This is one of several fields in the Parish which has the word 'Rack'
in it name. Each one was associated with one of the cloth mills
and would have been where the cloth drying racks (or tenter frames) stood
for that mill. This on is just off South Street at grid reference
ST 791 982.
After fulling the cloth had to be both dried and carefully stretched back
to a standard size after the shrinkage during fulling. The edges
of the cloths (known as the lists) were pulled over small sharp iron hooks
set in the upper and lower wooden rails of the racks. These hooks were
known as tenterhooks. They have given rise to the saying 'to be on
tenterhooks' when one is being stressed.
We know from paintings in Stroud Museum what a colourful sight the dyed
cloth made when it was stretched out on the tenter frames.
© GSIA