Gallery 54 - Ross on..
Contemporary abstract art, ceramics and glassware
Cleeve Orchard Cider..
Artisan maker of Little Owl cider from the last orchard in Ross on Wye
Life Changing Activi..
Fun, adventure, and personal growth in the Great Outdoors
Local History Society of the Forest of Dean
The Society is a Registered Charity - Number 1094700

The Society was founded in 1948, since when it has grown both in size and in prestige, to the extent that we now have over 300 members, literally world wide and are recognised both locally and nationally as a dynamic and forward-looking Society.

The primary aim of the Society is to encourage local historical and archaeological research in the Forest of Dean and its environs.

We hold lectures during the winter on appropriate topics, in various places in the Forest area. Some are given by our own members, other by historians and archaeologists from further afield. In the summer we arrange field trips to places of historic interest. Some are full or half-day excursions by coach, but local guided walks in town and country are also arranged.

Many of our members are carrying out their own historical researches, on a wide range of topics. Our interests range from pre-historic and medieval times to the very recent past. This work is carried out in the field, in libraries, record offices and other places where documents are to be found. Members of the Society will always help beginners to find the documents they need.

A newsletter is circulated to members each January, May and September, to keep everyone informed of the Society's activities. We also publish a journal ‘The New Regard Of the Forest of Dean'. This contains reports of archaeological and historical research carried out by members and is published for sale annually.

A modest subscription, payable in October each year, covers the costs of all indoor lectures and mailing of regular newsletters. If you are interested in the history and archaeology of the Forest of Dean or any part of Gloucestershire west of the River Severn, join the Forest of Dean Local History Society.

For more details take a look at our website – www.forestofdeanhistory.org.uk
More Local History
Books on the Forest ..
An inciteful overview and review of books about the Forest of Dean, listing many of the must reads about the area. Both locals and visitors will find something to delight in.
Catherine Drew - The..
Catherine Drew - renowned as the Forest Poetess, wrote many poems about the Forest, some of which were published in a, still hard to find, limited edition book.
Charcoal Burning
The ancient industry of charcoal burning, produced industrially in the area from the 1800's, crucial to the Forest of Dean, and of national importance in iron production for many hundreds of years.
Churches
An introduction to the Churches in the Forest by the local history society.
Dennis Potter
A brief introduction to Potter's life in the Forest of Dean. The critically acclaimed playwright was born in May 1935, at Joyford Hill, Berry Hill, Coleford, - the eldest son of a Forest coal miner.
Foresters Rights
Details of the ancient rights of the Foresters, from keeping sheep and pigs in the Forest through to Forest Freemining.
Freeeminers of the F..
Introduction to the Freeminers, story and photos by Mark Campbell. For 700 years the Free Miners of the Royal Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire, have mined coal but now their future is in doubt.
Ivor Gurney
Famous Forester - 1890 to 1937, renowned poet of the first world war, lived in a house near Minsterworth. Along with Rupert Brooke, Wilfred Owen, Siegfried Sassoon and Isaac Rosenburg, he portrayed t..
J K Rowling
JK Rowling, author of the Harry Potter Series of Books, part of our famous people from the Forest of Dean series.
Local History Societ..
Founded in 1948, with over 300 members world wide. The primary aim of the Society is to encourage local historical and archaeological research in the Forest of Dean and its environs.
Marefold and the Fur..
The Dark Hill foundry site is where the age of IRON ended and the STEEL age began. MAREFOLD AND THE FURNACE - Forging the Links - by Keith Webb
The Romans
Roman presence in the Forest of Dean With much of the Roman remains in the Forest of Dean probably still undiscovered, there are several identifiable sites of interest.
Tudors and Stuarts
The Tudor and Stewart period in Forest history was a time when iron was being produced locally in large amounts, possibly one sixth of the production of the Kingdom was coming from the Forest of Dean.
Wartime Memories
The Lydney Evacuees 1939 by Stan Tarrant. There is little doubt that the evacuation of children prior to the war in 1939 was a heart-rending experience both for parents and the children.
Winifred Foley
Winifred - a life-long resident of the Forest who wrote an important autobiographical account of her life, part of our famous people from the Forest of Dean series.