Events

Dudbridge Railway Station

by | 26th July 2026 | Events, History | 0 Comments

  I often walk the cycle track below Rodborough Hill, The old Midland Railway spur from Dudbridge, And I often cycle the track on to Nailsworth, Musing on the springs and watercourses, the ancient holloways, The Roman villa, medieval ridge and furrow, the woollen mills, The occasional mill chimney, still rising high into the Stroudwater sky. But, today, I stand at the blue brick retaining wall At the old Dudbridge railway station, Watching the cars career around the roundabout, Drivers mostly oblivious of the history of Dudbridge; But when I ignore the roar of the traffic, And I find my mind’s historical eye, I can see a medieval pilgrim crossing the bridge, A packhorse with Cotswold wool a mile behind. For here I stand by the confluence of two rivers. But also, at the junction of two railway lines: The interface of water power and steam power, The inexorable march of the industrial revolution: Foundries and forges and furnaces And cranes and pulleys and chains and smoke: A century-old pandemonium at Dudbridge, Where once there was an orchard and there is still a Meadow Lane. Carefully cross the road and study the information plaques On the wall at Sainsburys; the clothier’s 1646 doorway too; The inscription at REDLERS from 1910; The information board at Kimmins Mill, Then retrace your steps carefully back to the blue brick wall, And recite these words from T.S. Eliot to yourself: “And the end of all our exploring Will be to arrive where we started And know the place for the first...
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Stations like Stroud (and Macbeth)

by | Jun 27, 2025 | , | 0 Comments

Stations like Stroud (and Macbeth)   They’re great theatre, railway stations, don’t you think? The platform as the stage with Life and Existence itself in the limelight. For it’s almost as if a state of beatitude is attained whilst sitting on that platform, regarding...

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The Refreshment Rooms at Swindon

by | Jun 27, 2025 | , | 0 Comments

The Refreshment Rooms at Swindon The next time you stop at Swindon and grab a coffee, you might be astonished to discover that the refreshment rooms at Swindon were both famous and infamous (also possibly remind yourself of Shelley’s poem Ozymandias with a quick...

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The Rodborough GWR Bus Service

by | Jun 27, 2025 | , | 0 Comments

The Rodborough GWR Bus Service   The GWR experimented with some local bus services in the 1920s around Painswick, Cainscross, Chalford, Kingscourt and Rodborough. I recorded some residents’ memories of Spillmans off Rodborough Hill a few years ago: red brick...

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800101 and Andy and Steve

by | Jun 27, 2025 | , | 0 Comments

800101 and Andy and Steve 800101 stood gloomily at Gloucester station. His mood was worsened every Monday morning (and Monday mornings were bad enough anyway) by the excited chatter of two men who should know better at their age. Every Monday morning, they awaited his...

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