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  1. England
  2. Gloucestershire
  1. England
  2. Gloucestershire

Brockweir

Brockweir is a small village on the eastern bank of the River Wye, within the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire, England. A road bridge links it across the river to Monmouthshire, Wales, about a mile outside the village of Tintern and 7 1⁄2 miles north of Chepstow. The village is close to both the Offa's Dyke Path and the Wye Valley Walk.

The name Brockweir dates from about the 7th century; previously it was known in Welsh as Pwll Brochuail, the pool of Brochuail or Brockmael, a prince of Gwent. The weir was owned by Monmouth Priory and later Tintern Abbey; its remains can be seen as shallows under Brockweir bridge.

The village existed from at least the 13th century, as a hamlet within the parish of Hewelsfield. The oldest existing building, the Malthouse, dates in part from the 15th century and probably formed part of a grange owned by Tintern Abbey. Another house, the Manor House, dates from about 1600, and many other houses date from the 18th century.

For centuries Brockweir had a thriving shipbuilding, fitting-out and repair industry. Brockweir was the highest point reached by a normal tide on the Wye, and a key transhipment point where the cargoes of sea-going ships of up to 90 tonnes were transferred onto barges to be sent upstream, and the products of Herefordshire and the Forest of Dean were sent back to Bristol and beyond.

According to some sources, in the early 19th century the village was thought to be one of the most lawless places in the country. Its reputation was earned by having many public houses, to cater for the stevedores who were employed to load and unload the ships at the quayside. Only one narrow road led into the village, and goods were usually carried by donkeys or by water, with a ferry taking travellers to and from the Welsh bank of the Wye.

In 1833 the Duke of Beaufort issued an edict for the Moravian Church to be set up in the village because of its lawless reputation, and the church was built on the site of a former cock fighting pit. The first minister was Lewis West, who drew congregations of up to 200 people. The minister described the life of its watermen as being centred on beer houses, skittle alleys, and cockfighting, and said that it had the reputation of a "city of refuge" for lawless elements. The church was rebuilt later in the 19th century.

Several chapels, a school, the decline of its trade, and an influx of outsiders to the area gradually changed the character of the village. During the early 20th century several Nonconformist groups, including Quakers, Pentecostalists, and Christian Scientists, held meetings in Brockweir and the surrounding area.

The cast iron road bridge was built in Chepstow by Edward Finch & Co., and was opened in 1906. The last ship to sail to Brockweir was the Belle Marie in 1914, and the last Wye trows were built in the village in 1925. In 1929 Brockweir Halt was opened on the Wye Valley Railway on the Monmouthshire side of the bridge. The halt closed in 1959.
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  • Brockweir, Gloucestershire - July 25, 2016

    Brockweir, Gloucestershire - July 25, 2016

    Brockweir Village looking towards the River Wye, The Brockweir Inn is on the left.

    L20163631BROCKWEIRAFON GWYDYFFRYN GWYRIVER WYEWYE VALLEYGLOUCESTERSHIREENGLANDUKVILLAGEHISTORIC PORTHISTORIC VILLAGE

  • Brockweir, Gloucestershire - July 25, 2016

    Brockweir, Gloucestershire - July 25, 2016

    The Brockweir Inn and the unusual short, steep and twisty approach to the River Wye Bridge caused by the need to create a high bridge to create sufficient air draught for vessels passing to Brockweir Quay.

    L20163632BROCKWEIRGLOUCESTERSHIREENGLANDUKVILLAGERIVER WYEWYE VALLEYAFON GWYDYFFRYN GWYHISTORIC PORTHISTORIC VILLAGEBROCKWEIR INN

  • Brockweir, Gloucestershire - July 25, 2016

    Brockweir, Gloucestershire - July 25, 2016

    River Wye looking downstream towards Tintern and Chepstow - the tide was on the flood.

