Stroud and the Five Valleys are well known – but which are the five valleys?

P H Fisher in Notes and Recollections of Stroud (1871), says they are:

The vales of

• Cuckold’s Brook = Ozle or Ozel Brook = Woosley’s Brook = Ruscombe Brook, which  joins the Frome at Dudbridge

 

• Painswick – Painswick Stream joins the Frome at Lodgemore

 

• Slad and Steanbridge – Slad Brook joins the Frome at Wallbridge

 

• Stroud and Chalford – River Frome

 

• Rodborough, Woodchester and Nailsworth – Nailsworth Stream joins the Frome at Dudbridge

These are separated by the hills of

• Whiteshill; Wickeridge Hill; Stroud Hill; Rodborough Hill

The Frome rises at Climperwell, Brimsfield; after about 14 miles it reaches Stroud; then flows via the Vale of Stonehouse and after 8 miles it falls into the River Severn at Framilode