The Bush Inn at Hawsley, Joys Green.
The Bush Inn at Hawsley, Joys Green
The
couple in the photo above are James Brain born 1842 (son of Moses Brain
born 1811) and his wife Eliza. James married Eliza Hale in 1864
(both died 1924). Iris added (Sept 2006) "
They used to run the 'Bush' pub at Hawsley, Joys Green (there was another
name but I always knew it as The Bush) ".
The top photo is an early photo of The Bush with members of the Brain family
outside. James and Eliza Brain are on the far right of the photo. The photo
was taken before 1924.
Iris continued "Their son Giles born 1869 married Sarah Goode in
1893 at Forest Church, Drybrook. (She is with her older sister Esther
in the
left hand photo).
Sarah gave birth to 6 children - she died on the day her son Sidney Brain
was born - 16th March 1906.
Sidney was brought up by his father's brother, William Brain and his
wife Francis (Sidney was my father -
he died June 1972 aged 66). Sarah Goode was the daughter of George
and Mary Goode George was Chairman of the Forest of Dean First Miners Union,
the Secretary being Timothy Mountjoy who wrote a book mentioning George
Goode
A.M.A.
1870's".
The right hand photo shows" Lennard,
Ethel and Sidney (Sidney being on the right of the photo)
walking down the path at the Bush. Lennard, Ethel and Arthur although cousins
were Sidney's 'additional' brothers and sister
"William and Francis, who brought up my father, lived in a cottage either
attached to the pub [The Bush] or in the grounds. Francis moved
the family down to Central Lydbrook where they
lived
over a shop almost opposite the Prince of Wales. The Prince of Wales
had stopped being a pub - pubs were being closed because there was just
too many of them. The Brain's family
crest is on the fire place surround at the Littledean Guest House. There
is a big connection with the Brain's and Littledean Hall"
"William and Francis, who brought up my father, lived in a cottage either
attached to the pub [The Bush] or in the grounds. Francis moved
the family down to Central Lydbrook where they
lived
over a shop almost opposite the Prince of Wales. The Prince of Wales
had stopped being a pub - pubs were being closed because there was just
too many of them. The Brain's family
crest is on the fire place surround at the Littledean Guest House. There
is a big connection with the Brain's and Littledean Hall"
In October 2006, The Bush is still a pub, but now called "The Masons
Arms". It is only open at weekends.
Photo: Geoff Davis
Matthew Eagles added (July 2011): "... I own a cottage nearby at Timber Tump a few minutes through the woods from the former Bush miners pub. According to one of the documents I have a James Brain was named as a tenant when the cottage was sold in 1883 by William Hale to William Hale the younger".
Melvyn Powell added (Sept 2011) ... the Bush at Hawsley was run by my grandcher Powell in the 1940's and 1950's. We lived in the cottage next door. In the early 50s my grancher Harper lived opposite the Bush. My brother Spencer Powell still lives in my grancher Harper's house with his son. My grancher Powell left the bush and moved to Ruardean Woodside in 1952. The Bush was taken over by a Norman Adams . I now live in Warwick but spend time in the Forest when I visit my brother. My uncle Haydn Powell was the local builder in Ruardean. His son still lives there".
Jay Mason added (December 2011): "... The Bush I believe is now closed as the sign has gone ... it now looks a bit run down".
Susan Tombs added (April 2017): "... I find this very interesting as my Grandmother was a Goode and I was always led to believe that she was related to the Brain's, her name was Amy Regina Goode married name Malsome,I would appreciate any information to confirm this".
Melvyn Powell added (February 2018); "... the lady whose gran was a Goode, I remember my mother's best friend was a Barbara Goode who lived by us in Hawsley .Her husband was a Hill till he died about 1950. She then married an Edwards bus driver who was a Goode".
Jenny Elder added (November 2018): "... My name is Jennifer Elder, known as Jenny. I am American, but my mother and her then boyfriend, Tim Winstanley, lived in the Pludds in 1972-1973, when I was four years old. I remember a particularly kind barman (proprietor?) at the Bush called Dicey Hale -- no idea what his actual first name was. Soon after, we returned to California, and Tim married Pauline and took up residence in Blakeney. But I never forgot Dicey, and wonder if anyone else has memories of him".
A former patron added (June 2019): "... My recollections of Dice Hale was of running the Bush Pub and later the Bell in Lydbrook. He was very happy go lucky and gave the patrons what they wanted, which was a good time with Drinks after hours and even before Hours. Also he hosted big stakes Card Games. ..."
Graham Adams added (August 2020): "... I found reading about the Bush really interesting as it reminded me of when I lived there as a two year old in 1949 until the age of 14. My mother Eileen and Norman Adams were Landlord and Landlady for 12 years. I remember as child there was Carbide Lights in the property. Lighting produced from a lime gas which was fed through a pipe system. A Happy childhood there. I Remember Melvyn and Spencer".
Dave Byett added (March 2021): "... I used to live in Central Lydbrook, almost opposite the China Stores, and remember the Hale family running the Bell Inn. I believe I'm correct in saying that they moved to The Swan at Brierley, and their son Robert married Susan Morgan - they lived just over the brook in Susan's family home on the path to the railway line. Apologies if I've got that wrong. My grancher was Hubert Hale (don't know if he was related to the Hales at the Bush, but he played quoits there.) He and my Gran Edith Hale live in one of the cottages on Timber Tump".
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