Bream timeline
| Date | Event | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 1462 | 5 or more dwellings recorded in Bream | |
| 1505 | St James Chapel of ease recorded | |
| 1520 | Oakwood Mill recorded | as a corn mill |
| 1608 | 20 Bream men mentioned in 'Men and Armour' by Smith or Smyth | including Thomas Dowinge yeoman |
| 1618 | St James Chapel seated by Thomas Donning | In private ownership, refered to as Castle Hay |
| 1637 | First house recorded at Maypole | later to become New Inn |
| 16?? | Bream Court Farm | |
| 16?? | Pastors Hill Farm | |
| 1671 | Thomas Byrkin farming at Bream Cross Farm | |
| 1712 | Number of children being taught in Bream, 23 Population of Bream, 300 |
|
| 1729 | House recorded on Sun Tump. The Rising Sun Inn has this date on a stone in the wall. | later to become Rising Sun |
| 1787 | Rising Sun Inn recorded | |
| 1791 | Thomas Batten appointed Chapel Clerk and Sexton of St James Chapel | His wife Elizabeth was teaching 12 scholars. |
| 1792 | Cross Keys Inn recorded | at Maypole |
| 1814 | New Inn recorded | |
| 1818 | Rev Henry Poole appointed minister of St James Chapel at Bream | for Coleford and Bream |
| 1822 | St James Chapel re-building began | Rev. Henry Poole |
| 1824 | Oakwood Mill Deep Level driven. | by David Mushet |
| c1825 | Chapel clerk of Bream teaching 12 children | |
| 1826 | St James Church and churchyard consecrated | 13th October |
| 1826 | Oakwood Tramroad built by David Mushet | Parkend to Oakwood Land Level |
| 1828 | Bream to Parkend road built | probable date of Pike House |
| 1830 | School near Bream Tufts - Number of Children, 65 | est. by Rev. Henry Poole |
| 1831 | Warren James of Pastors Hill in revolt against enclosure of common land | He was subsequently caught,tried and deported to Australia. |
| 1833 | St James Church - George Batten made Parish Clerk and Sexton. | George Batten suceeded his father Thomas Batten |
| 1835 | Oakwood Mill Deep Level and Oakwood Mill Land Level Iron Mines shown on Sopwith's map. | |
| 1841 | Bream Schoolmaster William Webb age 35 Thomas Brace age 55 miller at Oakwood Mill William Smith age 45 Innkeeper Bream's Tump |
|
| 1844 | Oakwood Chemical Works in operation | opened by George Skipp |
| 1847 | No of children at Tufts school, 80 | |
| 1847 | St James Church - Thomas Batten made Parish Clerk and Sexton | Thomas Batten suceeded his father George Batten |
| 1851 | Tradesmen in Bream : Blacksmiths, 4 Shoemakers, 6 Carpenters, 2 Grocers, 2 |
|
| 1851 | Parkend Road Chapel built | Bible Christians |
| 1852 | Oakwood Foundry - date on keystone | found in 1999 by Alan Remnant |
| 1854 | St James Church - Bream made a separate parish (from Newland). John Baverstock made first vicar of Bream | Rev. John Baverstock |
| 1854 | Roman coins found in Devils Chapel. Sir James Campbell Bart, Deputy Surveyor |
dated 98-120 AD |
| 1854 | Oakwood Chemical Works new owner | Isaiah Trotter of Coleford |
| 1855 | Oakwood Tramroad extended to China Engine | by James and Greenham |
| 1856 | Bromley Hill Furnace opened by Ebbw Vale Steel & Iron Works | Iron Mines nearby |
| c.1857 | "Bream Sampler" produced by Frances Wildin | |
| 1858 | Bream's Eaves chapel built | Primitive Methodist |
| 1858 | St James Church - Rev. John Baverstock succeeded by Rev. Cornelius Witherby | Rev. Cornelius Witherby |
| 1859 | Bream to Yorkley road built | |
| 1860 | Bream Woodside Chapel in use | by Wesleyans |
