Foundry at Thrupp

When the family first went to the Thrupp Mill, as the Phoenix was than called, there is no record. There were two mills, both working on the same fall, one being some 90 to 100 above the other. There in an indenture of lease and release dated 1793 concerning some cottages at Thrupp between William Hamilton and Edward Vereby. On his tomb in the Old Meeting Graveyard at Stroud Edward is described as 'Of Thrupp', that was in 1829. The following year we find John, his son, entering into an agreement with Edwin Beard Budding, to exploit the latter's well-known lawn mower and binding himself to the extent of £1,000 to keep his part of the agreement. The business must therefore have been well established by that time. John, when registering the birth of his first-born (William), in 1816, describes himself as Millwright of the Thrupp. Now where did they live in the Thrupp? On the right of the lane running down from the Stroud-Brimscombe road are three tenements: first, the Phoenix Home, then an old cottage, between it and Thrupp Church, which the Ferrabees used as a laundry, and another cottage abutting on to the lane, which your Father will remember was used as an office by old George.