William Charles Grist, described as a Flock Manufacturer, was buried in Stroud Cemetery, on the 8th September 1899. In 1867 he was a member of the Board of Health and in 1870 his address is given as Lewiston Villa, Brimscombe.  The Grist family had been involved in flock manufacture since 1856 when Mrs Elizabeth Grist Sons & Co occupied Capel’s Mill where they produced mattress wool and mill-puff and manufactured mattresses. They also carried on a similar business at Gussage and Lewiston Mills. At an International Exhibition in 1862, local awards were made to Grist, Sons & Co, Brimscombe for superior flock and shoddy. By the mid 1860′s Bourne Mill was occupied by Richard Grist, sons & Co, mattress-wool, mill-puff and shoddy makers.  In 1879, William Charles Grist was using Iles Mill as a flock and shoddy mill.   In 1920 the “Gloucestershire Guide” advertised:-

“Mathew Grist, Woodchester, Stroud, Flock Manufacturer established 100 years ago.

Four generations in the business with a son qualifying to be the fifth generation.

Millpufs for beds — Flock Mill, Merretts Mill”

 From the Stroud Local History Society