dunkirk Mill,Mi11, now being converted intointo flats.fIats. LookLook forfor thethe date, 1855,1855, 1798,1798, 1818,1818, 18271827 onon thethe main range and more elsewhere. Three water wheels have been restored and thethe 17981798 roofroof isis unique locally.locally. The Regency clothier'sclothierr s house standsstands on thethe sitesite ofof thethe original mill.mi11. There are wuzzingholes atat the roadside.roads ide. 17t7 IronworkingIronuorking Sites PontsaisonPontsaison (Upper)(Upper) Forge: PondPond andand remnantsremnants ofof buildings remain but interpretationinterpretation not possible. Upper wireworksvireworks (New(!{ew Tongs Mill):tlill): built 1803.1803. Leat clearlyclearly visible andand ruins stillsEiIl indicateindicate wheelr.rheel pit, tailEail race,race, annealing furnacefurnace andand tongstongs house. Blast Furnace: PondPond andand leatleat remainremain and newly excavatedexcavated sitesite showsshows generalgeneral layoutlayouE ofof furnacefurnace and associatedassociated buildings. Tilting Mill:lii11: PondPond remainsremains but nothing else visible. Chapel Wirellire Milll{ill andand Middle Tongs Mill:Hill: LeatLeat clearly visible andand ruins on valley sideside probable sitesite of mills.miI1s. HammerHamner HouseEouse and Little Block Mill:t{i11: No visible remainsremains andand locationlocaEion uncertain. LowerLover Wireworks:lliresorks: Leat stillstill visible as isis pond insertedinserted inin mid 19th19th century.century. ForestryForestry Commission Dept nownorr occupiesoccupies Wireworks sitesite which became aa tinplatetinplate Works inin 18801880 and thenthen aa stonestone sawmill.sawmill. Alignment ofof tramwaytramway cancan stillstill be seen.seen. CornGorn millni.ll. and probable sitesite of Abbey Forge: Outline of pond, partly filledfilled inin forfor aa carcar park, cancan stillstil1 be seen.seen. CornCorn mill stillstill has aa water wheel inin situsitu andand was used asas aa woodgood turneryturnery inin earlyearly 20th20th century.century. SiteSite ofof ForgeForge uncertain. Note alsoalso smallsma1l FloatingFloating dock, tramwaytramway track,track, weighbridgeveighbridge house and tramwaytramway bridge across River Wye built inin 18761876 toto connectconnect Lower Wireworks withwiEh Wye Valley Railway. Tuesday 1515 SeptemberSeptenber StroudStroud Area andand itsits Textile Millst{i11s Leader:Leader: LionelLioneI WalrondWa Irond Background toto thethe geographygeography andand history of thethe area.area. The geology of thelhe CotswoldsCotswolds comprisescomprises pervious beds ofof ooliticoolitic limestonelimestone slopingsloping towardstowards thethe east.east. The westnest sideside isis aa wooded escarpmentescarpment dropping steeplysteeply toto thethe claysclays of thethe SevernSevern Plain,Plain, well seenseen fromfrom thet.he M5 Motorway. The valleysvallevs ofof thethe Rivers FromeFrome (Stroud)(Stroud) EwelmeEwelme (Dursley)(Dursley) andand'Avon Avon (Wotton-under-Edge)(Wo t, toi-under-Edge ) resultedresulted fromfrom iceice age actionaction andand thethe valley sidessides areare stillstill subjectsubject toto landland slipsslips-for inin somesome areas.areas. TheThe valleyvaIley bottoms contain clayclay suitablesuitable for making pots andand bricks, therethere areare deposits of binding gravelgravel andand stonestone has been both quarries and mined on thethe hillhi-I1- slopes.slopes. The number ofof tributarytributary valleys, all withvith activeactive streamsstreams ledled toto thethe constructionconstruction ofof mills.mi1ls. ByBy 10861086 therethere areare recordsrecords ofof numerous mills, tootoo many toto supplysupply thethe needs of corncorn milling.mi1ling. We may inferinfer thethe production ofof clothcloth and referencesreferences toto fullingfulling mills appear inin documentsdocuments ofof thethe 13th13t.h century.century. TheseThese millsmil1s were smallsma11 