Chalford Viaduct Stroud Gloucestershire
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- Опубликовано: 3 ноя 2024
- Chalford or little Switzerland as it is known, oozes history, from old mills to magnificent feats of railway engineering and a canal joining the Thames to the Severn
Home to the adventurous subscriber. As well as films we have a bi-weekly Vlog to keep up to date on the previous and next week’s videos, and a chance for all to air their views on a variety of subjects, why not join in.
My passion has been walking, a while ago I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s and walking does not come naturally any more, however the more I walk the easier it gets, for now anyway. I hope these videos will inspire others to keep going and hanging on in there. I try to cover variety of subjects, such as old abandoned railways, and canals. I love the Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire, with its rich history and I usually take my camera whenever we holiday in the southwest and Cornwall. The rugged coastal paths are a magnet for anyone who loves dramatic scenery. I live close to the Cotswolds Hills and have done quite a lot of walking around there, recently, following some of the lovely rivers. Hill walking on the Malvern’s is a challenge but worth the effort. I try not to let Parkinson’s get me down and take every opportunity to get out with my camera and film, I hope you enjoy watching. P.W.
Really great video Ron, nice to see Chalford, I have many memories of the Chalford area, and Chalford Hill, which is not for the faint hearted..! very steep climb up from Chalford and a long climb too. I used to go to Manor school up at Eastcombe on a bus, the school has been ponsifid, and renamed since I left in the late 1970s. Nice to see the photo of Chalford railway station, My father actually did some painting work on Chalford railway station way back in the 1950s, l think he was staying at what was the old British restaurant in Thrupp with his mother and father, just after he came back from the Korean War, this was years before he actually met my mother and set to work on me..! I personally I can remember going into Stroud on Saturdays, and having a Coffee in Tucks cafe, now long gone and only a distant memory, those were the days Ron, a coffee was only 25p. Stroud was actually a vibrant town back then it had a bus station which is also only a distant memory, you could catch a several buses an hour to Chalford back in the mid 1970s. Gloucestershire is not a county to be without a car in, hills are everywhere..! Thanks for the video Ron so many memories for me.
Maurice so glad that stirred up some nice memories for you, I feel my work is done! Ron
Morning Ron,
My compliments to your superb filming.
A few miles or so from Chalford on the same line at the convergence of five valleys, the town of Stroud’s railway station was built in 1845. It is situated between Swindon and Gloucester warranting a railway line a rival to the slower canal because of the numerous wool mills situated along the bottom of these five valleys, some exclusively producing the famous red cloth for the red coats. The water was particularly good for fixing red dyes. So the sheep grazed on the top of the valleys, the wool was spun in the wool mills at the bottom of the valleys powered by water from the streams, made into cloth in the numerous weavers cottages scattered about the valleys, and hung out to dry in the middle of the valleys on tenterhooks, hence the expression “on tenterhooks.” Can you imagine looking up the side of the valley to a sea of red cloth? My house was built as a temporary structure out of wood in the 1840’s it overlooks the valley, it was built by navvies to support navvies. The building of the Brunel railway line would have been difficult overcoming many levels with bridges, cuttings and tunnels. The house was converted to Cotswold stone in 1857. To give you an indication of time the famous battle of Rourkes Drift occurred in 1879 some 22 years later. So how did my house support Navvies? Well it was a primitive methodist chapel, it was built to attend to their spiritual needs on Sundays. Converted to a house in the 1970’s. I have found much evidence in the garden of these times, clay pipes for penny twists of tobacco, hand made beer bottles, coinage, various railway architecture such as bolts, levers, catches, and tools. I consider myself privileged to live in such a delightful historic place even if I am frequently woken up early by the regular train racing to London.
Wow, what a glorious place to live, what amazing history all around. Well done Barry. Ron
Good to see you out and about again. Very interesting video 😀🙈🤔
Hi Jonathan, nice to be out these days. Take care. Ron
Thank you Ron!
Yes, both of those railway lines are used, but the local parish council forbids Network Rail from operating the weedkiller train through Chalford, because the chemicals could leak through into the local watercourses and River Frome, or so I am told. The Weedkiller train has been through the Golden Valley again recently.
I love Chalford and I really enjoyed doing my Treasure Hunt here just before Christmas last year. There is so much history and it is very pretty.
