Dudbridge & Dudbridge Station

1935 aerial view of the Dudbridge Hill estate.
Dudbridge Hill. The Police car registration dates from 1987. Also of note is the man on the roof and the apparent lack of any safety precautions!

In the 1990s significant development took place in Dudbridge

Dudbridge, opposite Redlers 1990
Probably late 1980s. The white building was the former Bridge Inn, on the right had been Sandling’s basket makers and the smaller front buildings later a ‘corner shop’ run by the Peaceys.
The former Sandling’s basket makers.

Sainsbury’s development 1990s

And in the middle of the Sainsbury’s site an elderly lady and a mill stood firm.

Kimmin’s Mill 1920s
Kimmin’s Mill during the construction of Sainsbury’s

 

The indomitable Eileen Halliday aged 79 in 1997, when she stood against Sainsbury’s attempt to demolish her cottage in Meadow lane Dudbridge to construct their car park. Copyright of Gloucestershire Gazette

Click here – Eileen Halliday – Daily Mail 7th March 1997

The cottage named Kimmin’s Mill View, was demolished for the construction of Sainsbury’s car park. Possibly part of Park View Cottages
Plan of the proposed Sainsbury’s site.

Dudbridge Station and the Stroud branch line

In 1885 a short Midland Railway branch line from Dudbridge to Stroud was opened, initially as a goods line. The line carried passengers from 1886 when a second platform was built. It became part of the London Midland and Scottish Railway in 1923. The passenger trains became known as the Dudbridge Donkey. The line ran to a station known as Stroud Wallgate or Cheapside.

Passenger services were suspended as a fuel economy in 1947 and officially withdrawn on 8th June 1949.The Line remained open to for goods traffic until 1966.

The Midland Railway’s Branch line to Stroud -Mike SmithDownload

Dudbridge Railway Station

Opened as “Dudbridge Junction for Stroud” in 1867 on the line from Stonehouse to Nailsworth. It lasted for 99 years as a station, but the house remained occupied until 1974 and was demolished in the late 70s.

Dudbridge station staff and historyDownload

Much of the line was converted to a cycle path that opened in 1983. The work was done under the Manpower Services Commission Job Creation Programme.