    L20163633BROCKWEIRAFON GWYDYFFRYN GWYRIVER WYEWYE VALLEYGLOUCESTERSHIREENGLANDUKVILLAGEHISTORIC PORTHISTORIC VILLAGE

  • Brockweir, Gloucestershire - July 25, 2016

    Brockweir, Gloucestershire - July 25, 2016

    Brockweir Moravian Church

    L20163634BROCKWEIRAFON GWYDYFFRYN GWYRIVER WYEWYE VALLEYGLOUCESTERSHIREENGLANDUKVILLAGEHISTORIC PORTHISTORIC VILLAGEBROCKWEIR MORAVIAN CHURCHHISTORIC CHURCHMORAVIAN CHURCH

  • Brockweir, Gloucestershire - July 25, 2016

    Brockweir, Gloucestershire - July 25, 2016

    View from Brockweir Bridge across the River Wye into the village.

    L20163635BROCKWEIRAFON GWYDYFFRYN GWYRIVER WYEWYE VALLEYGLOUCESTERSHIREENGLANDUKVILLAGEHISTORIC PORTHISTORIC VILLAGEBROCKWEIR BRIDGEHISTORIC BUILDINGHISTORIC BRIDGE

  • Brockweir, Gloucestershire - July 25, 2016

    Brockweir, Gloucestershire - July 25, 2016

    Steps down to the former Wye Valley railway line near the site of Brockweir Halt which was on the other side of the road. The railway track bed forms a footpath leading to Tintern Station which now operates as a café and visitor centre.

    L20163636BROCKWEIRAFON GWYDYFFRYN GWYRIVER WYEWYE VALLEYGLOUCESTERSHIREENGLANDUKVILLAGEHISTORIC PORTHISTORIC VILLAGE

  • Brockweir, Gloucestershire - July 25, 2016

    Brockweir, Gloucestershire - July 25, 2016

    View into Brockweir across the bridge taken from the Monmouthshire side of the the bridge across the River Wye.

    L20163637BROCKWEIRAFON GWYDYFFRYN GWYRIVER WYEWYE VALLEYGLOUCESTERSHIREENGLANDUKVILLAGEHISTORIC PORTHISTORIC VILLAGE

  • Brockweir, Gloucestershire - July 25, 2016

    Brockweir, Gloucestershire - July 25, 2016

    Brockweir Quay - the tide was on the flood.

    L20163638BROCKWEIRAFON GWYDYFFRYN GWYRIVER WYEWYE VALLEYGLOUCESTERSHIREENGLANDUKVILLAGEHISTORIC PORTHISTORIC VILLAGE

  • Brockweir, Gloucestershire - July 25, 2016

    Brockweir, Gloucestershire - July 25, 2016

    Brockweir Bridge 1986 restoration plaque

    L20163639BROCKWEIRAFON GWYDYFFRYN GWYRIVER WYEWYE VALLEYGLOUCESTERSHIREENGLANDUKVILLAGEHISTORIC PORTHISTORIC VILLAGEBROCKWEIR BRIDGEHISTORIC BUILDINGHISTORIC BRIDGE

  • Brockweir, Gloucestershire - July 25, 2016

    Brockweir, Gloucestershire - July 25, 2016

    Brockweir Bridge "E Finch & Co Ltd Engineers & Ironfounders Chepstow 1906" makers plate.

    L20163640BROCKWEIRAFON GWYDYFFRYN GWYRIVER WYEWYE VALLEYGLOUCESTERSHIREENGLANDUKVILLAGEHISTORIC PORTHISTORIC VILLAGEBROCKWEIR BRIDGEHISTORIC BUILDINGHISTORIC BRIDGE

  • Brockweir, Gloucestershire - July 25, 2016

    Brockweir, Gloucestershire - July 25, 2016

    Restoration plaque and foundry plate on Brockweir Bridge.

    L20163641BROCKWEIRAFON GWYDYFFRYN GWYRIVER WYEWYE VALLEYGLOUCESTERSHIREENGLANDUKVILLAGEHISTORIC PORTHISTORIC VILLAGEBROCKWEIR BRIDGEHISTORIC BUILDINGHISTORIC BRIDGE

  • Brockweir, Gloucestershire - July 25, 2016

    Brockweir, Gloucestershire - July 25, 2016

    Brockweir Bridge Centenary Plaque 1906 to 2006.

