Redbrook
| Redbrook | |
|---|---|
 Redbrook in the Wye valley, looking north towards Monmouth and showing the former railway bridge, with Wales to the left and England to the right | |
  Redbrook Location withinGloucestershire | |
| OS grid reference | SO536099 |
| Civil parish | |
| District | |
| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | MONMOUTH |
| Postcode district | NP25 |
| Dialling code | 01600 |
| Police | Gloucestershire |
| Fire | Gloucestershire |
| Ambulance | South Western |
Redbrookis a village inGloucestershire,England, adjoining the border withMonmouthshire,Wales.It is located on theRiver Wyeand is within theWye ValleyArea of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
History
[edit]Both Upper and Lower Redbrook were mentioned in theDomesday Bookof 1086 as lying within the hundred of Bromsash and they were both listed under Gloucestershire and Herefordshire. At that time neither place was recorded as having any population.[1][2]
Redbrook was historically an important industrial centre with many industrial sites including mills, anironworks,tinplateworks andcopperworks. The oldest site is the King's Mill, which was acorn millfirst recorded in 1434 and which remained in use until 1925.
The Redbrook Copper Works used ore brought fromCornwallviaChepstowand worked until 1740 when it closed down and the buildings were leased for the manufacturer of tinplate. It is from theiron orethat the village got its name – the brook running down the valley through the village often ran dark red. The tinplate factory, run by the Redbrook Tinplate Company, was known for the high quality product it made and did not close until 1962.[3][4]Redbrook was also a river port where the various products of the local industries were shipped.
The village once boasted no less than 13 inns and three breweries. The last brewery to close, in 1926, was Redbrook Brewery and the site is still marked by Brewery Yard and Brewery Terrace.
Redbrook on Wyewas the last station before Monmouth on theWye Valley Railway.The railway was opened in 1876 to connect Monmouth to theSouth Wales line,closing to passengers in 1959 and freight in 1964.[5]Today a wood-decked footbridge spans the river which once carried the railway.[6]
Amenities
[edit]Redbrook has a population of 372 and is a village amidst wooded hills. A little above the river is the 19th centurychurchofSt. Saviour.[7]
Two localpubs,the Boat Inn atPenallton theWelshside of the River Wye and the Bell Inn on theEnglishside, serve local and visitors well. The Boat Inn is accessed from Redbrook viaPenallt Viaduct,which used to carry theWye Valley Railwayacross the River. The village also has a Post Office and stores.
TheOffa's Dyke Pathand theWye Valley Walkrun through the village.[8]
Sports Club
[edit]Redbrook Rovers, established in the mid 1900s has 2 football teams, the first team currently playing in North Gloucestershire football league Premier Division and the Reserves in Division 3.[9]
References
[edit]- ^Upper Redbrookin theDomesday Book
- ^Lower Redbrookin theDomesday Book
- ^"Redbrook Tinplate Co".Grace's Guide.Archivedfrom the original on 22 August 2020.Retrieved22 August2020.
- ^"Redbrook History".Redbrook Village.Archivedfrom the original on 22 August 2020.Retrieved22 August2020.
- ^B. M. Handley and R. Dingwall,The Wye Valley Railway and the Coleford Branch,1982,ISBN0-85361-530-6
- ^"Redbrook Bridge conservation on River Wye could cost cost £900,000".BBC.Archivedfrom the original on 22 August 2020.Retrieved22 August2020.
- ^"St. Saviours Church Redbrook".Redbrook Village.Archivedfrom the original on 22 August 2020.Retrieved22 August2020.
- ^"Wye Valley Walk - Offa's Dyke Path - Redbrook".Viewranger.Archivedfrom the original on 22 August 2020.Retrieved22 August2020.
- ^"Redbrook Rovers".Redbrook Village.Archivedfrom the original on 22 August 2020.Retrieved22 August2020.
External links
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