andand servedserved onlyonly toto mechanise thethe most laboriouslaborious ofof thethe clothcloth making processes. They were rebuiltrebuilt everyevery 200200 years oror soso inin timetime with improvementsimprovements inin water wheel construction.construction. CircaCirca 18001800 -- 18251825 therethere were aroundaround 200200 newly built millsmi11s along thethe riverriver Frome, many ofof which 161b The round house at Frogmarsh MillMi1l isis thethe best preserved inin thethe area.area. Was itit forfor drying wool oror sulphursulphur bleaching? thethe millmi11 incorporatesincorporates severalseveral houses andand therethere was anotheranother millmiIl onon theEhe oppositeopposit.e sideside of thethe road.road. After lunchlunch we hope toto view StanleyStanley Mill near Stonehouse,SEonehouse, built 1813-15.1813-15. ItIt isis a Grade II Listed Building, thethe only earlyearly brick mill inin thethe area.area. BuiltBuilt, toto be firefire proof itit has aa decorative ironiron frameframe fromfrom thethe Earl ofof Dudley'sDudleyrs Level New Furnace, and thethe brick vaults areare saidsaid toto supportsupport sandsand -- perhaps thethe earliestearliest sprinklersprinkler system.system. TheThe fivefive water wheels were replaced by aa beam engineengine andand a turbineturbine -- allall nownov gone. Ebley MillMi11 has been restoredrestored as thethe officesoffices ofof thethe StroudStroud District Council. InIn 14031403 andand probably forfor overover a centurycentury thisthis sitesite wasrras aa combinedcombined corncorn andand clothcloth mill, yet itit wasrras leasedleased toto separateseParate people. The fivefive waterwat.er wheels andand anotheranother talltall block (possibly(possibly anan enormousenormous heated wool dryingdrying stove)stove) no longerlonger survive.survive. Apart fromfrom thethe recentrecent octagonaloctagonal councilcouncil chamberchamber andand block with thethe clockclock towertower by G.F Bodley, 18621862 almost thethe entireentire millmi11 wasrras developeddeveloped inin thethe earlyearly 19th19th century.century. At differentdifferent timestimes thethe owners pioneered lightinglighting with pressurised paraffin, gasgas and electricity.electricity. We passpass_ Cainscross turnpiketurnpike house, Wallbridge andand PhoenixPhoenix IronIron Works (now(now occupiedoccupied by Alan Sutton publishers, thist.his isis where thethe firstfirst lawnlawn mower was made) toto reachreach Brimscombe PortPort onon thethe Thames andand SevernSevern Canal 1783-9.1783-9. Here cargocargo was transferredEransferred fromfrom SevernSevern Trows andand narrow Thames barges inin an attemptattempt toto savesave water.lrater. The warehouse andand thethe basin have gone but thethe closedclosed nature of thethe sitesite isis apparentapparenE asas we walk 'the'the towtow path'pathr beside thethe river. The visits endend atat Chalford where anotheranother branch ofof thethe prehistoric Jurassic Way crossedcrossed thethe steepsteep sideside valley by way ofof aa fordford over aa white tuffatuffa deposit whence thethe originorigin of thethe village name thethe 'chalkeford'.rchalkeford'. ' Note thethe compactedcompacted transporttransport routes,routes, thethe canal,canal, thethe turnpiketurnpike andand thethe railwayrailway followingfollowing thethe river. The roundround structurestructure washras aa lengthman'slengthman's house andand therethere was aa busy wharf alongside.alo_ngside. The oldold house was onceonce a wellweII known inninn thethe LEastIEasE India]IndiaJ Company's Arms. ItIt hashas a most remarkableremarkable roof.roof. Across thethe roadroad Chalford MillMiIl isis of twotwo periods andand onceonce had anan enormousenormous water wheel, thet,he waterwat.er forfor which was made toto flowflow up thethe valley. StrangerStranger thingsthings thanthan thisthis cancan be foundfound ifif you knowknow thethe areaarea well