Bagpath Bridge

The Stroudwater Canal from Framilode Lock at the River Severn to Wallbridge Wharf ("Stroudwater") was completed in 1779. It replaced an earlier and less well-known navigation called the Kemmett Canal, which used sections of the River Frome.

The Stroudwater Canal passes through the parish of Eastington where Edwin Beard Budding was christened in 1796.

Mills and industry were already established in the area during Budding's childhood. The canals were the motorways of their day and helped to accelerate the growth in the textile and other industries.

The Thames and Severn Canal was completed from the Thames near Lechlade to Stroudwater Junction at Wallbridge in 1789. 

The canal ran down the Frome Valley, next to the River and Thrupp Mill where John Ferrabee started to lease the complete site in 1828 and where Edwin Budding had been making Pepperbox Pistols.

By the time John Ferrabee's father, Edward Ferrabee (or Veriby) was at Thrupp by 1792, the canal was creating a link between the Severn and the Thames.

John Ferrabee is known to have improved the efficiency of the by then "old" beam engine at Thames Head on the Thames & Severn Canal Navigation.

Bagpath Bridge over the Thames & Severn Canal is certainly an original bridge, so without doubt Edwin Budding would have crossed this many times when walking from Uley or Minchinhampton.

Later, when the railway arrived, the Ferrabees sold some land to the railway company.