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Did you know....that between the 1840s and the 1960s, the manufacture of walking sticks, and umbrella and parasol handles played an important part in the economy of this area! A wide variety of decorative sticks were made and exported around the world. The Stroud valleys were rich in beech woods and other materials which could be used for sticks. The long slow decline of the woollen industry meant that there was no shortage of labour and redundant mills to accommodate the growth of stick making. By the 1960s, more than 20 mills in the Stroud area had been used for stick production. However, from the 1920s, walking sticks and parasols became less fashionable and the industry slowly declined. From January 2016, this website is managed by Stroud Local |
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