enough.enough. WednesdayI{ednesday 1616 SeptemberSeptenber Berkeley PowerPorer Station, Sharpness Docks andand Gloucester Docks.Docks. Leaders: HughHugh Conway-Jones andand RayRay Wilson.l,iilson. We will taketake thethe A419 toto StroudStroud andand afteraf t,er aboutabout threethree miles pass over both thethe SappertonSapperton CanalCanal andand RailwayRai).way tunnels.tunnels. The 1818 spoilspoil heaps fromfrom both tunnelstunnels areare visible onon thethe right.right. ThoseThose fromfrom thethe earlierearlier canalcanal tunneltunnel areare coveredcovered withwi th maturema t.ure beech treestrees while thosethose fromfrom thethe railwayrai i,way remain ugly heaps afteraft.er nearly 150150 years!years ! The firstfirst tunneltunnel [S0954020][50954020] isis on thethe Thames && SevernSevern Canal andand isis 38173817 yards long.long. ItIt was opened inin 17891789 but has been impassableimpassable due toto rockrock fallsfalls sincesinCe earlyearly thisthis centurycentury (c1916).(c1916). TheThe secondsecond tunneltunnel isis onon thethe Cheltenham andand Great Western Union Railway which was completedcompleted by thethe Great Western Railway. This sectionsection was openedopened inin 1845.1845. TheThe overall lengthlength ofof thethe tunneltunnel isis 19081908 yards-short but itit really consists ofof twotwo tunnelstunnels connectedconnected by aa very short cuttingcutting closecl6se toto thethe road [S0915019].I50915019]. TheThe canalcanal tunneltunnel isis approximatelyapproximately 200200 feetfeet below us andand thethe railwayrailway tunneltunnel isis aboutabout 100100 feet.feet. Two miles furtherfurther on,on, onon thethe left,left, isis Aston DownDosn [S09101]I509101] aa WorldI./orld War II airfieldairfield now used forfor gliding.gliding. StroudStroud isis famousfamous forfor theEhe manufacture ofof finefine woollen cloth.cloth. SeeSee Tuesday'sTuesdayrs notes forfor thisthis part ofof thethe route. FromErom StroudStroud we will taketake thethe A46 roadroad toto Nailsworth,Nailsyorth, again passing DunkirkDunkirk Mills.Mi1ls. From NailsworthNailsworgh we taketake thethe B405884058 toto Dursley thethe home of thethe Lister-Petter engineeringengineering works.wo_rks. WeI.Ie continuec_onEinue onon thethe A4135, A38 andand B406684066 toto Berkeley. At [ST692991]15T692991J we pass onon thethe rightright aa smallsma1l castellatedcastellated tolltoll house. The design ofof thisthis building may well be influencedinfluenced by itsits proximity toto Berkeley Castle.Castle. FromFrom BerkeleyBerkeley we taketa_ke thethe minor roadroad due west toto Berkeley Nuclear PowerPower StationStation [ST660995].I StSeOSgS ]. Berkeley Nuclear Power Station Berkeley wasras thethe world'sworldr s firstfirsE commercialcommercial nuclear power station.station. building startedstarted inin January 19571957 andand thethe stationstation firstfirst suppliedsupplied electricityelectricity toto thethe National Grid onon 1212 June 1962.t962. ItIt ceased generating on 3131 March 1989.1989. SinceSince thenEhen all thethe fuelfuel has been removedremoved fromfrom both reactorsreactors andand decommissioningdecommissioning isis now wellveI1 under way. The stationstation had a net output ofof. 276,0002761000 kW.kW. The plant consistsconsists of twotwo natural uranium fuelled,fuelled, carboncarbon dioxide cooled,cooled, graphite moderated reactorsreactors supplyingsupplying heat toto 1615 boiler units, eighteight boilers being associatedassociated with eacheach reactor.reactor. There areare fourfour dual pressure turbo-generators.turbo-genera tors . Each reactorreactor corecore isis aa vertical cylinder,cylinder, 4848 feetfeet inin diameterdiameEer by 3030 feetfeet high andand containscontains 32653265 fuelfuel channels.channels. ItIt isis surroundedsurrounded inin turnturn by aa threethree inchinch thickthick steelsteel pressure vessel andand aa concreteconcrete