I recently bought a copy of Forest of Dean: New History 1550-1818
by Cyril Hart and in it learned that the fire surround of Little Dean
guest house bore the Brain Family crest. Just wondered if there are any photoss
or further info available out there?

http://www.houseofnames.com/xq/asp.fc/qx/brain-family-crest.htm

might help you < although not from Littledean Guest House>

I have no connection with the site on the above URL, this is not an endorsement of the site, or encouragement to buy/transact or otherwise deal etc etc

--
Ἀριστοτέλης A Gloster & Hereford Boy in the Forest of Dean ><((((*>

Thanks for that

Coats of arms are not awarded to a family or a name, but to an individual. This is why there is often more than one coat of arms associated with a given surname. In England, direct descent is required for any heir to have the legal right to bear his ancestor's coat of arms.

The bearing of coats of arms is not regulated in most countries, including the United States, thus there has been a proliferation of "family name" companies offering histories and coats of arms for a given surname. While there is no reason we cannot enjoy the decoration of a coat of arms associated with someone centuries ago who shared our surname, we should be aware that this is all that it is -- a decoration.