The canal south of Framilode Bridge passed a number of houses.
The houses immediately south of Framilode Bridge were built by the owner of nearby Framilode Mill which made tin-plate in the early nineteenth century. Later, many of the houses were occupied watermen who crewed the barges that worked on the canal and the river.
The houses were not allowed to have windows overlooking the towpath until 1950 when the Stroudwater Company did give permission to two owners who paid a small fee.
Well placed to serve the local community of watermen, this beerhouse was established by 1841 and came under the ownership of Stroud Brewery in the 1880s. Such was the demand that the next door building was also a beer house owned by rival Cainscross Brewery until it closed in 1905.
The image includes Harry Rudge who was the licencee from 1905 to 1938.
Across the canal is Burnt House Farm which replaced an earlier farm house nearby that burned down.
Near to Saul Bridge was a coal yard, run for many years by Frank Cookley. Initially he collected the coal from the Midlands in his own boat, but in later years it came by road.
The Cookley family had a parrot who imitated the call of the paper-man who delivered the morning paper. When provoked by local children, the bird liked to screech ‘Paper, Mrs. Cookley!’.
Permission for windows overlooking the towpath from D1180/8/25.
Beer house dates from 1841 census and Petty Sessions records for Wheatenhurst.
Parrot story remembered by former local resident Mrs Pam Daw.
