Name: Chas Lord Denton
Age in 1881: 50
Age months: 0
Estimated birth year: abt 1831
Where born: Tasmania BS
Address: Village
Civil parish: St Briavels
County/Island: Gloucestershire
Source information: RG11/5222
Registration district: Chepstow
Sub-registration district: Lydney
ED, institution, or vessel: 7
Folio: 23
Page: 2

Name: Denton, Charles Lord
Age in 1891: 60
Relation: Head
Gender: Male
Where Born: Tasmania
Civil parish: St Briavel
Ecclesiastical parish: St Briavel
Town:
County: Gloucestershire
Source information: RG12/4337
Registration district: Chepstow
Sub registration district: Lydney
ED, institution, or vessel: 9
Folio: 129
Page: 10

At his death in 1892 Chas Lord Denton left legacies for the benefit of the village.
His nephew and heir O.W. Andrews gave a site adjoining the reading room for an
assembly room, which was built in 1924.

Octavius William Andrews, Staff Surgeon in Devonport in 1901
on HMS Colossus age 35 born London

In 1881
Emily Florence Andrews abt 1871 St Pancras, Middlesex, England Daughter Kensington
Frederick Verdon Andrews abt 1871 St Pancras, Middlesex, England Son Kensington
Henry Charles Andrews abt 1828 Brabourne, Kent, England Head Kensington
Louisa Augusta Andrews abt 1832 Calcutta, India Wife Kensington
Madeline Fanny Andrews abt 1860 St Pancras, Middlesex, England Daughter Kensington
Octavius William Andrews abt 1866 St Pancras, Middlesex, England Son Kensington
Alice Emily Hart abt 1868 Kennington, Surrey, England Servant Kensington
Susanah Hart abt 1861 Lambeth, Surrey, England Servant Kensington
Address: 5 Holland Park Gds
Civil parish: Kensington
County/Island: London
Source information: RG11/0025
Registration district: Kensington
Sub-registration district: Kensington Town
ED, institution, or vessel: 13a
Folio: 113
Page: 5

In 1871 -Oakley square Marylebone London -
Today near Mornington Crescent Tube station father Henry a General Practioner- (doctor)

Emily F Andrews 9 months Pancras Daughter St Pancras London
Fredk W Andrews 9 Pancras Daughter St Pancras London
H C Andrews 43 Kent, England Head St Pancras London
Larisa A Andrews 38 Lalcutta Wife St Pancras London
O Wm Andrews 5 Pancras Son St Pancras London
Emma S Elliott 28 Tunbridge Wells Servant St Pancras London
D D Hopkins 23 Glamorgan, Wales Assistant St Pancras London
Emma Lovegrove 16 Islington Servant St Pancras London
Emily Martin 23 Wiltshire, England Servant St Pancras London
Charle Powell 22 Holland Servant St Pancras London

Source information: RG10/220
Registration district: Pancras
Sub-registration district: Somers Town
ED, institution, or vessel: 2
Folio: 65
Page: 39
Household schedule number: 178

I guess your ancestors gave "us" Andrew's Corner to the North of St B...

Whit Sunday
Venue St Mary's Church
Tel +44 (0) 1594 530345

Each year on Whit Sunday the small village of St Briavels, in the Wye Valley, plays host to the Bread and Cheese Dole. This age old tradition sees crowds of medieval-costumed locals converge outside the local Saint Mary's Church in eager anticipation of catching dole pieces of bread and cheese that are thrown into the air from brimming baskets.

From the moment the first morsels are thrown a thrill of excitement ignites the crowd. Hands outstretched, every man, woman and child battles for his share of the bounty. There are no rules in this battle - women hoist restricting skirts and men pull out extraordinarily large hats to ensure they receive more than their fair share.

The Dole has not gone without its fair share of trouble in the past. As far back as 1816 the Gentleman's Magazine recorded that "most of the food was used as pellets; the pastor coming in for his share as he left the pulpit...". The event even had to relocate several times last century - drinking and outbreaks of fighting invariably the cause.

