Neil Carmichael - MP for Stroud

Festival: The Stroudwater Trust's commitment to the Festival of Manufacturing and Engineering

Woollen cloth making has shaped our valleys since the Middle Ages. Indeed, cloth has been made at Lodgemore Mills continuously since medieval times. The textile industry has provided employment and skills and has created a foundation for our local engineering businesses. Many factories are on historic mill sites and some are housed in the original, majestic mill buildings. A number of textile artists and craftsmen continue to work in the town upholding the old traditions in a modern context.

The Stroudwater Textile Trust exists to help make this area's textile history accessible and interesting whilst promoting contemporary skills. We celebrate Stroud's historic importance as a textiles centre and are very keen to raise awareness, in both adults and children, of all that has been achieved here.

Our activities include the opening of old mills to give an impression of what it was like when they were working; leading walks around the valleys to reveal industrial buildings and places of interest; running courses in some of the traditional skills, such as weaving and dyeing; and arranging exhibitions and events. The Trust is delighted to support and join the Festival of Manufacturing & Engineering in celebrating Stroud's industrial activities, past and present.

Tags: Stroud East | Stroud West | North Stroud | Rodborough | Chalford | Nailsworth and Minchinhampton | Berkeley Vale | Cam and Dursley | Upton St. Leonards Bisley and Painswick | Stonehouse

This entry was posted on 23 January 2012 at 13:00 and is filed under Local Business | Events | Local Education | Culture and Tourism | Jobs and Welfare | The Community.