Wallbridge to Capel's Mill : 2012
The New Cut
By Lois Francis
On Wednesday 8th August 2012, Cotswold Canals Knowledge ( CCK) organised and guided a walk from the Museum in the Park, following the Painswick Stream until it reaches the main road and then following the pavement through to Wallbridge. From there we walked along the newly restored towpath to Capel's Mill where the new canal is being cut.
The Painting of Stroud
The reason for walking from the Museum is that it is very useful to view the historic painting of Stroud that hangs there, so that the story of Stroud and its relationship to the canal, can be graphically understood.
The Textile Mills
Walking from Stratford Park through to the supermarket reminds us that so much of Stroud was dedicated to the textile industry, even as late as 1968. The supermarket is, of course, built on the site of Townsend Mill which burned down about that time.Many of the mills in Stroud were established as early as the fifteenth century, and were always associated with a running stream, so that water power could be used to drive the water wheels which, in turn, drove the huge hammers that changed the cloth from a woven material to a felt.
The Painswick Stream
This stream now flows into the canal at Lodgemoor Mills, which is still producing textiles for billiard tables and tennis balls.In the 19th century it was common for small boats to use canvas dams across the stream, so that the depth of the water could be increased sufficiently for a boat to be hauled upstream, with its cargo, to the mill.
Wallbridge to Dr Newton's Way
This is a stretch of canal that was cleared many years ago, but has subsequently suffered land slips, helped by the presence of many springs. It is possible to see two sunken boats just under the water and a water pipe, which will carry water in case of further landslips.
Dr Newton's way to Capel's Mill
The viaduct spanning the ring road was originally built as a wooden construction. The original line of the canal through the viaduct is where the road is now.This has forced the restorers of the Thames and Severn canal to cut a new canal through another arch of the viaduct, which is happily skewed in the correct direction.However, the land it should be cut through was once a Stroud Council tip. Therefore it is prudent to skirt the edge of the tip and cut a new canal above the level of the River Frome.It is interesting to note that the engineering challenges will be overcome by large round holes being drilled into the land and lined with steel. Steel rods are inserted and then the holes are filled with concrete. These will be adjacent to each other and will hold the water of the canal in it's new channel.