Chalford, Gloucestershire

Description
Chalford, a tithing, a village, and an ecclesiastical parish in Bisley parish, Gloucestershire, on the river Chale and the Thames and Severn Canal, 1 1/2 mile E by N of Brimscombe station on the G.W.R., and 3^ ESE of Stroud. There is a post, money order, and telegraph office under Stroud. The ecclesiastical parish was constituted in 1842; population, 2377. Much of the surface is a picturesque reach of valley, called Chalford Bottom. There was formerly a manufacture of broad cloth by the hand-loom, and the first clothing-mill is said to have been erected here. There is now a large manufactory of walking sticks and umbrella sticks, and also cloth, flock, and shoddy mills. There are traces of Roman encampments, and coins, &c., have been found. Friar Bacon is said to have been born at Chalford. The living is a vicarage in the diocese of Gloucester and Bristol; net value, £120 with residence. Patron, the Archdeacon of Gloucester. The church was built in 1724, and enlarged in 1841. There are Congregational, Baptist, Wesleyan, and Primitive Methodist chapels.