The village has a long history, at one stage being held by the rebellious baron Simon de Montfort.

Its economy used to be heavily involved with salmon-fishing in the Severn, as illustrated by a carving in the local church of three salmon caught in a fishing net.

It was rebuilt by Henry Woodyer (who had earlier worked on the nearby church in Highnam) in 1870, but contains many older features such as a fifteenth-century baptismal font, a Jacobean pulpit and part of a fourteenth-century cope.

The Severn Bore Inn, butchers shop and waterski club, often attributed to the village, actually lie outside the parish boundary.

F. W. Harvey, war poet and broadcaster, dubbed the "Laureate of Gloucestershire", is buried in the village churchyard.