Lydbrook, Gloucestershire

Several generations of the "GG" family tree lived at Lydbrook, in the Forest of Dean.

LYDBROOK is a large, linear village stretching down a long valley, with houses stretching high on both sides. The higher end is call Upper Lydbrook while the other part of the towards the River Wye as Lower Lydbrook. It is approxiamtely four miles north from Coleford and eight north-east from Monmouth. Its long valley has high and steep hills on each side, with several narrow lanes leading to houses pertched on its sides. Records show there was a mill at Lydbrook in 1282 and three forges operated in the area. The iron and tinplate works, owned by Richard Thomas & Co., employed many of the local people, being opened in 1871, closing in 1925. Iron and coal were also worked in the area, notably at the Lydbrook Deep Level Colliery. There were also lime kilns, several flour mills and a wire-works. Lydbrook became an important coal port on the River Wye with Forest coal shipped to Ross and Hereford. Later, around 1912 a large cable works was built, producing tons of telephone cable during World War One.

There were two railway stations (Upper and Lower), both high on the north side of the valley, where the Severn and Wye Railway, built in 1872, operating from Lydney, with a branch line to Cinderford and joining the Ross and Monmouth Line close by. Near to Lower Lydbrook Station, the village was dominated by the railway viaduct with nintey feet high stone piers (see picture above). Sadly, the viaduct was demolished in 1969. Public houses included the Crown & Sceptre Inn, the Recruiting Sergeant Inn, the Bell Inn, the Queens's Head and the Forge Hammer Inn. There were several churches, the first being the Church of Holy Jesus, an interesting Early English style building, with nave, chancel, north and south aisles, a tower and one bell. The Primitive Methodist Chapel was built in 1828, and then rebuilt in 1852. The Baptist Church was erected in 1864, enlarged in 1875, and held about 500 people, while the Wesleyan Chapel was also built in 1864.

William Burgum (1802-1858) worked as a waterman in 1841, a barge owner in 1851 and an inn keeper in 1858. His second wife Eliza Burgum (nee Watkins) was still running the inn in 1861. William's son Alfred (1836-1893) was a brewer in 1861, a butcher in 1871, and a butcher and an innkeeper in 1881. Tom Burgum (b. 1843) was a tin roller, while Amos Burgum (1838-1904) was a puddler in 1861 and a forgeman in 1881.

More on the GG Family Tree here.
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