The Ruscombe valley and hamlet seen from Bread St.

I had a fine time this morning with Philip B., visiting him in his house perched on the side of the Ruscombe valley near Stroud. We try to meet very regularly to have delicious almond croissants (the Waitrose version being our choice), coffee and chat. 

We’ve continued this contact regularly since we first met many years ago to organise the annual Stroud Community TV Awards shown as part of the Stroud film Festival. Philip continues to make short films for local community groups but has ceased coordinating the Stroud Community TV website, which sadly didn’t survive new coordinators, when Philip had to move on.

When I left his house I drove further on up Bread Street, the lane that winds up and around the hamlet nestling at the top of the coombe where the springs emerge that are responsible for the formation of the valley. You can see where the settlement was originally formed just above the spring line at the top of the valley.

I stopped to grab a view of valley and managed to scramble to a point where I could see over the brambles and other wild shrubs clambering over the wooden fence. On the ridge at the top right of the image are the houses of Whiteshill built along the road that climbs from Stroud up to and along the Cotwold escarpment and then on down to Gloucester.