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
Books on the Forest of Dean
Books Available of Forest People and Places

Bob Smyth - These vivid portraits of the people and places of the Forest create an unforgettable impression of life past and present. Profiles of 'notables' are balanced by encounters with ordinary people who work on the land or within the community. Illustrated with photographs by Steve Cassidy.

Paperback £9.99 1998 Illustrated

FOUR PERSONALITIES FROM THE FOREST OF DEAN

Ralph Anstis - Four biographies of personalities from the Forest of Dean's past, Sir John Wyntour, a Forest businessman, Catharina Bovey, young widow of Flaxley Abbey, Timothy Mountjoy, Forest Miner and Sir Charles Dilke, M.P.

Paperback £9.99 316 pages Illustrated

DEAN FOREST STORIES

Ralph Anstis - The author has taken real people and actual happenings in the Forest of Dean and embellished them with fiction. The result is an engaging mixture of fact and fantasy that will charm and intrigue the reader.

Paperback £4.95 124 pages Illustrated

GLOSTER AIRCRAFT COMPANY

Compiled Derek James - A collection of photographs and captions portraying some of the people who worked for the company and the aircraft which they built.

Paperback £9.99 160 pages

FOREST VOICES Compiled Humphrey Phelps

This book is about life and work in the Forest of Dean during the first half of this century as told in interviews with the people concerned. A unique record that will appeal to all who know the Forest of Dean.

Paperback £9.99 128 pages Illustrated

THE CHANGING FOREST Dennis Potter

First published in 1962 The Changing Forest is Forest (Berry Hill) born Dennis Potter's personal study of the area, its people, traditions, ceremonies and institutions at a time of cultural and social change in the late 1950s and early '60s.

Paperback £5.99 134 pages

POTTER ON POTTER

Edited Graham Fuller

This book comprises interviews with Dennis Potter conducted over four years in which Potter discusses his work in detail and the early influences that shaped him to become Britain's most acclaimed television dramatist.

Paperback £8.99 171 pages

DENNIS POTTER: SEEING THE BLOSSOM Introduction Melvyn Bragg

On 5April 1994 Dennis Potter was interviewed by Melvyn Bragg on Channel 4 Television, he knew he had only a few weeks to live. This book records Potter's honest dissection of his life and work.

Paperback £6.99 84 pages

THE WYE VALLEY WALK

Heather & John Hurley

This book describes the natural and man-made history of the countryside through which this waymarked trail passes.

Paperback £4.95 128 pages Illustrated

THE INDUSTRIAL TEAGUES AND THE FOREST OF DEAN

Ralph Anstis - A history of the Teague family who were closely involved in the growing industrial and business life of the Forest community.

Paperback £14.95 204 pages Illustrated

MAN OF IRON - MAN OF STEEL Ralph Anstis

The lives of David and Robert Mushet, their wives and children and the making of iron and steel in the Forest of Dean. This book should appeal to anyone who enjoys reading about the lives of people of character who lived and worked in the 19th century.

Paperback £9.99 216 pages Illustrated

BRIDGES ON THE RIVER WYE


Alan Crow - A journey from the source of one of Britain's loveliest rivers along its meandering course to the sea via the seventy-seven bridges that cross it.

Paperback £9.95 173 pages Illustrated

FOLLOW 'MEE' TO GLOUCESTERSHIRE Patricia Ross

The true story of a journey around the County. The author records her impressions in a way that will strike a chord with lovers of Gloucestershire.

Paperback £9.95 198 pages Illustrated

SYLVAN TALES & POEMS Cynthia Cresswell

A collection of true stories, poems, fictitious and mythical tales.

Paperback £2.50 80 pages

IT'S A NICE DAY EVERY DAY Francis Thomas

The story of the restoration of the church at St Briavels.

Paperback £7.00 80 pages Illustrated

THE FOREST OF DEAN REVISITED Joyce Latham

A collection of old photographs compiled by local author Joyce Latham, her informative captions bring to life a bygone age. This book will rekindle happy memories for many, and will appeal not only to Foresters intrigued about their past but also to visitors delighted by this beautiful area.

Paperback £9.99 128 pages

GLOUCESTERSHIRE AT WORK Stephen Mills

An excellent compilation of over 200 photographs showing Gloucestershire's industrial and commercial past covering the Cotswolds, the Vale and the Forest of Dean.

Paperback £9.99 160 pages

EDWARDIAN DEAN IN COLOUR Neil Parkhouse and Ian Pope

A collection of colour postcards from around the Forest of Dean issued by Tilley's of Ledbury, circa 1906-1914.