biological shield.shield. The fuelfuel isis sheathedsheathed inin magnesium alloyalloy which gives riserise toto thethe name Magnox forfor thisthis typetype ofof reactor.reac tor. After coffeecoffee andand an introductoryintroduct.ory talktatk we willsill splitsplit intointo groups toto tourtour thethe plant. Outwardly,0utwardly, thingsthings seemseem toto be relativelyrelaUively unchanged fromfrom thet,he operatingoperating daysdays despitedespite generation having 19t9 ceasedceased overover three years agoago and allall the fuelfuel has now been removed.removed. ItIt will be possible to looklook down on the chargecharge faceface where thethe refuelling operations were carriedcarried outout using specialisedspecialised machines. We shallsha1l looklook at thethe massive blowers andand cooling water plant.p1ant. Visitsvisits toto thethe turbine hallhaI1 andand thethe control roomroom will also be included.included. There will be plenty ofof opportunity toto learnlearn about nuclear power, inin general, and progress with decommissioning.decommiss ioning. Lunch will be takenEaken atat thethe nearby sportssporLs andand SocialSocial Club.Club. After lunchlunch we returnreturn toto Berkeley andand taketake thethe B406684066 toto Sharpness.Sharpness. WeI^ie pass closeclose toto Berkeley stationstation [ST685004]I5T685004] which standsstands onon thethe SharpnessSharpness lineline fromfrom BerkeleyBerkeley Road,Road, openedopened by thethe Midland Railway inin 1875.1875. The rail head atat Berkeley isi.s stillsti11 used forfor loadingloading spentspent. nuclear fuel.fue1. At SharpnessSharpness docks we startstart thethe secondsecond half ofof thethe programme. Historical Background SeeSee the tourtour notes forfor thet.he SaturdaySaturday afternoonafternoon excursionexcursion toto Gloucester Docks.Docks. Sharpness OldOId dock TheThe oldold dock was opened inin 1827t827 toto provide aa tidalt.idal basin where departing vessels couldcould waitwai.t toto go out onon thethe tidetide and arrivingarriving vessels couldcould wait toto locklock up intoinLo the canal.canal. A largelarge lockIock was provided forfor sea-goingsea-going shipsships and a smallersmaller locklock forfor barges andand trows.lrows. The DockDock Master'sMast.errs house standsstands beside thethe entranceentrance gates, andand thethe smallsma1l building beside thethe lockslocks was onceonce a stable.stable. No otherother facilitiesfacilities were provided initially,initially, and allalI vessels continuedconlinued up thethe canalcanal toLo Gloucester toto discharge. By thet.he latelaEe 1860s,1860s, the sizesize ofof merchant shipsships had soso increasedincreased thatthat somesome couldcould not pass throughthrough thethe locklock andand had toto discharge to lighterslighters inin thethe tidaltidal basin causingcausing considerableconsiderable congestion.congestion. After thethe new dock was opened, thethe old entrance was closedclosed but was fittedfitted outout forfor use again during thethe secondsecond world war inin casecase thethe new entranceentrance was damaged by enemyenemy action.action. Sharpness New Dock TheThe new dockdock was openedopened inin 18741874 toto catercaler forfor thethe largerlarger shipsships thenthen inin use. ItIt initiallyinitially had aa deep-waterdeep-hrater quay onlyonly alongalong thethe easteast side,side, aa low-levellow-leve1 bridge givinggiving accessaccess toto thet.he west sideside andand a gravinggraving dockdock near thethe entranceentrance lock.lock. A systemsystem ofof dock railways was\ras connectedconnected toto thet.he main lineline inin 18751875 by aa Midland Railway branch fromfrom Berkeley Road (with(with runningrunning powers forfor thethe Great WesternI,Jestern Railway).Railway). FourEour multi-storey warehouses and fivefive shedssheds were built forfor corncorn and guano by 1880,1880, andand yards were leasedleased