Stroud facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Stroud
Stroud from the air
Stroud
Population	13,468 (2021 Census)
OS grid reference	SO851051
Civil parish	Stroud
District	Stroud
Shire county	Gloucestershire
Region	South West
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	STROUD
Postcode district	GL5
Dialling code	01453
Police	Gloucestershire
Fire	Gloucestershire
Ambulance	Great Western
EU Parliament	South West England
UK Parliament	Stroud
List of places UK England Gloucestershire 51°44′38″N 2°12′54″W / 51.744°N 2.215°W / 51.744; -2.215

Stroud is a lively market town and civil parish in Gloucestershire, England. It is the main town in the Stroud District. In 2021, about 13,500 people lived here.

Stroud is nestled in the Cotswold Hills, where five valleys meet. This makes its streets quite steep! The beautiful Cotswold Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty surrounds the town. The famous Cotswold Way walking path also goes nearby.

The town is about 10 miles south of Gloucester and 14 miles southwest of Cheltenham. It's also 13 miles west of Cirencester and 26 miles northeast of Bristol. Stroud is a hub for many nearby villages and towns.

In March 2021, The Sunday Times newspaper called Stroud the best place to live in the UK. They liked its many green spaces, independent spirit, and good schools.

What's in a Name? The Story of Stroud

The name Stroud comes from an old English word, Strōd. This word means "marshy land covered with brushwood." The town was first called La Strode in a document from 1221. Today, we say Stroud to rhyme with "proud."

A Glimpse into Stroud's Past

Stroud played a big part in the Industrial Revolution. It was famous for making cloth. Woollen mills used the rivers in the five valleys for power. They got their wool from Cotswold sheep grazing on the hills. Stroud was especially known for making military uniforms in a special color called Stroudwater Scarlet.

The area became home to many Huguenot families in the 1600s. They were seeking safety from France. Later, in the 1800s, a large Jewish community came, linked to the clothing industry.

Travel and Transport History

In the 1800s, Stroud was a busy place for industry and trade. It needed good ways to move goods. First, it had a canal system, including the Stroudwater Navigation and the Thames and Severn Canal. These canals were used until the early 1900s. Today, people are working to restore these canals for fun activities.

Stroud railway station was designed by the famous engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel. The railway arrived in 1845. Before that, Stroud had its own local time, which was about 9 minutes behind London time! A special railway clock was put up in 1858 so people wouldn't miss their trains.

Early Settlements and Roman Times

Stroud parish was originally part of another area called Bisley. It started to become its own town in the 1200s. The name came from the marshy ground where two streams met. The first church was built by 1279.

The area around Stroud has many old historical sites. You can find neolithic long barrows (ancient burial mounds) at places like Uley and Selsley Common. These date back thousands of years.

There are also remains from the Roman era. The Woodchester Roman Villa is famous for its amazing Orpheus mosaic. It's one of the largest and most detailed mosaics of its kind in Europe! While you can't see the villa above ground today, the mosaic has been uncovered several times.

Famous People in Stroud's History

From 1837 to 1841, Lord John Russell was Stroud's Member of Parliament (MP). He later became prime minister of Britain. Lord John Russell was very important because he helped pass the Reform Act 1867. This law gave many more men the right to vote, greatly increasing the number of people who could participate in elections. You can still see his name in Stroud on John Street, Russell Street, and a local pub called The Lord John.

Stroud's Vibe and Fun Things to Do

Stroud is known for its creative and artistic community. Some people have even called it "the Covent Garden of the Cotswolds" or "Notting Hill with wellies!" Many artists and musicians live here.

Stroud was also a birthplace of the organic food movement. It had Britain's first fully organic café.

Kite aerial photo of Stroud Leisure Centre

Kite aerial photograph of the restoration of the walled garden at the Museum in the Park.

The town hosts a fun fringe festival every August Bank Holiday. It features art, literature, and many unsigned bands. Over 400 performers take part, and most events are free! Stroud also has events celebrating textiles, linking to its cloth-making past.

Subscription Rooms

The Subscription Rooms in the town centre host various shows and events. There's also a small theatre, the Cotswold Playhouse.

You can visit Stratford Park, which has a leisure centre with indoor and outdoor swimming pools. It's also home to the Museum in the Park. This museum is in an old wool merchant's house and tells the story of the Stroud District. It has over 4,000 objects, including dinosaur bones and one of the world's first lawnmowers!

Community Action and Campaigns

People in Stroud have a history of speaking up for what they believe in. In the past, they've protested against new traffic plans and the demolition of old buildings. These actions helped save many historic parts of the town.

