Brean Cross Sluice serves as the demarcation point between the tidal and non-tidal sections of the modern River Axe. Originating from the springs at Wookey Hole, the River Axe gracefully flows through Cheddar, making its way towards the sea at Weston-super-Mare. A few miles to the south, the River Brue embarks on its 30-mile journey across the Somerset Levels, ultimately reaching the sea at Highbridge. The relationship between the communities of Somerset and the Rivers Brue and Axe holds a profound historical significance within the county. The Somerset Levels, situated at or even below sea level, have undergone a remarkable transformation. Once an expansive wetland area, traversed by our Neolithic ancestors along ancient paths, it has evolved into a region of fertile farmland and breathtaking countryside that we behold today. This transformation has occurred over the course of centuries, with successive generations introducing alterations and amendments to the drainage systems that govern the flow of water into the river network and away from the land. The Brue and Axe rivers not only play a pivotal role in land management but also serve as magnificent features within the landscape, offering a diverse array of wildlife. Furthermore, they hold profound importance in the livelihoods and identities of those who appreciate and enjoy these aqueous environments.Brean is a village and civil parish located between Weston-super-Mare and Burnham-on-Sea in Somerset, England. Its name is derived from the Brythonic and Modern Welsh term "Bryn," meaning a hill. The village has a population of 635 residents. Adjacent to the village lies Brean Down, a promontory rising 320 feet (98 m) above sea level and extending 1.5 miles (2.4 km) into the Bristol Channel. Atop Brean Down stands Brean Down Fort, which marks the end of Weston Bay.Situated on a narrow strip of land between the sea and the River Axe, the village is home to Brean Leisure Park, a tropical bird garden, various tourist attractions, and several caravan parks. The sandy beach has been a popular destination for land sailing since 1970. Occasionally, Brean is associated with the nearby village of Berrow, and the two villages are collectively referred to as Berrow & Brean. Brean was historically part of the hundred of Bempstone. During the devastating Bristol Channel floods of 1607, the village experienced extensive flooding, resulting in the destruction of seven out of its nine houses and the tragic loss of 26 residents. This camera was installed and is maintained by the Environment Agency and can be viewed
here All content is available under the
Open Government Licence v3.0. Notably, Windmill House, located on South Road, served as one of the terminuses for the PTAT-1 transatlantic communications cable, connecting it to Manasquan, New Jersey, United States. Constructed in 1989 by Mercury Communications, Windmill House ceased operations in 2004.
