College History
A thousand years of peace and prosperity in the Stroud Valleys have woven a unique landscape of oak and beech woodland, dry-stone walls and millponds, aristocracy and radicalism.
With its lush pastures, steep valleys and easy access to the sea, the area was established as a centre of the European wool and textiles trades by the Middle Ages.
The power of its watermills and the skill of its artisans brought huge wealth to the Cotswolds, still visible today in its iconic limestone churches, manor-houses and cottages.
Millbottom, in the Horsley Valley, is first mentioned in the sixteenth century. Originally a cornmill, it was later adapted for textile manufacture, but struggled to compete with coal-powered Northern mills during the Industrial Revolution.
Converted, in turn, to malthouse, grocery-store, cider-mill, brass-foundry, leather-stiffening works and dye-factory, by 1968 it was more or less derelict.
For the rest of the story click here.
The power of its watermills and the skill of its artisans brought huge wealth to the Cotswolds, still visible today in its iconic limestone churches, manor-houses and cottages.
Millbottom, in the Horsley Valley, is first mentioned in the sixteenth century. Originally a cornmill, it was later adapted for textile manufacture, but struggled to compete with coal-powered Northern mills during the Industrial Revolution.
Converted, in turn, to malthouse, grocery-store, cider-mill, brass-foundry, leather-stiffening works and dye-factory, by 1968 it was more or less derelict.
For the rest of the story click here.
