Eastington Then and Now

Eastington hasn't changed that much.
This 1897 finger-post combined with a drinking fountain was installed in celebration of the Queen's Jubilee. This view is from the 1960s and is looking in the direction of Claypits.

From G1681

The only change is that there has been an attempt to landscape the roundabout and the road furniture is uglier.

From blogpics

The Stonehouse direction shows this quiet scene with an Austin 1100 parked outside the Co-Op. The south facing shop window has an awning that could have been used for shade.

From G1681

Modern shop design dictates that windows must be obscured. One window is full of graphics and the other has been completely filled in with cement. Natural daylight must be replaced by ranks of fluorescent light. A satellite dish is attached and a number of black pipes carry heat from the chiller units to the outside. All the delivery trolleys and bread containers stand in an untidy collection outside. Bollards in front of the shop stop cars from driving right up to the door. The fingerpost has had the Frocester finger replaced and the design appears to match the other finger exactly.

From blogpics

Stroud Then and Now

This is the School of Art and Science with a building site in the foreground.

From G2121

Today the Lockinghill Surgery occupies the building lot and like many other locations the trees have been left to grow. Cars occupy any space they can find.

From blogpics

Stroud Then and Now

These images are from winter 1975 and judging by the light, a chilly lunchtime picture. This building is in two parts, the right was initially Rev. John Williams' house then converted to a police station in 1858 and the left was the court. By 1969 the police and court had moved out. The shadow cast across the centre bay window was cast by a building at the end of Gloucester Street that no longer exists. The junction was controlled by traffic lights.

From G2001

Today the junction is a roundabout and the ugly street furniture has been moved away from the face of the building. There is plenty more street clutter and street markings making the place ugly and the pedestrian bridge casts a shadow in the foreground. The police have moved up the hill and away from the town centre troublespots and the building is now divided into private offices. However it doesn't stop Reliance Security from trying to deliver prisoners.

From blogpics

The "Petty Sessional Court" is proudly proclaimed in carved stone lettering.

From G2001

The lettering has now been chipped off the court and a chimney is missing. While the police station is Grade 2 listed building the court building is not.

From blogpics

Looking from a different angle down from Beeches Green, people head to town in thick winter coats.

From G2001

Trees and roads have encroached. The building on the corner has vanished. The traffic makes it very difficult to capture a shot from this location.

From blogpics

Stroud Then and Now

The Then and Now collection goes to more mundane locations.
Lansdown Road early morning

From Stroud and Stonehouse to Saul old photo tour

Lansdown Road made ugly with cars

From blogpics

The Milepost at Cainscross has a green field behind it.

From Stroud and Stonehouse to Saul old photo tour

Not so pretty these days with the neck shorter by a few inches. And the ghastly backdrop of Tricorn House. What were they thinking in the 1970s? And late news in November 2009!!! The government has blocked the compulsory purchase of Tricorn House. Which elected numbskull blocked that? I'm pretty sure that it isn't anyone who has ever seen it because it needs to go as soon as possible.

From blogpics

Marling had an open air pool and it was steaming in the early morning chill. Rodborough can be glimpsed behind the row of trees.

From Stroud and Stonehouse to Saul old photo tour

The same scene thoroughly modernised and uglified.

From blogpics

Finally we get to Ebley Mill with a bleakly industrial black chimney

From Stroud and Stonehouse to Saul old photo tour

Nowadays much prettier and sporting a new flared chimney top. Although this view is very nice, the rest of the area still looks like a bomb site.

From blogpics

Aust Cliff

Things I found at Aust Cliff:
Lower Lias embedded with pyrite crystals

From blogpics

A tiny echinoid in the Lower Lias

From blogpics

The stumps of an old pier

From blogpics

And Tammy at the Severn Bridge viewpoint

From blogpics

Then and Now Continued

This is the view about a mile out of Sharpness dock.

From blogpics

Back in 1968 it looked a little different.

From Severn Railway Bridge and Purton

Ebley Mill in the evening sun with the foreground blocked off by a builders screen. This might be the last opportunity to get this viewpoint because it looks like something big is going to be built.

From blogpics

And this is the same view in the mid 1960s showing a lot of rubble in the foreground Notice that the chimney used to be black and without the flare at the top.

From Box-G3

Finally here is Wallbridge. All accounts that I see call this the bottling plant even though it looks more like an Oast house. Today all that remains is some of the wall.

From blogpics

But in the 1960s it looked a lot more interesting.

From Box-G3

Then and Now extravaganza

We went out and spent the day following Peter Coleman's steps, or more accurately cycle tyre treads.
First was the railway bridge at Bristol Road, Stonehouse. This is what it looks like,

From blogpics

and this is forty years ago,

From G1681

The Severn Bridge nowadays has a road deck, bright white superstructure and dark brown concrete.

From blogpics

But when it was being built it had dull superstructure and bright concrete, oh and no road deck yet but a mini railway instead.

From Box-G1

This is Harriet and Dursley in high marshy grass.

From blogpics

And this is in 1967

From Severn Railway Bridge and Purton