    L20163642BROCKWEIRAFON GWYDYFFRYN GWYRIVER WYEWYE VALLEYGLOUCESTERSHIREENGLANDUKVILLAGEHISTORIC PORTHISTORIC VILLAGEBROCKWEIR BRIDGEHISTORIC BUILDINGHISTORIC BRIDGE

  • Brockweir, Gloucestershire - July 25, 2016

    Brockweir, Gloucestershire - July 25, 2016

    Historical interpretation plaque at Brockweir Quay.

    L20163643BROCKWEIRAFON GWYDYFFRYN GWYRIVER WYEWYE VALLEYGLOUCESTERSHIREENGLANDUKVILLAGEHISTORIC PORTHISTORIC VILLAGE

  • Brockweir, Gloucestershire - July 25, 2016

    Brockweir, Gloucestershire - July 25, 2016

    Brockweir Bridge

    L20163644BROCKWEIRAFON GWYDYFFRYN GWYRIVER WYEWYE VALLEYGLOUCESTERSHIREENGLANDUKVILLAGEHISTORIC PORTHISTORIC VILLAGEBROCKWEIR BRIDGEHISTORIC BUILDINGHISTORIC BRIDGE

  • Brockweir, Gloucestershire - July 25, 2016

    Brockweir, Gloucestershire - July 25, 2016

    Brockweir Bridge

    L20163645BROCKWEIRAFON GWYDYFFRYN GWYRIVER WYEWYE VALLEYGLOUCESTERSHIREENGLANDUKVILLAGEHISTORIC PORTHISTORIC VILLAGEBROCKWEIR BRIDGEHISTORIC BUILDINGHISTORIC BRIDGE

  • Brockweir, Gloucestershire - July 25, 2016

    Brockweir, Gloucestershire - July 25, 2016

    Brockweir Bridge

    L20163646BROCKWEIRAFON GWYDYFFRYN GWYRIVER WYEWYE VALLEYGLOUCESTERSHIREENGLANDUKVILLAGEHISTORIC PORTHISTORIC VILLAGEBROCKWEIR BRIDGEHISTORIC BUILDINGHISTORIC BRIDGE

  • Brockweir, Gloucestershire - July 25, 2016

    Brockweir, Gloucestershire - July 25, 2016

    Brockweir Bridge

    L20163647BROCKWEIRAFON GWYDYFFRYN GWYRIVER WYEWYE VALLEYGLOUCESTERSHIREENGLANDUKVILLAGEHISTORIC PORTHISTORIC VILLAGEBROCKWEIR BRIDGEHISTORIC BUILDINGHISTORIC BRIDGE

  • Brockweir, Gloucestershire - July 25, 2016

    Brockweir, Gloucestershire - July 25, 2016

    "Welcome to the Cake Hole"

    L20163648BROCKWEIRAFON GWYDYFFRYN GWYRIVER WYEWYE VALLEYGLOUCESTERSHIREENGLANDUKVILLAGEHISTORIC PORTHISTORIC VILLAGE

  • Brockweir, Gloucestershire - July 25, 2016

    Brockweir, Gloucestershire - July 25, 2016

    Brockweir Bridge

    L20163649BROCKWEIRAFON GWYDYFFRYN GWYRIVER WYEWYE VALLEYGLOUCESTERSHIREENGLANDUKVILLAGEHISTORIC PORTHISTORIC VILLAGEBROCKWEIR BRIDGEHISTORIC BUILDINGHISTORIC BRIDGE

  • Brockweir, Gloucestershire - July 25, 2016

    Brockweir, Gloucestershire - July 25, 2016

    Information board at Brockweir Quay used to show dates of expected spring tides when the quay may flood.

