Stroud

Stroud, town, Gloucestershire, western England. Stroud is a historic market town situated in the Cotswold Hills about 15 km (9 mi) south of Gloucester, on the River Frome, and at the meeting point of five valleys. It was a leading centre of the English woollen trade between the 14th and 18th centuries, and the site of a large wool market. Although cattle and mixed farming have generally replaced sheep on the surrounding hills, Stroud is still the main market and service centre for the locality, and has retained links with the cloth trade. It is the source of much of the world's green baize for billiard tables, and still also produces material for military uniforms, and distinctive scarlet dyes; in the past “Stroud Water Scarlet” was one of the most important military uniform cloths. Other industries include food processing, and the manufacture of pianos, plastics, fibreboard, furniture, and electronic and oil-drilling equipment. Tourism is also important. There is a notable Roman pavement at Woodchester nearby. Population 107,899 (2001).