Fairacres Bed & Breakfast near Rye

The village is first mentioned in a charter from the time of King
Canute (1016-1035). The name is probably derived from the
Anglo-Saxon word "Bred" which means broad. The valley below was
completely filled with sea-water at the time and reached as far as
Sedlescombe. It is also possible that the name came from the
"Brid" family who were masters of the mint at Hastings. The mint
was founded by King Athelstan in 924.

In 1030 the Manor of Brede was granted by decree to the Abbey of
Fecamp in Normandy, and until 1416, Brede was controlled by the
Abbey. The church was built by the Benidictine monks from the
Abbey around 1180. Very little of the early church remains, and the
majority stems from the 12th century.

Peter Pan was written by JM Barrie who was staying at Brede Place
when he used local legend to create the character of Smee in his
book.

Brede was famous for its iron works, and manufactured cannon and
shot until the late 1770's, when gunpowder became the main
industry in the area. In the early 1800's three major explosions
racked the mills, and finally on the 7th March 1808 Brede
Gunpowder Mills were completely destroyed ending the production
of gunpowder in the Weald.