R. Townsend and Co
of Stratford Mill, Stroud also called the 'Royal Cake Mills'
See Richard Townsend and his sons Richard Woodruffe Townsend and William Townsend
1897 '"Vi-Grana," the patentees of which are the well-known firm of R. Townsend and Co., Ltd., of Stroud and Gloucester, may be briefly described as a combination of leguminous and cereal products, judiciously blended fur consumption by horses.'[1]
1903 Fire at R. Townsend and Co, Corn Merchants Stratford Mill.[2]
1908 Mill fire. 'Another big fire, one of the most disastrous of a series, occurred at Stroud early yesterday morning, when the stores and central building of the Royal Cake Mills, owned and occupied by Messrs R. Townsend and Co., Limited, corn merchants, oil cake, and soap manufacturers, and situate near the town, were totally demolished, together with valuable stock. The premises consisted of several buildings, all more or less in communication, the major part being used for the manufacture of oil-cake, whilst on either side are soap works.'[3]
1919 R. Townsend & Co., Ltd., Corn end Merchants, Cake Manufacturers, Stratford Mills, Stroud, Glos.[4]
1981 Fire at Stratford Mill, Stroud. . Production of animal feed at the mill by R. Townsend and Co Ltd part of the Rank Hovis McDougall Group was being maintained from a second plant.[5]