300 Years Ago Maintenance Turnpikes Act of Parliament A Royal Visit Map of 1800 19th Century Charges The Impact of an Improved Road Network

By 1824, the roads around Stroud had changed dramatically as Bryant's Map of that year shows. Turnpike roads were still shown in red but there were many more of them.

The traveller reaching Cainscross could choose whether to enter Stroud via Rodborough or Paganhill. There were new roads to Gloucester (via Pitchcombe & Edge), to Slad & Birdlip, to Bisley and to Nailsworth & Bath. Most important of all, a new section of road towards Cirencester had been built alongside the Stroudwater Canal via Chalford.

Except for the short piece of road connecting Dudbridge directly with Stroud, the pattern of main roads in 1824 remained largely unaltered until the late 20th Century!

From January 2016, this website is managed by Stroud Local History Society

GRO Bryant's Map of Gloucestershire, 1824
GRO Bryant's map of Gloucestershire, 1824 Key