Lower Lydbrook - B4234

Many thanks to Gloucestershire County Council  for capitally funding the camera's installation.  Please click here for flooding information regarding this location. In order to effectively monitor water levels and road conditions in the area prone to flooding, a strategically positioned Farson webcam is employed at the location where the B4234 is affected. This webcam provides real-time surveillance, allowing for timely assessment and response to the changing conditions.  Lydbrook is located in the scenic Wye Valley. The parish is positioned on the north-western edge of the Forest of Dean's designated boundaries and encompasses the districts of Lower Lydbrook, Upper Lydbrook, Joys Green, and Worrall Hill. The village features a mile and a half long high street, reputed to be the longest high street of any village in England. In 2012, Lydbrook gained media attention from ITV and BBC News when significant flooding occurred, submerging the village center under up to 4 feet (1.2 m) of water, despite being nearly half a mile away from the River Wye. This flooding was attributed to a blockage in an old culvert under the road that managed surface drainage for the entire village. In 2017, the Forestry Commission initiated a project to reintroduce Eurasian beavers to an enclosed area of land uphill from the village as part of a habitat management program, aiming to reduce the likelihood of future flash floods. While Lydbrook is developing as a hub for exploring both the Wye Valley and the Forest of Dean, featuring several hotels and bed and breakfast establishments, its historical roots are deeply intertwined with industry, particularly in the iron, coal, and timber sectors. The arrival of the Romans introduced the iron industry to the forest, and archaeological evidence suggests the presence of a Roman community in Lydbrook, indicating an early iron industry. Although records for the post-Roman and pre-Norman periods are scarce, substantial documentation begins in the 13th century. However, distinguishing specific activities in Lydbrook can be challenging, as it was not an independent parish, and its industrial activity often overlaps with neighboring areas such as Ruardean and English Bicknor. One notable historical site is the Upper Forge, established in the 1590s by Thomas Bainham and later owned by Robert Devereux, the second Earl of Essex. By 1628, it was described as situated on "Hangerbury Common, below the King's Forge," but it had disappeared by 1668. Three additional forges were established, including the Middle Forge, built in the 1590s opposite what is now Beard's bakery. Following the demise of the Upper Forge, the Middle Forge adopted its name. The Lower Forge was constructed in 1610, close to the River Wye, while the King's Howbrook Forge (also known as the Lydbrook Forge) was built in 1612/13, situated opposite what is now Brook House. This forge was demolished in March 1650. Nearby, the King's Furnace, powered by the Lyd River, ceased operations by 1674. By the early 18th century, only the renamed Upper Forge (formerly the Middle Forge) and the Lower Forge remained operational. In 1702, a new forge, the New Forge, emerged, though its exact location is now unknown. By 1818, after numerous changes in ownership, the Partridge family became prominent in the ironworks at Lydbrook. In 1622, records indicate the existence of a grist mill and a hammer works near a disused corn mill. The Lower Forge eventually transitioned into a corn mill. Additionally, in the late 1690s, an anvil manufacturing works was established. The Roaring Meg cannon, displayed at Goodrich Castle, was produced in Lydbrook in 1649. By 1798, tinplate production began in Lydbrook, spearheaded by the Partridge and Allaway families. The Upper and Lower Forges were converted into tinplate works by the Partridges and leased to Allaway in 1817. Some sources argue that tinplate production may have commenced as early as 1760, potentially making Lydbrook one of the earliest centers for this industry. The Allaway firm evolved into 'Pearce & Allaway' in 1820 and later became 'Allaways, Partridge & Co.' in 1850. In 1871, the business was leased to Richard Thomas, who expanded operations by acquiring Lydbrook Colliery and Waterloo Colliery. Richard Thomas passed away in 1916, and the works were closed during World War I, ceasing operations in 1925. The original tin works and rolling mills were located where Meredith & Sons and Lydwood Works are situated today. In 1818, James Russell acquired the ironworks upstream of the Upper Forge, opposite the Bell Inn, and established a wireworks that operated until its closure between 1890 and 1900. In 1912, Harold J. Smith purchased land at Stowfield and established the Lydbrook Cable Works. During World War I, the factory experienced significant growth, with employee numbers rising from 40 to 650. However, following the war, business declined, leading to Smith's disconnection from the factory in 1920. The business was subsequently acquired by Edison Swan Electric Company in 1925. With expanded resources, the Stowfield plant played a crucial role during World War II, possessing one of only four machines capable of producing lead alloy tubes for P.L.U.T.O. (Petroleum Lines Under The Ocean), enabling fuel supply to the Allied invasion forces in Europe. In the late 1940s, Edison Swan was absorbed by Associated Electrical Industries and integrated with the Siemens Brothers Cable Works in Woolwich. At its peak, the Stowfield factory employed approximately 1,100 people. The cable works closed in 1966 when the factory was purchased by Reed Paper Group, which was later taken over by a Swedish company, SCA. The 18th and 19th centuries saw significant industrial growth in the village. The first commercially successful blast furnace was established in Lydbrook as early as 1608. By the 18th century, Lydbrook had become an important center for tinplate production, with a publication from 1861 comparing it to Sheffield. At the dawn of the 19th century, while the iron trade was in decline, the coal industry was rapidly expanding, with several collieries, including Arthur & Edward (also known as Waterloo), The Deep Level, The Old Soot Bag, The Old Engine, and Worrall Hill Mine. Lower Lydbrook's location by the River Wye facilitated its role as a loading point for coal transported by barge to Hereford. Initially, flat-bottomed barges were pulled by men until the construction of a towpath in 1811. This trade diminished after the establishment of the Herefordshire and Gloucestershire Canal, which was soon overtaken by the railways. The community was served by two railway stations and a halt: Upper Lydbrook (the Halt), Lower Lydbrook, and Lydbrook Junction. Notably, the Lower Lydbrook Viaduct, which enabled the Severn and Wye Railway to connect with the Ross and Monmouth Railway, was built in 1872. It spanned 87 feet above the roadway and was first used on August 26, 1874. The line closed to passengers in 1929 and to goods in 1951, with the viaduct dismantled in 1966. New industries emerged to replace the old, including a cable works that operated until 1965, after which it was succeeded by Reed Corrugated Cases (now SCA Packaging Ltd). Employment opportunities in Lydbrook have also been provided by Rank Xerox at Mitcheldean and a small number of light engineering works and sawmills. These modern industries differ from their predecessors, as they did not evolve from the region's mineral resources but rather from the available workforce. Only the sawmills, employing a small number of individuals, retain a connection to traditional Forest industry. Improved road communications have further opened the village to visitors, leading to the development of holiday homes that were once the cottages of the Foresters.