Historian uncovers quirky elements of Stroud including communists, bird mimic, anti-slavery, and elephant parade.
David Elder knows Stroud’s secrets. He is a historian and writer who loves finding overlooked stories. David spent years piecing together the past. His book, “Secret Stroud,” reveals a side of Stroud few know, full of Victorian communists and odd entertainers.
David Elder is not from Stroud, but he has a deep connection to the area. Born in the Wirral, he now lives in Cheltenham. Work first drew him to the Cotswolds. He now considers it home, having raised his family there and developed a love for its history.
His career focuses on untold lives. He finds mainstream historical narratives boring. “Secret Stroud” explores UK towns’ hidden pasts. David likes the unusual and unexpected stories, feeling they deserve attention, and they fuel his curiosity greatly.
“Secret Stroud” focuses on quirky elements through David’s research into unusual events in Stroud. He tells tales that history books often miss. Stroud had a small Communist colony and a performer imitated birds, building a career on these calls until people found out he was a fraud.
Signor Rossignol was a man in Stroud’s past. David recalls his interesting story fondly. He performed in the 1770s. Signor Rossignol mimicked birdsong perfectly and played a concert at the George Inn pub, wowing people by imitating a nightingale and playing a “concerto” without strings.
People initially applauded his performances loudly. Then, they uncovered the secret process of his extraordinary talent. He didn’t use his voice but hid an instrument in his mouth cleverly. Ultimately, the deception ruined his career, and he died in poverty.
“Secret Stroud” shares the town’s radical past. Stroud was a hub for activism. It fought slavery in the past and more recently runs environmental campaigns. The Anti-Slavery Arch, dating to 1834, stands as a testament to past protests.
Finding these stories needs work. David uses digital sources, researches local records and talks with historians and residents. Some stories came from persistence, while others were too sensitive to publish, requests he specifically respected.
He learned a trade secret in Stroud. People asked him not to include it, a restriction David respected. It showed how some things stay secret, and even to this day, secrecy still happens.
“Secret Stroud” has 100 illustrations that bring stories to life. There are photos, drawings, and museum objects. David even included an animation cell from a 1960s film and a photo showing circus elephants parading through Stroud in the 1950s.
David feels Stroud’s past shapes today. Old buildings have new uses. Some places feel haunted still. Lodgemore Lane is called “Murder Lane” from a crime in 1886. A duel in 1807 lives in memory through roads kept alive near the site.
Stroud was once very independent. The town had its own currency and was a hub for social movements. David thinks Stroud’s food habits are linked to history. Stroud may have been ahead of its time, and history shapes the town’s character.
David wants to keep uncovering stories. He is already writing two new books. One explores the Forest of Dean region, while the other highlights Cotswold women from the past and present who made significant contributions.
David hopes “Secret Stroud” changes perspectives. He hopes people learn about their town. Some stories may shock or amuse, but in the end, David hopes readers connect to Stroud, and its unique history is fascinating, anyway.