A Summer afternoon in Stonehouse

The Gloucester Local History Association’s Summer Afternoon Meeting was held at The Community Centre in Stonehouse on Sunday, 6th July, and was organised by Stonehouse History Group. Around 60 people attended and were able to view a series of displays, including the history of St Cyr’s Church, local industries, and historic houses around the town.

Following an introductory talk on the history of Stonehouse, attendees had a choice of one of five walks or visits. Some chose to drive the short journey to Stonehouse Court, a manor house dating from 1601, and, after hearing about the history of the old manor, featured in the Domesday Book, they continued on to the Stroudwater Canal and the Midland Railway Viaduct before concluding the walk at St Cyr’s Church. Walkers could also choose to explore historical routeways and visit the new vineyard at the edge of the town, which follows ancient local tradition.

Local and national aboriculturalist, John Parker, showed a group some of the wide variety of trees which make up the Stonehouse Arboretum. A gentler option was to walk around the High Street and learn some of the stories behind the buildings there.

For those who preferred to stay at the Centre, there was the option of attending a talk about Stonehouse in World War Two and the changes that the war brought to the village.

The day was rounded off in the traditional GLHA fashion with a delicious afternoon tea and the chance to chat with fellow local historians.