Bream, Gloucestershire

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Bream
Bream shown within Gloucestershire
OS grid reference	SO5973505912
Unitary authority	Gloucester
Ceremonial county	Gloucestershire
Region	South West
Constituent country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	LYDNEY
Postcode district	GL15
Dialling code	01452
Police	Gloucestershire
Fire	Gloucestershire
Ambulance	Great Western
European Parliament	South West England
List of places: UK • England • Gloucestershire

Coordinates: 51°45′00″N 2°34′00″W / 51.75, -2.583333

Bream (historically known as Breem) is a sizeable village in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire.

1 History
2 Location
3 Shops and Services
4 References
5 External links

[edit] History

The actual age of Bream is not known, although there may have been a settlement before the Romans came to England. Iron ore was being mined here before they came, and the miners would most likely have lived near their work, so it is possible that they built shelters close to where they worked. However, the first dwellings in Bream was recorded in 1452. ^[1] In 1505, the St. James' Church or St. James Chapel as it was then known, was built. The first actual house was established in 1637, later to become The New Inn. As of 1712, the population count of Bream was approximately 300. In 1822, the church underwent a practical reconstruction. ^[1] ^[2] Today the population of the village has grown to over 3,000, with the new houses that have been built in the last thirty years. ^[3] Even with this it still has a village atmosphere. The main employment in the village in the past was mining, farming. and forestry. Today with the mines closed, there is very little employment now in the actual village, although there are three garages and several shops. ^[3]

[edit] Location

Bream is one of the largest villages within the Forest of Dean, having a population of 2600 residents as of January 2000. As of 2008, however, the population has grown to over 3000. ^[3] The village is situated on the southern edge of the Forest of Dean between the towns of Lydney and Coleford and is built mainly up on a hill, with a large percentage of the surrounding land being forest.