Paperback £7.50 44 pages

THE STORY OF FLAXLEY ABBEY Baden Watkins

Gives the history of the Abbey and the surrounding area.

Hardback £12..00 310 pages Illustrated - Paperback £6.95

FOREST TO SEVERN compiled Humphrey Phelps

Humphrey Phelps' selection of black and white photographs journeys between Littledean and Coleford, Lydbrook and Lydney and along the banks of the neighbouring Severn.

Paperback £9.99 160 pages Illustrated

STAUNTON on the Forest Edge J A Cockburn

A history and guide to a Norman village in the Forest of Dean, birthplace of General Thomas Gage

Paperback £4.95 56 pages Illustrated

THE FOREST IN OLD PHOTOGRAPHS collected David Mullin

A collection of old photographs from around the Forest of Dean showing its industrial development, villages, towns, churches and local people.

Paperback £7.99 160 pages

THE RIVER SEVERN Keith Kissack

Keith Kissack gives a description of the river, the history, architecture and people who live in the towns and villages along its banks.

Paperback £7.95 150 pages Illustrated

THE FOREST OF DEAN Humphrey Phelps


Covering every aspect of the area, past and present, filled with history, folklore, characters and scenic descriptions this book is the perfect companion for visitor and native alike.

Paperback £8.99 160 pages Illustrated

WHISTLING IN THE DARK


Joyce Latham - Joyce describes her life in the 1940's in the tight-knit mining community where she was brought up, included in this book are more of the author's poems and a selection of black and white photographs to illustrate the text.

Hardback £12.99 142 pages Illustrated

A DOCTOR IN THE FOREST Bill Tandy

Dr Bill Tandy's hilarious chronicle of almost forty years as GP/Surgeon to the Forest people.

Paperback £5.95 87 pages

THE EVER ROLLING STREAM Bill Tandy


The sequel to A Doctor in the Forest, Dr Bill Tandy recalls his early medical student days in the 1920's, of the challenging years practising in India, where he met Ghandi, and of his return to settle as GP/Surgeon in the Forest of Dean.

Paperback £5.95 90 pages

REQUIEM FOR WILL William Fisher

Three letters describing the Senghenydd mining disaster of 1913 and the diary of the First World War written by William Fisher, a coalminer.

Paperback £7.00 115 pages

THE MUSE COLONY Keith Clark

Rupert Brooke, Edward Thomas, Robert Frost and Friends, Dymock 1914. The author explores the reasons for the poets congregating in Dymock before the outbreak of war, and how they related to the village population which suspected them of being enemy spies.

Paperback £7.50 127 pages Illustrated

ONCE THEY LIVED IN GLOUCESTERSHIRE Linda Hart

A collection of almost fifty poems by all six Dymock Poets. An introductory essay about each poet shows how their lives intertwined in various ways between 1908 and 1917 and also provides background information about the poems.

Paperback £5.95 120 pages

Nicholls' IRON MAKING in the FOREST OF DEAN

A reprint of one of the most interesting early historical accounts of the Forest of Dean, first published in 1866. Written by the Rev. H.G. Nicholls, vicar of Holy Trinity Church, Drybrook from 1847-1866.

Paperback £5.95 82 pages Illustrated

SEVERN TANKING B.A. Lane

This fascinating book gives a detailed and personal account of life aboard the Severn Tankers, which once sailed the Severn estuary and up river to Worcestershire. Mr Lane tells of the comradeship and navigational skills required to sail this often dangerous and unpredictable river and also includes dodging German bombs, poaching, scrumping and rule-bending.

Paperback £5.95 95 pages Illustrated

TIME AND TIDE Wait for no Man on the Severn B.A. Lane

A unique pictorial and narrative account by Severn Tanker Captain Basil Lane giving a first-hand account of working life on the river. Includes a large selection of black and white photographs.

Paperback £8.95 136 pages Illustrated

CURIOSITIES OF GLOUCESTERSHIRE Severn Vale and Forest of Dean

M Caine and A Gorton - An illustrated guide to the follies, unusual buildings, objects and epitaphs in and around the towns and villages of the Severn Vale and Forest of Dean in the county of Gloucestershire.
Paperback £5.99 94 pages Illustrated

GLOUCESTERSHIRE PAST Ann Moore

An illustrated guidebook to historic places and people of Gloucestershire, serves as an entertaining introduction to these fascinating sites for visitors to the county.

Paperback £7.99 120 pages Illustrated

THE CAVES OF THE FOREST OF DEAN Tony Oldham and Keith Jones


This book contains descriptions, location maps and grid references for caves in the area.

