Bream, Gloucestershire
Coordinates: 51°45′00″N 2°35′00″W / 51.75°N 2.583333°W
| Bream | |
 Bream
Bream shown within Gloucestershire |
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| OS grid reference | SO5973505912 |
|---|---|
| Unitary authority | Gloucester |
| Ceremonial county | Gloucestershire |
| Region | South West |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | LYDNEY |
| Postcode district | GL15 |
| Dialling code | 01594 |
| Police | Gloucestershire |
| Fire | Gloucestershire |
| Ambulance | Great Western |
| EU Parliament | South West England |
| List of places: UK • England • Gloucestershire | |
Bream (historically known as Breem) is a village in the Forest of Dean, west Gloucestershire, England.
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[edit] History
The actual age of Bream is not known, although there may have been a settlement before the Romans came to Britain. Iron ore was being mined here by Celts before the Romans came so the miners may have built shelters on the present site of the village.
The first dwellings in Bream were recorded in 1452.[1] In 1505, the St. James' church, Bream or St. James chapel as it was then known, was built. In 1712, the population of Bream was 300.
In 1822, the church was reconstructed.[1][2]
Today the population of the village has grown to over 3,000, with new houses that have been built in the last thirty years.[3]
The main employment in the village in the past was coal mining, farming, and forestry. Today with the mines closed, there is very little employment now in the village, although there are three garages and several shops. Bream is one of the largest villages in the Forest of Dean District with a population of 2,600 in January 2000. It is just one of a number of settlements which make up the Forest Ring of settlements on the fringes of the statutory Royal Forest. Positioned on the southern edge of the forest core between the towns of Lydney and Coleford, the village is set on a ridge of high ground, falling away on three sides.[3]
[edit] Population
Bream is one of the largest villages within the Forest of Dean, having a population in 2008 of 3,000.[3]
[edit] Shops, services and amenities
Bream has shops and services.[4]
- General shops are a farm and pet supplies store, an arts and crafts store, motoring parts shop, florist, general DIY/gardening store, convenience store, furniture shop, butchers shop, newsagents, pharmacy, hairdressing and beauty salon and a pet grooming salon,
- Eating places are a fish and chips shop, take away and a Chinese takeaway.
- Services are a post office, website designer [1], two public houses, two mechanic garages, library, village hall, car sales and filling station, stonemason and a funeral director,
- There is a Church of England primary school,
- There are also a few pubs and bed and breakfasts. The most notable bed and breakfast being Lindum House.
[edit] Sport
Bream has a rugby union team with rugby pitches and members bar, and a cricket club with pitches and members bar.
[edit] Notable residents
- Warren James (1792–1841) - Miners' leader who led the Foresters to action against the Crown, in 1831. Lived in Bream.
- Wayne Barnes (born 1979) - International rugby union referee. Lived in Bream and played for Bream Rugby Club.
- William "Billy" Stone - Former professional rugby league footballer of the 1920s who played for Great Britain, England, and Hull Kingston Rovers. Lived in Bream.[citation needed]
[edit] References
[edit] External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Bream, Gloucestershire |
