Isaac Taylor's map of Gloucestershire

Isaac Taylor’s map of Gloucestershire shows the lack of roads directly joining Stroud to the River Severn. Roads were in poor condition and muddy enough to swallow a horse. The River Severn was a free river with no tolls charged on goods transported on the river. Coal was brought down from Staffordshire on the river but getting it to Stroud was difficult using poor roads and the River Frome’s level of water was much reduced in the summer causing the mills to stop work because the water wheels could not turn.

Gloucestershire Archives (D1447/5/2)

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