The canal between Ryeford Double Lock and Ebley Oil Mill has seen great changes in recent years.
The land south-east of Double Lock has been bought by the Canal Trust to provide a large area suitable for storing silt dredged from the canal. Recent research has shown that the field also served that purpose at times during the working days of the canal.
The meadow is named after James Hogg who had a small mill in the early nineteenth century powered by a separate stream of the river. In those days the land fell away steeply below the canal, but that all changed after it was used as a huge tip for household rubbish in the late twentieth century.
The lack of trees allows a fine view from the towpath across the valley to the high ridge of Selsley Common and a glimpse of Selsley Church.
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 the canal 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. This has encouraged residents of the houses along Ebley Road to establish summer houses, boating facilities and other leisure amenities in their back gardens.
To the 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.
The mill owner’s stone house survives at the top of the site, but the rest of the area has been redeveloped 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.
