The Masons Arms had a license to sell alcoholic beverages off the premises only. In 1891 and 1903 the Masons Arms had a beer house (off-sales) status and an annual rateable value of £12.0s.0d. Richard Watkins was the owner in 1891 and the Masons Arms was free of brewery tie. Godsell & Sons of the Salmon Springs Brewery in Stroud had purchased the off-licensed premises by 1903 when it closed at 10 pm.

The Masons Arms had a long association with the Skipp family, and it was also sometimes known as Skipp’s off-licence. George William Skipp is resident in 1891, W.Skipp (beer retailer) in 1899, Susan Eliza Skipp (beer retailer) is in the 1902 and 1919 Directories, and Stuart Skipp was at the off-licence in 1939.


Dean Forest Mercury: Friday January 12th 1973: The funeral of Mrs Clara Skipp, of Bream, took place on Friday at St. James’s Church, Bream. She died at Lydney Hospital on January 1st at the age of 85 after a short illness. She retired after the closure of the Masons Arms off-licence premises at Bream, which she ran after her husband died.


The residential property still retains the name the Masons Arms.


March 2023

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