I am the great grandson of Octavious Underwood who was born on 19 October 1857 at Dursley. Searching information to add to the family tree at underwoodfamilytree dot com

Lots of interesting stuff on your site. Another relative, Orlando Underwood, lived at Woodmancote, Dursley on 1871 census so it was good to see your picture of Woodmancote on the site.

Larch Class (Year 2) are enjoying using the Virtual Tour to 'walk' around Dursley as part of their Geography topic.

Found this whilst browsing Dursley on the internet. I am a descendent of Jehoiada Morgan, 1784-1877, sometime missioner for the Tabernacle. Last visited the Tabernacle about 20 years ago.

I am interested in the old Draycott Mill also known as Brownings Mill I would like to know if there are any photos of it. Thanks, Keith Browning

Hi all,

I have some letters from my Great Grandfather to his father, written from 'Dursley School' in 1881.
Does anyone know if this school still exists, where it was/is and if there would be any records kept?
Many thanks

Trying to find a Great Grandfather of mine a James Smith Corkcutter might he be the James Smith of Cam/Dursley Tailor and later a Rope Maker who died in Dursley in 1866 aged 72 this James Smith was connected to the Harding Family Rope Makers of Dursley as Jane Smith a Daughter of this James married George Jabez Harding in 1856.
Any help would be most appreciated.

DURSLEY

Came to Dursley/Cam in 1971 and started at Woodfields Primary School. Did 7 years at Rednock and lived with my parents at 4 locations in Dursley & Cam, before heading to University then work in Cambridgeshire. Have great memories of my youth in Dursley and still have a few friends living there, even though I see very little of them nowadays

I am trying to find someone who remembers a family called Swallow who live on summerhayes, dursley during late 1950s to early 1960s they then moved to Australia

Hi what an interesting site .My husbands GGrandfather Joseph Wm Vizard was born in Dursley in 1846, it must have broken his heart to have to leave such a lovely place to come to Leeds to find work
Judith Varley

For many years we have been trying to find the origins of Joseph SURMAN born, c.1756, who became a Minister in Chesham, Bucks. Having failed, research has been undertaken on his Tutor, Cornelius Winter, a Methodist Preacher. From one of Cornelius's letters we have the following:- 'Mr. Surman, an excellent youth in humble life, always engaged my notice when I preached at Dursley; and I seldom left the congregation without exchanging a word with him; but as I hardly ever had time upon my hand, we did not abound in conversation. Being upon a visit in Gloucestershire, in the Midsummer of 1782, and having appointed on a Lord’s day to preach at Frampton, entering the court, I unexpectedly saw him'. Additional research: 'In 1910, a story about the closing of Christ Church in the Painswick newspaper spoke of Winter as a “very influential pastor at Christ Church”. As he had done at Marlborough, Winter established an Academy at Painswick, which operated from 1788 until his death'. Joseph Surman had 3 sons, Joseph, Cornelius and John. It is possible that Joseph's father was named either Joseph or John. Could the family have been non-conformists before Cornelius Winter's time? Has anyone else got a SURMAN in their family history? Any help greatly appreciated.

Hi I attended Dursley Grammar School 1956-1963 and would love to hear news of old school friends I am still in touch with, Susan Fisher, who also went to the Grammar School. Lots of happy memories of my school days.

Just came across this website. Lovely to read all the history.

Great site, really interesting.

Hello looking forward to contributing.

We were talking about the happy years we spent in Dursley and the many friends we made there. Then I found your site and I wanted to say how much pleasure it has given me to read the interesting articles and look at the photos on it. Dursley has somehow remained the same yet tried to keep up with the times without spoiling it. I think of all the places I have lived in England, Dursley is the one place I would call home.

I used to work in the Cotswold Care Charity Shop and spent many happy hours there and met some lovely people.
Thanks for the great memories and for the comprehensive and useful information given. Hopefully we can use it when we come to visit sometime.
Keep up the good work.

During the mid 1970/1980s there was a rather nice Pub/Restaurant in Long Street Dursley just down from Lister's Club. It was known for its Duck a l'Orange and it was the only place that us teenagers were able to do our 'courting'. The only thing is just recently we have been trying to remember the name of it. Can any one enlighten me?

Hello,
Terrific website. My mother and grandparents lived in Dursley from 1911 to the 1980s. Does anyone remember The Mercury Cafe in Cam? It was run I believe by Alice Edith Williams or Rhodes in the 1940s. Would love to know its actual location (road) and any history etc. Many thanks.

Hi, bit of a random question........does anyone remember the cafe/bakery called The Forge in Silver Street? I used to buy what they called Buttered Buns for myself & colleagues at Mawdsleys & have never found them anywhere else, anyone any ideas?

Very interesting website about the history of Dursley and surrounding areas. A lot of effort has gone into this website for its detail.

This part of The Cotswolds is beautiful and has a lot of interesting heritage as well as the nearby Gloucester & Sharpness Canal, Slimbridge Wetlands and more.