to!o timbertimber merchants and thethe railway companies.companies. FourFour more shedshed were constructedconstrucled during thethe 1890s.1890s. The Dock CompanyCompany built houses forfor key workers, a sleepingsleeping house forfor labourerslabourers and aa 2020 \\ 4 n Amman fiteit Nz. z It Lt q V (, o- E S E ffi -1 \ R o F It : PORT ofo 3s z a> C9 6- 1& d= o,z zo >1 l 1 SHARPNESS NEW DOCKS / : ! (\ •-1.11..441. BIRMINGHAM NAVIGATI• \i t,-_- it -Dv (n \ SHARPNES L- '/, a I\i *- I tI . CZ) I d irm I ! I I ll I al \ @ 1/.444 " 4••-- al.3;a: o 2t p .': Y a a j '/ # I I .o. I I c ,.'l lt 411 ^( 4t (J (, o VVVVVV f, •13 Ale VV I 444 ii JOF., i I il ,t ! ! * • // \2r-< 1 I • 4 f j[' D\ t_ 1.- i 1 D? KaraciaNa 1,1,016 " Ott. melliU ; Mom I I / I I ••••• nr4 V • gasgas works toto lightlight. thethe docksdock s andand thelhe houses.houses. As thethe number ofof workers increased,increa s ed, aa new townEohrn was constructedcon s truc t. ed nearby by private developers.developers. The dock handled largelarge quantitiesquantities ofof corncorn andand timbertimber brought inin by sailingsailing vessels andand steamerssteamers fromfrom many parts ofof thethe world. Initially,Initially, much continued toto be sentsent on toto thethe flourflour and sawsaw millsmiIls at Gloucester, but inin increasinglyincreasingly thethe trendtrend was towardstowards railrail and laterlater roadroad transporttransport bypassing Gloucester. TheThe quay onon thethe west sideside was builtbuilt. inin 19411941 toto facilitatefacilitate thethe discharge ofof timbertimber directdirect toto rail wagons, andand open-sidedopen-sided shedssheds were erectederected forfor storingstoring timbertimber under cover.cover. The silosilo onon thethe easteast sideside was built inin 19351935 andand thatthat on thethe west isis c.c. 1975.L975. The dockdock continuedcontinued toto be busy intointo thethe earlyearly 1980s,1980s, but traffictraffic has fallenfal1en offoff inin recentrecent years asas world tradetrade has concentratedconcentrated inin aa fewfew ports handling huge containercontainer ships.ships. Of0f thethe oldold buildings,buildingst onlyonly oneone largelarge warehouse andand threethree shedssheds remain.remain. SevernSevern RailwayRailray Bridge Built toto provide a routeroute forfor making Forest of Dean coalcoal availableavailable asas anan exportexport cargo,cargo, thethe bridge was officiallyofficially openedopened on 1717 OctoberOctober 1879.1879. ItIt had 2121 spansspans and aa swingingswinging sectionsection overover thethe canal.cana1. The lineline thenthen crossedcrossed thethe high-levelhigh-1eve1 swingswing bridge overover thethe docks andand initiallyinitially fedfed aa coalcoal tiptip inin thethe armarm leadingleading toto thethe oldold entrance.entrance. However, itit soonsoon foundfound thatthat many ofof thethe shipsships were tootoo big toto loadload there,there, andand aa secondsecond tiptip on alongalong viaduct was thereforetherefore constructedconstructed on thethe west sideside ofof thethe new dock. The bridge made anan importantimportant contributioncontribution toto thethe exportexporE tradetrade fromfrom thethe docks, but itit did not carrycarry asas much coalcoal asas had been expectedexpected because ofof competitioncompetition fromfrom thethe SevernSevern tunneltunnel route and thethe unstable conditionsconditions inin thethe ForestForest mining industry.industry. Unfortunately, twotwo tankertanker barge collidedcollided with aa pier inin 1960,1960, bringing down twotwo spans,spans, andand most of thethe remainderremainder wasvlas demolished later.later. Both coalcoal tipstips have alsoalso been demolished.demolished. Gloucester docksdocls SeeSee thethe tourtour notes forfor thethe SaturdaySaturday afternoon. Thursday 1717 septembers ep tember ForestForest ofof DeanDean ExcursionExcursion IIII Coal, StoneStone andand Tramways. Leader:Leader: IanIan StandingS tanding Route Cirencester,Cirenceste!, Gloucester, Newnham onon SevernSevern toto BulloBul1o Dock Bullo Dock Built 18101810 by thethe Forest ofof Dean Railway Co as thethe shippingshipping point forfor theirtheir tramroad.t.ramroad. ItIt became a thrivingthriving port andand continuedcontinued asas suchsuch until ce 1900.1900. The tramtram roadroad was convertedconverted toto railwayrailway mid century.century. Last vessel toEo be loadedloaded was thethe FINIS inin 1926.t926. 