| 1861 | St James Church - further alterations - Miss Alice Davies benefactor.Glebe House built. | Alice Davies was sister of deputy surveyor Edward Machen |
| 1861 | National School built | |
| 1862 | Tufts school moved to Bream's Eaves - 3 depts. junior boys, junior girls, infants | National School at what is now called Bream Schools |
| 1863 | Richard Heighway recorded as postmaster | |
| 1865 | National School depts run as separate schools Bream Cottage Garden Society formed. First annual Flower Show at Colliers Beach |
junior boys, girls infants patron Sir James Campbell |
| 1867 | First "Bream Magazine" later known as S. James Parish Magazine | |
| 1868 | St James Church - Rev. Cornelius Witherby succeeded by Rev J. F. Gosling | Rev J. F. Gosling |
| 1869 |
Two Swans pub recorded Flour Mill Colliery opened |
|
| 1871 | Census - population of Bream,907 | |
| 1874 | Timothy Mountjoy addresses miners meeting | at the New Inn |
| 1877 | Bromley Hill Furnace no longer in use Bream Cricket Club mentioned in a match report. |
|
| 1878 | Bream Rugby Football club founded | |
| 1879 | National School - No of pupils, 300 Pillar box erected Feb 11th |
very severe winter |
| 1880 | Maypole shown on OS map. | |
| 1882 | Death of Rev. J.F. Gosling, Vicar of St James | October 16th |
| 1883 | St James Church - west stained glass window inserted in memory of Rev. J.F. Gosling.
Bream Maypole mentioned |
New Vicar appointed : Rev. Edward Dandy |
| 1885 | Census - population of Bream, 2013 |
|
| 1885 | China Engine and Princess Louise pits closed | Oakwood valley |
| 1887 | Baptisms, 30 Marriages, 3 Burials, 31 |
St James Church Parish Magazine No 161 |
| 1887 | Bream S. James Cricket Club | First Season |
| 1887 | Sun Green was given to the people of the village for their recreation. | |
| 1888 | Bream Pike House ceased collecting tolls Sir James Campbell Bart elected president of S.James Cricket Club, Rev. Dandy captain |
turnpike trust abolished |
| 1888 | National School, junior schools merged | Infants still separate |
| 1889 | Average attendance at school, 176 | |
| 1891 | S. James porch moved to it's present position | |
| c1892 | Iron mining ceased in Oakwood valley. | |
| 1893 | National School enlarged | located at Bream Schools |
| 1896 | St James Church - Rev. Edward Dandy succeeded by Rev. Ernest F. Eales | New Vicar : Rev. E..F. Eales |
| 1897 | Albert J Batten listed as postmaster No of pupils in National School, 300 Bream Brass Band mentioned |
Mr W.F. Mullan, Master, Miss Brain (infants) Leader Mr J Bevan |
| 1900 | National School enlarged | |
| 1900 | Oakwood Chemical Works closed | last owner was Thomas Newcomen |
| 1901 | Census - population of Bream, 2,429 | |
| 1902 | St James Church - Rev. Ernest F. Eales succeeded by Rev. George William Leonard Cass, B.A. | New Vicar : Rev. George William Leonard Cass |
| 1904 | National school overcrowded- No of pupils, 382 | |
| 1904 | Princess Royal Colliery - first shaft sunk | depth 140 yards(136 metres) |
| 1905 | Bream Silver Band founded ? | |
| 1906 | Flour Mill colliery became part of Princess Royal | |
| 1905 | Temporary infants school opened in Primitive Methodists schoolroom. | Bream's Eaves chapel. |
| 1907 | Bream Infants School opened | opposite Bream C. of E. school (formerly National) |
| 1908 | Village Institute moved to present position, - later to be called Bream Sports Club. | |
| 1909 | Construction of Co-op and Knockley Cottages | |
| 1910 | Infants School renamed Council School, 153 Bream C. of E. School , 311 |
average attendances |
