Heritage

Why Heritage as a brand for the Coleford area and the Forest of Dean?

From pre-history the Forest of Dean has been a protected landscape. The presence of iron ore meant use of wood for smelting by making charcoal. The ore itself outcropped around the edge of the coal basin in structures know as scowles. It was also declared a king’s hunting forest during Norman times. The Forest of Dean was also valued for its timber for ship building and as late as Nelson’s time his report led to the re-forestation of the Dean. The discovery of coal itself led to the introduction of coke fired furnaces, of which Whitecliff is the only remaining example in the country. Development of industry led to the mineral tramways that were superceded by the two railway lines of the Great Western (Coleford/Monmouth Branch) and the Severn and Wye. The Severn and Wye line in turn has been used to develop the Forest of Dean Cycleway.

There are also the existing initiatives of Puzzle Wood, Clearwell Caves, Cinderbury and Perrygrove railway, all run by private family companies and the Dean Heritage Centre at Soudley that was developed originally by local interest groups and is now a Charity.

In addition, there are the local historians and authors, many of whom have done a great deal of research into the history of the Dean and the Local History Society and others who have developed walks, rediscovered old remains and created sculptures in the area.

Heritage Open Days 10th - 14th Sept
The Partnership Group has been fully involved in the Heritage Open Days.

10th Sept - Walk around Coleford 25 years on.
Re-creation of an histric walk around Coleford. The originals appear in Dr Cyril Hart's book "Coleford - The history of a West Gloucestershire Foest Town" published in 1983.
This will mark the 25th Anniversary of the last walk and it is hoped that this will highlight the changes that have taken place in the last twenty five years.

11th Sept - Family History Research. 10am - 4pm
An opportunity to learn how to investigate your own family history. This will take place in the Partnership Offices next to the Tourist Information Centre.

11th Sept - Pisgah Methodist Church. Open 10am - 7pm
Past, Present and Future

11th - 14th Sept - St. Peter's Church, Clearwell. Open 10am - 5pm

12th Sept - Church of the Good Shepherd, Broadwell. Open 10am - 4pm

13th -14th Sept - Tan House,Newland. 2.30.pm. to 5pm.
History of an important Tannery property

Download the Heritage Project Evaluation HERE

Working with the Forest of Dean Local History Society Website