The "Drinking Dens of Bream", early 1900s (General)

by Jefff @, West London, Middlesex, Monday, November 25, 2013, 00:07 (4018 days ago) @ downunder

Hi D-U,
as promised I've tried to find more info re the King's Head, but sadly my books don't really add anything to what you've already gained from the GlosPubs site.
HOWEVER I thought you might "enjoy" this paragraph written by Heather Hurley to conclude the Bream Chapter of her excellent book "Pubs of the Royal Forest of Dean".

"With a dozen drinking dens open in and around Bream in the 1900s, it is not surprising to learn that drunkenness was a problem. It was mainly beer and cider that was consumed in large quantities by the parched farm labourers and the thirsty miners 'anxious to wash away mouthfulls of coal dust'. The Temperance Movement was very active at this time in trying to persuade people away from the 'demon drink'. Thus in 1902 'Temperance Sunday was duly observed at the Primitive Methodist Chapel in Bream, it being the fourth anniversary of the Band of Hope's connection with the Chapel'. The local paper continued: 'In the afternoon and evening Mr Dutton delivered two very powerful sermons, dealing with drink as a curse and total abstinence as the cure... He also dwelt most particularly on the increase amongst drunkenness in women, a fact that was to be deeply deplored'.
In 1911 a temperance society known as the Rechabites demonstrated in full force at a Gloucester District meeting held at Bream. Banners were displayed representing this society together with the World Wide Temperance Fraternity, the Abstinence Brotherhood and another advising 'prevention Better than Cure'."

This choice of subject is somewhat unique within this 320page reference book, perhaps suggesting Bream was a little different than other Forest villages and towns ?. Her research for the book was long and thorough utilising all available sources both verbal and printed including wellrespected and prominent local historians and of course local newspapers and journals, so I'm sure she writes with authority as befits an author with several publications under her belt;
https://openlibrary.org/authors/OL757203A/Heather_Hurley

So please remember I'm just the messenger... ;-)


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