| 1911 | Census - population of Bream, 2,524 | |
| 1912 | Council School enlarged | |
| 1919 | St James Church re-seated between 1902-1919. Rev. George W. L. Cass. | Rev. George W. L. Cass |
| c1920 | Aeroplane lands in field next to Bream Avenue | |
| 1920's | Electricity and Mains Water arrive | not all could afford them |
| 1921 | Cenotaph built | |
| 1922 | Princess Royal - no of men employed, 1,138 | |
| c1922 | Letherens of Lydney opened first bus service using a small Ford driven by Mr Bert Savoury | Cinderford, Coleford, Bream, Lydney |
| 1923 | 16 council houses built along Highbury rd. (sometimes called "Piano Street") | opposite Bream Auto Store |
| 1925 | Maypole removed - cut off at ground level | 7th November |
| 1927 | Miners Welfare Hall built | |
| 1927 | Council school enlarged and re-organised to take junior girls and infants | Junior boys left in the Bream C. of E. school |
| 1928 | Flour Mill Colliery - coal extraction ceased | |
| 1929 | Stan Miles opens his hardware store at Bream Woodside. | |
| 1931 | Census - population of Bream, 2,649 | |
| 1938 | Council School and C.of E. attendance, 367 | |
| 1938 | Fire destroys Bream Welfare Cinema | |
| 1939 | Miners Welfare Cinema becomes Bream Cinema | Films cease in mid 1950's |
| 1941 | May 1st, 6 German bombs dropped at the Tufts (Brockhollands) at 3 A.M. | 1 had a time fuse and exploded at 3 P.M. |
| 1945 | Tuesday and Wednesday 8th and 9th May 1945 School V. E holidays Friday 11th May Victory Tea Party after School. |
From the diary of a pupil. |
| 1946 | Bream Cinema burnt down. | re-built as Miner's Welfare Cinema |
| 1948 | 20 Pre-Fabs built at Hillside | 17 for miners, 3 for disabled servicemen. |
| 1948 | C.of E. school accepts controlled status | |
| c1950 | Jubilee Well demolished | between 1947 and 1953 |
| 1951 | C. of E. school became junior mixed school. Girls dept of Council School became Bream Secondary Modern School with 200 pupils. |
Pupils passing the selection process went either to Lydney Grammar School or Bells Grammar School |
| 1952 | St James Church - 1st Sheepdog Trial | |
| 1955 | Highbury Rd. council houses extended | to Bream Woodside |
| 1960 | Rugby Club take over Cinema. Bought for £1800. Many local people also loaned £1 each | Trustees :Cyril Edwards, Cyril Miles, Maurice James, Bert Rickards |
| 1962 | Princess Royal Colliery closed | 30th March |
| 1963 | First Annual Sheepdog Trial at Trow Green Farm | Ellwood AFC Supporters Club |
| 1964 | Bream Young Wives group formed | |
| 1965 | Princess Royal pit-head gear dismantled | |
| 1965 | Stan Miles sells his Woodside Hardware Store to Haviland, James and Wildin. | |
| 1966 | 6 murals erected on the side of Shire Hall Gloucester | made in Bream at BlueRock by Mr Peter Saysel |
| 1968 | Miles Merchants moves to the former Williams & Cotton premises at No 1 High St Bream. | The Miles Merchants premises becomes Marcliff Boutique. |
| 1973 |
Bream Secondary Modern school closed. C. of E. School moved to Secondary School buildings across the road |
200 plus Pupils were absorbed by surrounding schools - notably Whitecross, Lydney and Five Acres Coleford |
| 1976 | Bream Avenue Chestnut trees under threat of felling due to their "unsafe" condition | Sick trees felled, the remainder were reprieved |
| c1977 | Stump of Maypole found by workmen | |
| 1979 | Conversion of 2 classrooms at the former C of E school into a library | |
| 1980 | Library at top of Whitecroft Rd closed | In the "Tin" building |
