Where in Stroud was Tower Hill??

[BagpussBee]

Hi peeps,

I've come across this several times on the censuses and as a Stroudie I'm pretty sure that this name has been changed/or the road no longer exists. I've just had a look on the 1911 census (woo hoo!) and found an ancester who lived at 60 Tower Hill.

Anyone know where this is/was???

Cheers
Bee

[LizzieW]

I lived in Stroud for about 10 years and couldn't remember Tower Hill either, but from British History Online, www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=19059,  I found the following:

"The town of Stroud grew up on the road from Paganhill to Bisley where it climbs the end of the spur above the junction of the Frome and Slad valleys. The church was built north of the road where, known as High Street, it runs steeply up to the place called the Cross; at the Cross the road forked, one branch continuing towards Bisley by way of Hill Street (formerly known in its western end as Tower Hill and its eastern as Silver Street) and Parliament Street, and the other branch leading by way of Nelson Street, Castle Street, and Lower Street to Bowbridge Lane and the old road to Thrupp and Chalford".

I did wonder if that's where it was, Bisley Road and Bisley Old Road had crossed my mind for some reason.

Lizzie

[BagpussBee]

Oh thanks Lizzie, that's brilliant

I can work out roughly where that is!....

Do you think roughly where the police station is now? Possibly the steepest hill in Stroud, I would say!
Thanks again,
Bee

[LizzieW]

Bee

I left Stroud about 1984 so trying hard to think about the place.  Do you remember a laundrette on a corner between 2 roads at the top of the High Street?  That was The Cross.  Tower Hill must have been the road to the left of it, (in 1979 it was called Hill Street) which led to the police station - I don't know if there is an new one now, or if the local Stroudians call the only one I knew as the "New" police station.  On the map (mentioned below), it shows where the police station used to be in 1979, so I guess the one I knew is the "New" one! Hill Street, then led on to Parliament Street (where the Playhouse is - or was) and then on to Bisley Old Road.

If you go to the web page I gave you and scroll nearly to the bottom, there is a map from 1979, which gives you some idea.  It is a small map, but I right clicked on it and then chose "Open in New Window" and voila, a new window opened with an enlarged map.   I then just clicked on the new window and that enlarged the photograph again (I  have Vista, so I don't know if that works on your system). 

Lizzie

ps.  The road to the right of The Cross is Nelson Street

[BagpussBee]

Hi Lizzie,
I now live in Gloucester since 2002, I do remember the laundrette - not sure if it's still there or perhaps it's an amusement arcade.. that seems to ring a bell. The road to the left of that is where the Police Station is, which I've never heard as as being referred to the 'new' police station because now it's one of the biggest eyesores in Stroud!...being of a nice 70/80s design...!
The Playhouse, you'll be pleased to know, is still there and going strong.
Incidentally if you get to the cross and turn right down the hill, I would say that area has changed beyond all recognition, with the farmer's market area, I think there used to be a carpark there and I also remember a proper old fashioned tea shop on the corner. Well that 'corner' isn't even there anymore.
Well, sorry I digress. I think we have found the right area for Tower Hill.
Thanks very much!

[LizzieW]

Hi Bee

I don't know why I said "new" police station.  You had written

where the police station is now

Yes I seem to remember the laundrette did change to an amusement arcade.  We last went to Stroud and the top end of it to register my mother's death in 2007.  The registrars office is in the school building up near the Playhouse.  I can't remember the name of the school, as my children went to Church Street School, which has probably changed its name by now.

Lizzie

[StintonLomas]

Hi
Old maps http://www.old-maps.co.uk/indexmappage2.aspx
Definitely shows it as Tower Hill on the 1924 Gloucestershire 1:10650 scale, between High St and Parliament St.

[BagpussBee]

Brilliant! Thanks Stinton and everyone else for your help!
 

[anitamo]

Hello Bagpuss, sorry I have only just seen your entry, I too have relatives who lived on Tower Hill and last year I went to Stroud (I live in Sheffield) To see if I could find places where my ancestors lived. I went in the visitors centre and they couldn't help me and eventually found the info in a bookshop. I bought a book about Stroud and it had some wonderful pictures of Tower Hill. This is a picture of all that remains of Tower Hill