Walk with a difference January 2002

Home Walks photos Archive 2002	We were led on a day walk with a difference to be sure. Our leaders, Michael and Ann, had chosen to move to Stroud because of the proximity of good croquet facilities in Rodborough and Cheltenham, and of course the excellent walking in the district. After they had settled in, Michael looked through some old papers left by his father, and discovered that he had many Stroud ancestors in the Stanton family in the 19th century. Three generations of Stantons were prominent in the woollen cloth industry, and other members of the family were well known in the church, the law, in Parliament and in the arts. (A sequence of 12 photographs)
	1. After viewing some Stanton graves behind Stroud Parish Church, we climbed to St Alban's church, which is a memorial to the Rev A H Stanton, whose working life had been spent as a curate at St Alban's, Holborn in London.
	2. Michael points out the foundation stone of St Alban's Church, Stroud, laid by Arthur Stanton's sister Miss E R Stanton a few months before her death in 1915.
	3. In Stroud Cemetery, Michael showed us the grave of Charles Stanton, his wife Martha, sister-in-law Mary Holbrow, and of his unmarried children Charles H Stanton and Catherine Stanton. Below that grave is the grave of Walter Stanton and some of his family.
	4. At Stroud Cemetery, Michael pointed out the surviving chimney of Stafford's Mill, at Thrupp in the valley below, which had been owned by his great great great grandfather William Stanton.
	5. We then walked across country to Thrupp passing the Stanton home called "The Thrupp", then near Stafford's Mill and on to Stanton's Bridge, which was built over the Thames and Severn Canal to enable workers from Rodborough to reach the mill. Here we had a coffee break and posed for a group photo.
	6. As well as investigating the Stanton family history, we were undertaking an 11 mile walk. Here we are crossing Rodborough Common, between the two homes of Charles Stanton at Bownham and Upfield.
	7. From Rodborough there were clear views of Woodchester village. We went down to the King's Head at Kingscourt for a pleasant pub lunch. Afterwards we walked along the old railway to Dudbridge and on to Paganhill.
	8. Upfield House, Paganhill, home of Charles Stanton, where Rev A H Stanton was born and died. Up until recently the house has been used as a school - an ex-pupil was among the walkers!
	9. Michael and Ann in Whiteshill Church, where there is a memorial to A W Stanton, and murals painted by twin sisters Emily Rose and Rose Emily Stanton, which the walkers are examining.
	10. One of the murals of the apostles in Whiteshill church by the twin artists.
	11. Michael by the twins' grave in the churchyard at Whiteshill. A H Stanton is also remembered by an inscription on this grave.
	12. Finally we passed Stratford Lodge, the last home of Walter Stanton, MP. This house was later Nelson's School and is now a Premier Lodge hotel. From there we returned to the car park in Merrywalks to finish our walk with a difference.