| 1981 | St James Church damaged in fire- Services held in Maypole Garage | courtesy of the owner Mr Brian Franklin |
| 1983 | St James Church re-opened with modern interior | |
| 1988 | Downhams Forest Bakery closed | |
| 1989 | Census - population of Bream, 3,200 | |
| 1991 | Bream's Eves chapel closed | |
| 1992 | Old Park Pit the last local (to Bream) freemine closed. | Worked by Donald Johns and Gilbert Kear |
| 1992 | Bream School became "Bream C of E (Voluntary Controlled) Primary School", 222 pupils | Old C. of E. junior mixed school became Youth Centre and Library |
| 1992 | St James Church - Rev. Alastair Kendall succeeds Rev Phillip Rees Bream Eaves Chapel was bought by St James Church and fully re-furbished for church and community use |
New Vicar : Rev Alastair Kendall |
| 1994 | Parkend Road Post Office closed | Tessa Elliot had worked in the PO for 45 years. |
| 1995 | Miles Merchants Hardware Store closes. | Run by Roy Haviland since 1965. |
| 1998 | Bream Community Centre (former Youth Centre and Library) threatened with closure. | Community protests avert the threat. |
| 2000 | Bream School buildings extended | |
| 2001 | Retrieving Wenty's Sturty Bird published, the story of Bream Cenotaph. Foot and Mouth disease closes the forest. | Author Ian Hendy |
| 2002 | Restoration of Bream Cenotaph - re-dedicated 20th September. | Community effort |
| 2003 | 138th Flower Show held indoors at Bream RFC. - 16th August | All others had been in tents outdoors. |
| 2003 | Princess Royal "Pit Baths" building under threat of demolition. | |
| 2004 | 4 Dean Forest Boundary Stones re-erected in Bream - unveiled 19th August. | 218 were orininally erected around the Forest boundary |
| 2004 | "City of Truro" boiler restored at Bream. | - at Bill Parkers works at the former Flourmill Colliery |
| 2004 | International cricketer Jack Russell M.B.E. brings a Gloucestershire XI to Bream for 40 over testimonial match. | Wednesday September 1st |
| 2005 | Broadband arrives in Bream (at last) | January |
| 2005 | Bream's Public Conveniences demolished. | Weds 27 April |
| 2005 | VJ 2005 Commemoration Parade and laying up of the standard of the Forest of Dean Burma Star Association. | Sun 14 August |
| 2005 | Rising Sun "Skittle Alley" converted to accomodation. | |
| 2005 | Gloucestershire cricketer Tim Hancock brings a Gloucestershire XI to Bream for 40 over testimonial match. International fast-bowler Syd Lawrence bowls at Bream. | Friday 15 September |
| 2005 | Planting of the"Nelson Oak" to mark 200 years since the Battle of Trafalgar and the death of Nelson. | On the site of "The Hard Up Tree" - Friday 21 October |
| 2005 | New wing added to Bream Community Centre | |
| 2006 | St James Church - Rev. Alastair Kendall leaves Bream | |
| 2006 | Survey to investigate iron mines beneath buildings in Bream including St James Church | |
| 2007 | New houses built between the former Downhams Bakery Bakehouse building and Highbury Road. New Houses built also at Princess Royal Way. | Two or the original council houses in Highbury Road demolished. |
| 2007 | Bream (former) Sawmill buildings demolished, Bream Tufts. | at the Tufts |
| 2008 | Oct, Janet Cook and Sylvia Nelmes sell Bream Post Office after 19 years at the Woodside premises. | |
| 2009 | Bannock tree at the West end of Bream cut down 'The Keys' pub closes, (formerly 'The Hedgehog' and 'The Cross Keys') |
March 2009 August 2009 |
Courtesy of: A Forester. Uploaded:
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