Thank you for a good explore here looking at things that I missed.
Great video!
Hope you have a good week.
Take care,
Paul
Hi Paul, yes it is a lovely place, but I think the steep climbs put people off. Go gently. Ron
Mornin’ Ron, That was an enigmatic viaduct, you caught some great views through the trees and from a distance.
I thought for a while there was no easy way on to the track bed but of course Railmaps tells me that this is an active line. What Railmaps also indicated was a small network of industrial tracks for servicing Bliss Mills which do not appear to have been connected to the mainline. These look like they have disappeared under the industrial estate. Apparently one building still remains of what was a significant stick and umbrella manufacturing site.
It was a lovely walk along the towpath and beside the river with some interesting features along the way like that spillway and that small but deep bridge. Like Oliver and Stan you really were on the trail of the lonesome pine, no sign of the Blue Ridge Mountains anywhere!!
Back at work now and we are now getting some cool air at night time. It’s that time of year where we often get severe storms, so far they have been in the far north and on the Balearics. These days we often see water spouts on the news, I’m not sure if this is because there are more of them or that simply we all walk about with cameras in our phones and then it’s an easy task to send them on.
Have a great weekend!!
Hi David, hope you are all well rested after your break. I wasn't very happy with this attempt, in fact I did it again - on week after next. Take care. Ron
A strenuous, but enjoyable walk. I last walked the towpath from Chalford to Sapperton Tunnel some 15 years ago, along what is probably one of the most scenic sections of the Thames & Severn. Quite apart from the tunnel, it represents a major restoration challenge. The railway infrastructure however is on a totally different scale and as your video shows, is a magnificent feat of engineering, allowing the railway to cling to the hillside on the long incline from Stroud - and a superb ride on the train. The steepness of the incline does make you wonder how trains coped with starting and stopping at Chalford back in the day - not always without difficulty one imagines. Perhaps I will re-visit one day, as there is still a bus from Stroud, I believe. Thank's for a really delightful video.
Hi Malcolm, it must have been a hive of activity back then, with the mill wheels rumbling away and the comings and goings. Thanks for your post. Ron
Morning Ron. Wow that was interesting . That place had a real atmosphere about it even now but can you imagine what it was like in its day with all the goings on with the canal and railway. Beast wishes Pete ,Tan and Syd
Hi Pete, Tan and Syd, looking at the photo it was very different then, all the vegetation is stripped back it looks bare. Keep smiling you lot. Ron
Ron, I am sure that the "shop" was/is a village enterprise. There used to be a donkey, which for a fee would carry your purchases, or indeed ant other luggage, up the appropriately named "Hill" - and believe me it should be called a mountain- to your home if you lived up there. . Work is proceeding apace on the canal, it has received several millions from e.g the Lottery Fund towards it restoration.. Nice to see the Frome; I lived near where it discharged into the Severn and I have had many a meal of elvers from its depths. Thanks. Petr
Hi Peter, many years restoration left yet, I wonder if they will actually finish it one day. Sadly not in my lifetime I fear. Take care Ron
Ron, I think you should do a part 2 for this stretch. If you go further up the Frampton road, where it goes under the railway, there is a viaduct that you may well be very excited by. You can park under it and walk down to the canal and see some very interesting features.
Thank you so much for the heads-up, I love filming in that area. Ron
@@ParkinsonsWalks - I will look forward to your visit to the big viaduct.
You get a real sense of what it must have been like coming into the valley by barge, being pulled along by your trusty horse on the towpath.
A very enjoyable explore, Ron. The Stroud valley certainly has some hidden gems for the intrepid adventurer. You did really well to get some excellent shots of that lovely viaduct, and what a wonderful spot for a walk. Keep them coming. Take care. Ron.
Will do Ron, hope things are settling down for you and Debs. All the best. Ron
Hello Ron. Nice piece of filming. Mary says she knows Chalford fairly well, having used that route between Cirencester and Stroud. She remembers the narrow street on that hill.
Not much water left in the canal these days, is there? That high wall you mentioned,, would that have been the edge of the canal when it was full and working?
Gosh! We had 37mm of rain in the past 24 hours with 3 claps of thunder thrown in this morning . Mustn't complain, the garden needed it. Keep safe and well.
