broadwell (General)

by Jefff , West London, Middlesex, Monday, April 07, 2014, 17:37 (3884 days ago) @ doran54

Hi again Doran, sorry you've had a disappointing trip, I hope it wasn't completely wasted (were you visiting Christchurch graveyard ?). I'm afraid this is another instance where searching this forum and the main website would have answered your question, please see this old thread for example, the forum search box is at top righthand of the screen. One of your earlier posts also gave a reply about the many old maps available within this site, from the top many bar, this one clearly marks Broadwell lane End.
http://www.forest-of-dean.net/index.php/resources/15-maps/98-forest-of-dean-west-circa-...

Broadwell Lane End is essentially the old name for the hamlet of Broadwell, but as you say most locals probably wouldn't recognise it, altho they might well have done at Forest Bookshop in Coleford centre, or Local Studies Centre at Cinderford library.

As this thread details, the "Lane End" term refers to days when it was at the "Broadwell End" of the "Lane" out from Coleford town centre towards Speech House/Cinderford. Similarly neighbouring "Coalway Lane End", nowadays more or less invisibly linked to Coleford.
http://forum.forest-of-dean.net/index.php?id=41632

As I've suggested before, I know I'm biased as I've always liked studying close-scale Ordnance Survey maps, but in my honest opinion a good map is an essential item when visiting any area of the world, especially for FH research where the old maps can be even be visualised into a "virtual" visit. This can be done using the various old map sites referenced in the above thread.
http://www.forest-of-dean.net/index.php/resources/15-maps/98-forest-of-dean-west-circa-...

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Another superb FH research source are the old Trade Directories, as well as listing local people in great detail, they often give descriptions of the area concerned. In this instance searching the internet gives this example

"BROADWELL LANE END, COALWAY LANE END, LITTLEDEAN LANE END, and MITCHELDEAN LANE END form a hamlet, partly in Christ Church district, and partly in St. Paul's. There is a good National School here, erected in 1864, with a house for the master, it is in connection with Christ Church, and divine service is held in it every Sunday."

Extracted from:
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cbennett/westdean1876.htm

Many other local Directories here http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cbennett/index.htm
http://www.forest-of-dean.net/index.php/resources/kelly-s-directory-1879

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Alternatively just general searching tinternet gives several modern hits suggesting Broadwell Lane End is still used as a postal address,
eg (if it's still open) the local Post Office, such website entries often have helpful maps too.
http://www.shops2b.co.uk/shop/post-office-broadwell-lane-end-coleford/

And the sadly now closed Bird in Hand pub was at Broadwell Lane End, it's now apparently "the Salvation Army HG for the FoD". Most locals will know where that is.
http://www.yelp.co.uk/biz/bird-in-hand-coleford