    L20163650BROCKWEIRAFON GWYDYFFRYN GWYRIVER WYEWYE VALLEYGLOUCESTERSHIREENGLANDUKVILLAGEHISTORIC PORTHISTORIC VILLAGE

  • Brockweir, Gloucestershire - July 25, 2016

    Brockweir, Gloucestershire - July 25, 2016

    Brockweir Bridge

    L20163651BROCKWEIRAFON GWYDYFFRYN GWYRIVER WYEWYE VALLEYGLOUCESTERSHIREENGLANDUKVILLAGEHISTORIC PORTHISTORIC VILLAGEBROCKWEIR BRIDGEHISTORIC BUILDINGHISTORIC BRIDGE

  • Brockweir, Gloucestershire - July 25, 2016

    Brockweir, Gloucestershire - July 25, 2016

    Brockweir Bridge

    L20163652BROCKWEIRAFON GWYDYFFRYN GWYRIVER WYEWYE VALLEYGLOUCESTERSHIREENGLANDUKVILLAGEHISTORIC PORTHISTORIC VILLAGEBROCKWEIR BRIDGEHISTORIC BUILDINGHISTORIC BRIDGE

  • Brockweir, Gloucestershire - July 25, 2016

    Brockweir, Gloucestershire - July 25, 2016

    Brockweir Quay - looking upstream towards Llandogo and Monmouth.

    L20163653BROCKWEIRAFON GWYDYFFRYN GWYRIVER WYEWYE VALLEYGLOUCESTERSHIREENGLANDUKVILLAGEHISTORIC PORTHISTORIC VILLAGE

  • Brockweir, Gloucestershire - July 25, 2016

    Brockweir, Gloucestershire - July 25, 2016

    Brockweir

    L20163654BROCKWEIRAFON GWYDYFFRYN GWYRIVER WYEWYE VALLEYGLOUCESTERSHIREENGLANDUKVILLAGEHISTORIC PORTHISTORIC VILLAGE

  • Brockweir, Gloucestershire - July 25, 2016

    Brockweir, Gloucestershire - July 25, 2016

    Brockweir Inn - "West Country Ales 1760 - Best In the West" West Country Breweries were founded in 1958 by the merger of the Stroud Brewery and Cheltenham Brewery both founded in 1760. Following the take over of the Brewery by Whitbread in 1963 the plaques continued to be added to public houses and off licences until around 1967.

    L20163655BROCKWEIRAFON GWYDYFFRYN GWYRIVER WYEWYE VALLEYGLOUCESTERSHIREENGLANDUKVILLAGEHISTORIC PORTHISTORIC VILLAGEBROCKWEIR INN

  • Brockweir, Gloucestershire - July 25, 2016

    Brockweir, Gloucestershire - July 25, 2016

    The Malt House

    L20163656BROCKWEIRAFON GWYDYFFRYN GWYRIVER WYEWYE VALLEYGLOUCESTERSHIREENGLANDUKVILLAGEHISTORIC PORTHISTORIC VILLAGE

  • Brockweir, Gloucestershire - July 25, 2016

    Brockweir, Gloucestershire - July 25, 2016

    Brockweir Moravian Church

    L20163657BROCKWEIRAFON GWYDYFFRYN GWYRIVER WYEWYE VALLEYGLOUCESTERSHIREENGLANDUKVILLAGEHISTORIC PORTHISTORIC VILLAGEBROCKWEIR MORAVIAN CHURCHHISTORIC CHURCHMORAVIAN CHURCH

  • Brockweir, Gloucestershire - July 25, 2016

    Brockweir, Gloucestershire - July 25, 2016

    Brockweir Moravian Church

    L20163658BROCKWEIRAFON GWYDYFFRYN GWYRIVER WYEWYE VALLEYGLOUCESTERSHIREENGLANDUKVILLAGEHISTORIC PORTHISTORIC VILLAGEBROCKWEIR MORAVIAN CHURCHHISTORIC CHURCHMORAVIAN CHURCH

  • Brockweir, Gloucestershire - July 25, 2016

    Brockweir, Gloucestershire - July 25, 2016

    Brockweir Moravian Church

    L20163659BROCKWEIRAFON GWYDYFFRYN GWYRIVER WYEWYE VALLEYGLOUCESTERSHIREENGLANDUKVILLAGEHISTORIC PORTHISTORIC VILLAGEBROCKWEIR MORAVIAN CHURCHHISTORIC CHURCHMORAVIAN CHURCH