In 1989, local people successfully stopped trees from being cut down in Stratford Park. This led to new ideas for making roads safer without harming nature. More recently, campaigns have helped save local hospitals and Post Office branches.

Businesses and Local Economy

While Stroud still has a small textile industry (making cloth for snooker tables and tennis balls!), it's now more of a centre for engineering and services. Stroud is also a Fairtrade Town, meaning it supports fair prices for producers.

The Stroud and Swindon Building Society used to have its main office here. Now, that building is home to Ecotricity, a company that provides renewable energy. The famous artist Damien Hirst also has a studio in Stroud.

In 2009, the Stroud Pound was launched. This is a local currency designed to help the local economy and encourage people to buy from businesses in the area.

Stroud Farmers' Market

Bread loaves in the farmers' market

The Old Town Hall

Stroud is famous for its amazing farmers' market. It started in 1999 and takes place every Saturday at the Cornhill market. It has won national awards for being the best farmers' market in the UK! The market was even featured on a BBC TV show.

You can also find a smaller market in The Shambles, a historic area near the High Street. The Old Town Hall, built in 1596, is one of Stroud's oldest buildings and is still used sometimes.

Stroud Farmers' Market

Learning in Stroud: Schools and Colleges

School of Science and Art

Stroud has several primary schools for younger students:

• Uplands Community Primary School
• Callowell Primary School
• Gastrells Community Primary School
• Rosary Catholic Primary School
• Severn View Academy
• Stroud Valley Community School

For older students, there are three secondary schools:

• Archway School is a comprehensive school for students aged 11 to 18.
• Marling School and Stroud High School are selective grammar schools. They have a long history, with Marling School founded in 1889 and Stroud High School in 1904.

Kite aerial photo of Thomas Keble School

Kite aerial photo of Marling School June 2010

Kite aerial photo of South Gloucestershire and Stroud College

For education after secondary school, South Gloucestershire and Stroud College offers various courses.

Getting Around Stroud: Transport Links

Stroud has good transport connections. There are many bus routes that connect the town to nearby areas and cities like Gloucester.

You can also travel by train from Stroud railway station. Great Western Railway trains offer frequent services to Gloucester, Cheltenham, Swindon, Reading, and London Paddington.

The A46 road connects Stroud to Cheltenham and Bath. The A419 road links Stroud to Cirencester and the M5 motorway.

Stroud is also on Sustrans National Cycle Network Route 45, which is a traffic-free path perfect for cycling.

The town was once connected to a large canal system, which closed in 1954. But now, there's a project to reopen the canals for leisure activities!

Stroud in Books and Arts

Many famous writers and artists have lived in or around Stroud.

• Laurie Lee's famous novel Cider with Rosie is set in the nearby Slad valley.
• Jilly Cooper and Katie Fforde are popular authors who live in the area.
• Children's authors like Jamila Gavin and John Dougherty also call Stroud home.
• The poet Jenny Joseph, who wrote "I Shall Wear Purple," lived nearby.
• The singer Sade moved to the Slad valley in 2010.
• The band Milk Teeth formed at South Gloucestershire and Stroud College.

Sports and Recreation

Stroud has many sports clubs for you to join or watch!

• Stroud Rugby Club was founded in 1873.
• Stroud Cricket Club is over 150 years old.
• Stroud Athletic Club organizes an annual half marathon every October.
• Stroud Swimming Club has been around since 1905.
• Stroud Hockey Club was founded in 1928.
• Forest Green Rovers is the nearest professional football club, located in nearby Nailsworth.

Notable People from Stroud

Many interesting people have connections to Stroud:

• Edwin Beard Budding (1795–1846), who invented the lawnmower and the adjustable spanner, was born and died in Stroud.
• Sir Martin Evans, who won a Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, was born in Stroud.
• Eddie "The Eagle" Edwards, the famous ski jumper, lives nearby.
• Gail Bradbrook, a co-founder of Extinction Rebellion, lives in Stroud.
• Actors like Tim McInnerny (from Blackadder) and William Moseley (from The Chronicles of Narnia) have connections to the town.
• Artists like Lynn Chadwick and Damien Hirst have worked in the area.
• Musicians like Gerry Rafferty and Tom Smith (from Editors) have lived here.

Twin Towns

Stroud is twinned with several towns around the world:

• Saint-Ismier, France
• Stroud, Oklahoma, USA
• Duderstadt, Germany
• Stroud, New South Wales, Australia

Images for kids

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  High Street, the main shopping street

See also

In Spanish: Stroud para niños