The origins of this unusual tradition date back to the time of Milo, Earl of Hereford, in the 12th century, although the first records are from Rudder's account, published in 1779. Dole claimers could be anyone who payed a penny to the Earl of Hereford (then lord of the Forest of Dean) entitling them to gather wood from nearby Hucknoll's woods.

Although the tradition of being able to gather wood has disappeared, the Dole lives on. Revellers believe in the power of these edible morsels and preserve them for good luck (miners originally used them as charms to protect against accidents). Today some people choose to place them in matchboxes and rest them under their pillow to inspire dreams of the future. Perhaps this event could revolutionise the welfare state? Bread and Cheese Dole - don't even think about it.

An image of the Church
http://www.sungreen.co.uk/St%20Briavels/xStMarys.htm

There are 6 almshouses, endowed by the late Charles Lord-denton esq.
The Reading Room and Library founded in 1854 by the late Charles Lord-Denton esq. contains a library of about 2,000 volumes and a recreation and billiard room

St. Briavels House on the east side of Pystol Lane is a moderate-sized 19th-century residence, perhaps built for Charles Lord Denton, a prominent inhabitant and benefactor to the village.

From: British History Online
Source: St. Briavels. A History of the County of Gloucester: Volume V, N. M. Herbert (Editor) (1996).
URL: http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=23262&strquery=Denton

Date: 22/03/2005
© Copyright 2003-2005 University of London & History of Parliament Trust

George Inn, High Street, GL15 6TA

The George, next to St. Briavels Castle, had an annual rateable value of £12.0s.0d. in 1891 and 1903. (10 p.m. closing). The George Inn is still trading. Map reference SO 558046

1856 Mrs E. Kear

1876 Joseph Grimes Kear (listed also as an assistant overseer and collector of taxes)

1885 Joseph Kear

1891 Ann Kear. Alehouse. Free from brewery tie (owner Charles Lord Denton)

1892 Mrs Joseph Kear

1902 Joseph Grimes Kear

1903 Joseph Grimes Kear. Alehouse. Arnold Perrett & Co. (reps. of Lord Charles Denton)

1906 Joseph Grimes Kear

1919,1939 William E. Burley

Hello Deborah,

I am researching your family, specifically in relation to the St.Briavels Assembly Rooms. I am on the committee of the Rooms and I have recently secured considerable funding to restore them as they have become quite run down over the years.

I have made a website for the Rooms to support the cause and the parish of St.Briavels - and I would like to feature more information about Charles Lord Denton and Captain Octavius W.Andrews.

I also need to check of course that the information I have so far is indeed correct!

The website is www.st-briavels.com

I would also love to have some photographs to put on there so we have a lasting record and testament to this generous gesture.

Can youy help?

Thanks,

Karen Cockfield.

I was born in St Briavels in 1944, at my grandparents farm, Close Turf farm (between St. B and Bream) My grandparents were James and Florence Baker who had 7 children Bert,Howard,Bill,Ivy, Ruby, Muriel (who was my mother) and Edith, (who is still living) I was delivered by Dr Nanda,a predecessor of Dr Eskells. I beleive Dr Nanda was Nigerian. Apparently, it was down to him that I survived. There must be an interesting story of how he came to the village.

Unfortunately,my mum & dad left after the war to live in London and later Worcester, but I spent many happy school holidays in St Briavels. Both at Close Turf and "The Roads" farm (never short of playmates with loads of cousins) I was especially close to my Aunty Ruby (married name Lewis) who lived first in a little wooden cottage outside the village and later at Ashfield House in the village and ran a cafe there for a while, I remember the Driver and Conductor of the buses coming up for a cuppa every two hours when the bus came in to wait in the square outside the castle.

Happy days indeed. My many cousins and their families are now widespread of course. It is a very big family, but many still live in and around the village.

At the moment I am particularly interested in finding out more about my Grandmother Florence whose maiden name was Beard and is reputed to have been born in Symonds Yat possibly around 1885 and I also know very little about my Grancher, James.

Thanks for raising some happy memories. I will be interested to see if I jog anyone elses. Joy Marchant