Donkey Delivery

Donkey Delivery in Chalford – Circa 1901 Life in the steep stone lanes of Gloucestershire’s hidden valley

This evocative image, taken around 1901, captures a quiet street scene in Chalford, a picturesque village in the Stroud district of Gloucestershire. A man leads a donkey laden with baskets—part of a long tradition of using pack animals to navigate the village’s steep, narrow lanes, which were often impassable to carts and carriages.

Set along the Golden Valley, Chalford was once a thriving centre for wool and cloth production, and this peaceful photo reflects the blend of rural charm and industrious spirit that defined the area. Stone cottages cling to the hillside, and the winding road hints at the physical effort once required to deliver goods from door to door.

🗓️ Did you know? In the early 1900s, donkeys were still used in Chalford to deliver groceries, bread, and coal—some say the tradition lasted well into the 1950s!

📍 Chalford, Stroud District, Gloucestershire, England 📷 Photograph circa 1901

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