The canal between Ryeford Double Lock and Ebley Oil Mill has seen great changes in recent years.
The land to the east of Ryeford Double Lock formerly fell away steeply below the canal, giving fine views across the valley to the high ridge of Selsley Common. In the early nineteenth century, this was one of the places used for depositing mud dredged from the canal. Also, James Hogg had a small mill powered by a separate stream of the river, of which no trace now remains.
An ancient right of way across the fields merges with the towpath, and this led a local footpath campaigner to claim that the towpath must also be a right of way, but the Stroudwater Company maintained it was their private property. For an account of a violet confrontation in 1901, visit Towpath Confrontation.
After the canal was closed for navigation in 1954, these fields became a huge tip for rubbish which raised the ground level significantly. Recently, much of this land was bought by the Cotswold Canals Trust to provide a place for depositing mud as in earlier times, and the area has been named Hogg’s Meadow after the former mill owner.
Soon after the canal was closed for navigation in 1954, most of the length between Double Lock and Ebley Mill was sold to the County Council to be a route for a new Ebley bypass.
Fortunately, this plan was changed, but then much of this length was filled in to provide access to the refuse tip in the adjoining field - although the 'towpath' remained open.
After the tip closed, the Stroudwater Company re-purchased the canal, and it was re-watered as part of the Phase 1a lottery supported restoration project.
To the north-west of Oil Mills Bridge is the site of Ebley Saw Mill which provided much business for local canal traders. The mill processed tree trunks to produce large planks, smaller battens and round poles, and these provided welcome outward cargoes for boats that regularly made trips to the Midlands to collect coal. Most of the area has been developed for modern housing.
East of the saw mill was Ebley Ironworks which produced steam engines, other machines and special structures to order.
Opposite the site of Ebley ironworks stands Holly Tree House which was built c1800 with the main front facing south away from the canal.
For information on Hogg’s Mill, Ebley Saw Mill, Ebley Ironworks and Holly Tree House, see www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/glos/vol10.
Ebley Infill from D1180/acc12569/box 5/11.
