A statue of a former Stroud MP has been been daubed with blue paint.
Vandals spray-painted the face of George Holloways statue, which stands outside Stroud House in Rowcroft.
Mr Holloway served as Stroud’s Conservative MP from 1886 to 1892 and was regarded as a great benefactor to the town.
A clothing manufacturer, he was once the largest employer in Stroud. George with his brother Henry arrived in Stroud in 1849 and, in conjunction with Mathew Crowe, ran a clothing wholesale manufacturing business at 60/61 High Street, Stroud – the business later moved to Threadneedle Street where the new, revolutionary steam-powered sewing machine was introduced.
The business continued to prosper with branches in London, Liverpool and Bristol and in 1920, a very well fitted new factory was built at Brickrow in Stroud.
He was a J.P., and the man, who brought sewing machines and ready-to-wear clothing to England. The original Holloway Friendly Society Limited was founded in 1875 by Holloway and was the first to offer disability insurance in the UK.
More to follow
