Gallery 54 - Ross on..
Contemporary abstract art, ceramics and glassware
Life Changing Activi..
Fun, adventure, and personal growth in the Great Outdoors
Cleeve Orchard Cider..
Artisan maker of Little Owl cider from the last orchard in Ross on Wye
Catherine Drew - The Forest Poetess
Catherine Drew - The Forest Poetess

Catherine Drew was born on 30 May 1784, and died on 21 March 1867 in Cinderford. Her grave is at St. John's church Cinderford. During her life she wrote many poems about the Forest, some of which were published in a limited edition book, of which it is understood that only 100 copies were printed.

It is hoped to be able to obtain some of those poems to include here. First we have to find a copy of the book!

Marie Sims writes:

My 5th Great-Grandmother Catherine Smith DREW (1784-1867) published a book of poems in 1841 titled "A Collection of Poems on the Forest of Dean and its Neighbourhood" - (picture is of Catherine Drew's Grave at St. John's Church, Cinderford)
    
IN

 MEMORY OF

CATHERINE DREW

THE FOREST POETESS

BORN MAY 30 1784

WHO DIED MARCH 21 1867

 NO SIN NO GREIF NO PAIN
SAFE IN MY HAPPY HOME
MY FEARS ALL FLED AND DOUBTS ALL SLAIN
MY HOUR OF TRIUMPH COME

The actual inscription is already hard to read, and the surface of the stone is decaying badly. The whole surface is about to fall off entirely. A couple of years more winter frosts, and it is likely to be gone.

Genealogy Pages for Catherine DREW by Marie Simms
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.