Hi Lionel, is there anywhere Mary hasn't been! she is a much traveled lady. You are probably right about the wall. Take care. Ron
Good morning Ron. Lovely Friday start at Chalford today. I wonder if you succumbed to the lovely Lavender Tea Rooms before or after. I saw them in the distance. Lovely herb scones they used to make. I was also wondering when this was filmed as the new houses were there by the railway but the rails on one side had a lot of green growth. Perhaps they were just waiting for the weed killing train! It’s a lovely valley and a wonderful trip in the dark with all the lights of Chalford twinkling on the side of the valley Not so much fun driving round and trying to find an address though. Those roads are really steep. The canal looks very deserted and unloved but they are concentrating all their efforts further back towards Stroud. Well you got to see your viaduct. There’s a very good train spotting place a bit higher up towards the tunnel especially if there’s a steam train coming! Thanks again. Look forward to the next episode.
Hi Marilyn, hope you are well. I wasn't satisfied with this film, so I went back and filmed it again. (up in two weeks time). You are right about the steep roads, I did a film from there a while ago, it was hard work. Enjoy your week and take care of yourself. Ron
Thanks for that video, Ron. A very interesting place, I like the abandoned canal, and canal walk
Hi Michael, they are working restoring that canal, one day maybe, but I don't think I will be here to see it. Take care. Ron
That's an interesting area, Ron, and I'm glad you found the viaduct. Sad to see the canal in that state, but maybe it will be restored sometime?
Plans have been drawn up for the restoration of the whole canal from Thames to Severn Jim. Won't be in my lifetime though. Take care. Ron
Good Morning Ron. Greetings from Poland
A delightful walk along the canal. What interesting buildings we passed. The glj.pses of rhe viaduct were superb. Victorian engineering at its very best. I hope the ups and downs of the walk didn't take too much out of you. We need you next Friday!
Hi Michael, hope you are doing fine. I wasn't very happy with this visit, so I went back and did it again. Out week after next. Keep smiling. Ron
All good film makers are hardly ever happy with the first take. I'm looking forward to the remake very much
@@michaelpilling9659 Thanks Michael
I guess it is safe to assume, based on the shot of the rails from the bridge towards the beginning of your journey, that those same active rails cross that viaduct? If so, it would have been quite the coup to catch a train on those rails since the rails appeared to be active enough to appear polished, at least the one set. I didn't catch whether those rails were part of an active line or were they part of a heritage line?
Hi Charles, that is the main Gloucester to London line. A bit thin on traffic when I was there. Hope you are well. Ron
Hi Ron. If you don't know whether it's "Froom" or "Frome", who does? Just when I think I've seen your filming at its best, you impress me with some even more spectacular "footage". Thanks for cheering up yo-know-who...he's back to getting up at 5:30 a.m. Sumac OVM
Hi Sumac, I'm sure James would welcome some help getting up at that time, try barking at 4.30 or something close. Then you can curl up and go back to sleep, satisfied with a job well done. Keep barking. Ron
It is a strange one Sumac! The town of Frome in Somerset is definitely pronounced 'Froom', but this particular River Frome can be either, ither, orther, depending to who you speak to! The River Frome in the Bristol area is usually pronounced Fr-oo-mm. Woof! Woof!
@@westcountrywanderings Thank you Paul, that definitely almost clears things up...one more reason that I love England! All the best to you. Sumac
Good Morning Ron, that brings back memories. Working in that area as an apprentice. Good grief that IS a very long time ago. 81 weeks to retirement! Simon
Hang in there Simon, you can do it. Ron
@@ParkinsonsWalks Well it's friday again and seems to be passing quickly. From April it's a 3 day week but of course they take some more money off me for some reason..........
@@ngaugeonashelf4417 scandalous!!
Great vid Ron. At 16 mins in was that natural spring water and is it drinkable ?
It might very well be Steve, but I wouldn't risk it. Ron
H Ron,good to see you getting over to my "old manor"(born & lived near Stroud in my childhood) The Stroud/Chalford valley is superb & I well recall coming in or out of Stroud back in the day behind a GWR Castle Or King class loco.They used to struggle a little going up through the Sapperton Tunnel & in to Kemble but then many years later along came the 125,s which were doing it at 100mph! Cheers.
Thanks for sharing those memories Paul. Ron