  • Brockweir, Gloucestershire - July 25, 2016

    Brockweir, Gloucestershire - July 25, 2016

    Brockweir Moravian Church

    L20163660BROCKWEIRAFON GWYDYFFRYN GWYRIVER WYEWYE VALLEYGLOUCESTERSHIREENGLANDUKVILLAGEHISTORIC PORTHISTORIC VILLAGEBROCKWEIR MORAVIAN CHURCHHISTORIC CHURCHMORAVIAN CHURCH

  • Brockweir, Gloucestershire - July 25, 2016

    Brockweir, Gloucestershire - July 25, 2016

    Brockweir Moravian Church

    L20163661BROCKWEIRAFON GWYDYFFRYN GWYRIVER WYEWYE VALLEYGLOUCESTERSHIREENGLANDUKVILLAGEHISTORIC PORTHISTORIC VILLAGEBROCKWEIR MORAVIAN CHURCHHISTORIC CHURCHMORAVIAN CHURCH

  • Brockweir, Gloucestershire - July 25, 2016

    Brockweir, Gloucestershire - July 25, 2016

    Brockweir Moravian Church

    L20163662BROCKWEIRAFON GWYDYFFRYN GWYRIVER WYEWYE VALLEYGLOUCESTERSHIREENGLANDUKVILLAGEHISTORIC PORTHISTORIC VILLAGEBROCKWEIR MORAVIAN CHURCHHISTORIC CHURCHMORAVIAN CHURCH

  • Brockweir, Gloucestershire - July 25, 2016

    Brockweir, Gloucestershire - July 25, 2016

    Brockweir Moravian Church

    L20163663BROCKWEIRAFON GWYDYFFRYN GWYRIVER WYEWYE VALLEYGLOUCESTERSHIREENGLANDUKVILLAGEHISTORIC PORTHISTORIC VILLAGEBROCKWEIR MORAVIAN CHURCHHISTORIC CHURCHMORAVIAN CHURCH

  • Brockweir, Gloucestershire - July 25, 2016

    Brockweir, Gloucestershire - July 25, 2016

    Brockweir Moravian Church

    L20163664BROCKWEIRAFON GWYDYFFRYN GWYRIVER WYEWYE VALLEYGLOUCESTERSHIREENGLANDUKVILLAGEHISTORIC PORTHISTORIC VILLAGEBROCKWEIR MORAVIAN CHURCHHISTORIC CHURCHMORAVIAN CHURCH

  • Brockweir, Gloucestershire - July 25, 2016

    Brockweir, Gloucestershire - July 25, 2016

    Brockweir Moravian Church

    L20163665BROCKWEIRAFON GWYDYFFRYN GWYRIVER WYEWYE VALLEYGLOUCESTERSHIREENGLANDUKVILLAGEHISTORIC PORTHISTORIC VILLAGEBROCKWEIR MORAVIAN CHURCHHISTORIC CHURCHMORAVIAN CHURCH

  • Brockweir, Gloucestershire - July 25, 2016

    Brockweir, Gloucestershire - July 25, 2016

    Brockweir Moravian Church

    L20163666BROCKWEIRAFON GWYDYFFRYN GWYRIVER WYEWYE VALLEYGLOUCESTERSHIREENGLANDUKVILLAGEHISTORIC PORTHISTORIC VILLAGEBROCKWEIR MORAVIAN CHURCHHISTORIC CHURCHMORAVIAN CHURCH

  • Brockweir, Gloucestershire - July 25, 2016

    Brockweir, Gloucestershire - July 25, 2016

    Brockweir Moravian Church

    L20163667BROCKWEIRAFON GWYDYFFRYN GWYRIVER WYEWYE VALLEYGLOUCESTERSHIREENGLANDUKVILLAGEHISTORIC PORTHISTORIC VILLAGEBROCKWEIR MORAVIAN CHURCHHISTORIC CHURCHMORAVIAN CHURCH

