Redbrook

Redbrook is a village in Gloucestershire, England, adjoining the border with Monmouthshire, Wales. It is located on the River Wye and is within the Wye Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

For use of Red Brook, see Red Brook (disambiguation).

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 within Gloucestershire
OS grid referenceSO536099
District
Shire county
Region
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townMONMOUTH
Postcode districtNP25
Dialling code01600
PoliceGloucestershire
FireGloucestershire
AmbulanceSouth Western

History

Redbrook was historically an important industrial centre with many industrial sites including mills, an ironworks, tinplate works and copper works. The oldest site is the King's Mill, which was a corn mill first recorded in 1434 and which remained in use until 1925.

The Redbrook Copper Works used ore brought from Cornwall via Chepstow and worked until 1740 when it closed down and the buildings were leased for the manufacturer of tinplate. It is from this iron ore that 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.[1][2] 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 Wye was the last station before Monmouth on the Wye Valley Railway. The railway was opened in 1876 to connect Monmouth to the South Wales line, closing to passengers in 1959 and freight in 1964.[3] Today a wood-decked footbridge spans the river which once carried the railway.[4]

Amenities

Redbrook has a population of 372 and is a village amidst wooded hills. A little above the river is the 19th century church of St. Saviour.[5]

Two local pubs, the Boat Inn at Penallt on the Welsh side of the River Wye and the Bell Inn on the English side, serve local and visitors well. The Boat Inn is accessed from Redbrook via Penallt Viaduct, which used to carry the Wye Valley Railway across the River. The village also has a Post Office and stores.

The Offa's Dyke Path and the Wye Valley Walk run through the village.[6]

Sports Club

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.[7]

References
  1. "Redbrook Tinplate Co". Grace's Guide. Archived from the original on 22 August 2020. Retrieved 22 August 2020.
  2. "Redbrook History". Redbrook Village. Archived from the original on 22 August 2020. Retrieved 22 August 2020.
  3. B. M. Handley and R. Dingwall, The Wye Valley Railway and the Coleford Branch, 1982, ISBN 0-85361-530-6
  4. "Redbrook Bridge conservation on River Wye could cost cost £900,000". BBC. Archived from the original on 22 August 2020. Retrieved 22 August 2020.
  5. "St. Saviours Church Redbrook". Redbrook Village. Archived from the original on 22 August 2020. Retrieved 22 August 2020.
  6. "Wye Valley Walk - Offa's Dyke Path - Redbrook". Viewranger. Archived from the original on 22 August 2020. Retrieved 22 August 2020.
  7. "Redbrook Rovers". Redbrook Village. Archived from the original on 22 August 2020. Retrieved 22 August 2020.
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