2222 Enter thethe Forest fromfrom BlakeneyBlakeney using B4227.84227. OnOn thethe hillshilIs aboveabove areare Haie House, home ofof thethe Jones family,family, originaloriginal landland ownersolrners and partners ofof thethe tramroad. Also Oaklands Park,Park, builtbuiIE 18411841 forfor Henry Crawshay thethe forestforest coalcoal and ironiron master. Many of thethe finefine houses atat Newnham alsoaLso originateoriginate fromfrom mineral wealth.weal th. Haie Hill Tunnel portal Driven 18091809 forfor thethe BulloBul1o PillPill RailwayRailvay CoCo (later( later thethe FODREODR Co), itit carriedcarried thethe tramroad!ramroad intointo thet.he SoudleySoudley toto Cinderford ValleyVa 11ey and thusthus deep intointo thethe Forest.Eorest. TheThe sitesite ofof thethe 18371837 Great Western IronworksIronworks isis adjacent.adj acen t . Dean Heritage Museum Successively:Successively: IronIron foundryfoundry 1830s1830s on;on; new corncorn millmi11 1876,1876, andand thent.hen aa wood turnery,turnery, leatherleaEher board mill,miI1, sawmill,sawmill, piggery, scrapscrap yard andand museum.mu s eum. IndustrialIndustrial itemsiEems includeinclude tramwaytramway metalwork, a BixsladeBixslade tippingt ipping tramwaytramway wagon,wagon , 1830s1830s beam engineengine made onon sitesit.e forfor LightmoorLighLmoor Colliery;Colliery; earlyear 1 v ironiron oreore mine relics. 17th17th centurycentury iron;iron I coalcoal mining material;ma t.eria 1 forestry.f or es t.ry . Speech House Lunch stopstop built c.1675 as one ofof 65 forestforest keeper's lodges.Iodges. EnlargedEnlarged latelate 1919 thethe centurycentury toto includeinclude anan oakoak panelled Verderer's CourtCourl forfor forestfores! administration.administration. Nearby areare ancientancient oak treest.rees which we shallshalI visitvisr-t toto illustrateillustrale timberEimber forfor industryindus try and thethe Navy. Cannop Valley (stop(stop by stoneworks)sEoneworks) ThisThis isis thethe chiefchief valley ofof Dean Forest. ItIt carriedcarried the SevernSevern && Wye tramwaylramway and thethe laterlater railwayrailway toto serveserve numerous collieries,collieries, quarriesquarries andand otherot.her industries.industries. We shallshall park atat Cannop PondPond whichwhi,ch were createdcreated asas water reservoirsreservoirs forfor ironi,ron works at ParkendParkend duringduring thethe 17th17th and 19th19th centuries.centuries. Adjacent isis thethe works of Forest ofof Dean StoneSt.one FirmsFirms LtdLtd which willwi 11 be sawingsawing PennantPennan! SandstoneSandstone won fromfrom theirtheir quarries inin Bixslade.Bixs 1ade. WeI^Ie willvill exploreexplore BixsladeBixslade via thethe coursecourse ofof itsits tramway,lramway, 1812-t8t2- 19471947 andand looklook at thethe geology,geology, mines andand quarries. ThisThis willwi 11 includeinclude oneone smallsmall freeminefreemine working thethe Yorkley Coal.Coa1. TheThe explorationexploration will taketake between 2-32-3 hours onon foot,foot, and taketake inina a hill-top scenicscenic viewing platform alongalong thethe way. ThroughoutThroughout thethe day therelhere will be emphasisemphasis onon thethe industriesindustries andand thethe historyhisuory ofof thethe ForestForest as aa timbertimber producer.produeer. Maps: OSOS 1:50,0001:50r000 Gloucester and ForestForest. ofof Dean 1:25,0001:25,000 Wye Valley andand ForestFores! ofof Dean 23