  • Brockweir, Gloucestershire - July 25, 2016

    Brockweir, Gloucestershire - July 25, 2016

    Brockweir Moravian Church

    L20163668BROCKWEIRAFON GWYDYFFRYN GWYRIVER WYEWYE VALLEYGLOUCESTERSHIREENGLANDUKVILLAGEHISTORIC PORTHISTORIC VILLAGEBROCKWEIR MORAVIAN CHURCHHISTORIC CHURCHMORAVIAN CHURCH

  • Brockweir, Gloucestershire - July 25, 2016

    Brockweir, Gloucestershire - July 25, 2016

    Brockweir Moravian Church

    L20163669BROCKWEIRAFON GWYDYFFRYN GWYRIVER WYEWYE VALLEYGLOUCESTERSHIREENGLANDUKVILLAGEHISTORIC PORTHISTORIC VILLAGEBROCKWEIR MORAVIAN CHURCHHISTORIC CHURCHMORAVIAN CHURCH

  • Brockweir, Gloucestershire - July 25, 2016

    Brockweir, Gloucestershire - July 25, 2016

    Brockweir Moravian Church

    L20163670BROCKWEIRAFON GWYDYFFRYN GWYRIVER WYEWYE VALLEYGLOUCESTERSHIREENGLANDUKVILLAGEHISTORIC PORTHISTORIC VILLAGEBROCKWEIR MORAVIAN CHURCHHISTORIC CHURCHMORAVIAN CHURCH

  • Brockweir, Gloucestershire - July 25, 2016

    Brockweir, Gloucestershire - July 25, 2016

    Brockweir Moravian Church

    L20163671BROCKWEIRAFON GWYDYFFRYN GWYRIVER WYEWYE VALLEYGLOUCESTERSHIREENGLANDUKVILLAGEHISTORIC PORTHISTORIC VILLAGEBROCKWEIR MORAVIAN CHURCHHISTORIC CHURCHMORAVIAN CHURCH

  • Brockweir, Gloucestershire - July 25, 2016

    Brockweir, Gloucestershire - July 25, 2016

    The 14th Century Monks's Hall used by the Monks of nearby Tintern Abbey - this is now a holiday let.

    L20163672BROCKWEIRAFON GWYDYFFRYN GWYRIVER WYEWYE VALLEYGLOUCESTERSHIREENGLANDUKVILLAGEHISTORIC PORTHISTORIC VILLAGE

  • Brockweir, Gloucestershire - July 25, 2016

    Brockweir, Gloucestershire - July 25, 2016

    The 14th Century Monks's Hall used by the Monks of nearby Tintern Abbey - this is now a holiday let.

    L20163673BROCKWEIRAFON GWYDYFFRYN GWYRIVER WYEWYE VALLEYGLOUCESTERSHIREENGLANDUKVILLAGEHISTORIC PORTHISTORIC VILLAGE

  • Brockweir, Gloucestershire - July 25, 2016

    Brockweir, Gloucestershire - July 25, 2016

    Brockweir Village viewed from the Monmouthshire site of the River Wye.

    L20163677BROCKWEIRAFON GWYDYFFRYN GWYRIVER WYEWYE VALLEYGLOUCESTERSHIREENGLANDUKVILLAGEHISTORIC PORTHISTORIC VILLAGE

  • Brockweir, Gloucestershire - July 25, 2016

    Brockweir, Gloucestershire - July 25, 2016

    The Brockweir Moravian Church mainly obscured by the trees, viewed from the Monmouthshire side of the River Wye.

    L20163678BROCKWEIRAFON GWYDYFFRYN GWYRIVER WYEWYE VALLEYGLOUCESTERSHIREENGLANDUKVILLAGEHISTORIC PORTHISTORIC VILLAGE

  • Brockweir, Gloucestershire - July 25, 2016

    Brockweir, Gloucestershire - July 25, 2016

    Brockwier bridge viewed from the trackbed of the former Wye Valley Railway.

    L20163680BROCKWEIRAFON GWYDYFFRYN GWYRIVER WYEWYE VALLEYGLOUCESTERSHIREENGLANDUKVILLAGEHISTORIC PORTHISTORIC VILLAGEBROCKWEIR BRIDGEHISTORIC BUILDINGHISTORIC BRIDGE

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