Paperback £6.00 47 pages Illustrated

THE MINES of the FOREST OF DEAN and surrounding areas Tony Oldham

A history and description of the mines of the Forest of Dean. Also contains maps and grid references.

Paperback £7.50 86 pages Illustrated

A LOOK BACK AT NORCHARD Dr. Graham J. Field


The history of the Norchard Colliery gives an interesting insight into coal mining in the Forest of Dean.

Paperback £2.50 91 pages Illustrated

THE FOREST OF DEAN BRANCH Volume 1

THE FOREST OF DEAN BRANCH Volume Two Ian Pope and Paul Karau


These volumes from the Severn & Wye Railway series cover not only the railway itself but places it in its proper context against the transition of the area from medieval royal hunting ground, supplying timber for the great naval fleets, through to a centre of industrial activity based on the local coal and iron ore deposits.

Hardback £25.00 each volume Illustrated

SEVERN & WYE RAILWAY Forest of Dean Vol 3 Ian Pope & Paul Karau

Continuing the history of the railway this volume examines the Lydbrook and Coleford branches with extensive coverage of the industries which they served.

Hardback £17.95 580 pages Illustrated

THE FOREST OF DEAN TRAMROAD R. J. Morris

A history of the former railway and tramroad from Bullo Pill to Churchway via Soudley and Cinderford. Includes black and white photographs, maps and diagrams.

Paperback £5.95 52 pages Illustrated

WHERE I WAS BRED William G. Creswick, J.P.

The thoughts and reminiscences of W. G. Creswick gives a history of St. Briavels and an account of life in the village.

Paperback £3.50 28 pages Illustrated

A VILLAGE IN THE FOREST Ivor H. Davis

Ivor H. Davis describes his birthplace and early life in the Forest of Dean through the eyes of a young boy growing to manhood and going off to war. He brings to life the ways of village life in St Briavels and also sheds a fascinating light on a whole era now almost forgotten.

Paperback £5.95 80 pages Illustrated

FINE FOREST OF DEAN COAL

A facsimile reprint of a booklet published for the Forest of Dean Colliery Owners' Association, giving a history of each Colliery includes maps and black and white photographs.

Paperback £4.95 56 pages Illustrated

ALBERT'S DREE WI'KER Keith Morgan


Poems written in dialect, full of the wonderful humour and character of the enchanted Forest of Dean.

Paperback £4.95 36 pages Illustrated

THE 'AZARDS o' CHIMUCK SZWIPPIN'


Keith Morgan - Keith Morgan's full collection on Forest poetry and verse, many in dialect, bound in a deluxe, illustrated edition.

Hardcover £10.95 76 pages Illustrated

WYEDEAN WALKS Heather Hurley

A collection of walks along lanes, footpaths and bridleways to remote areas on the hills and along the Herefordshire riverside.

Paperback £2.99 48 pages Illustrated

PUB WALKS IN WEST DEAN

Geoff Sindery

Eight circular walks from Coleford clock tower, each visiting 8 very different pubs. Walks vary from 5 - 8 miles.

Paperback £4.95 75 pages

MUSICAL TRADITION OF DEAN VOL 1 Maurice Bent


Tells the musical life of Forest people dating back 150 years.

Paperback £13.50 280 pages Illustrated

DENNIS POTTER

Humphrey Carpenter - The authorised and controversial biography of one of the Forest's most famous sons. Dennis Potter was born in Berrry Hill, near Coleford and later became an internationally accraimed platwright.

Paperback £8.99 672 pages Illustrated - Hardcover £20

FOREST HEART

Chris Tye - This is a novel of the English Civil War told around a Forest of Dean Family.

Paperback £8.99 226 pages

HIGHEST POINT OF DEAN

Maurice Bent - A history of the community of Ruardean Hill

Paperback £8.00 166 pages Illustrated

OLD STONE CROSSES OF WEST GLOUCESTERHIRE


Ruth Proctor Hirst - The history surrounding many of the ancient stone crosses to be found in the Forest area.

Paperback £4.95 40 pages Illustrated

GREENWOOD

Leonard Clark - Beautifully constructed memories of a Forest upbringing by this acclaimed poet.

Hardcover £7.95 139 pages

A FOOL IN THE FOREST

Leonard Clark - Paperback £6.95

TALES FROM DUNKS CARNER

John Christian - A compilation of fifteen stories part true, part legend, part outrageous, part sentimental.

Paperback £7.99

SEVERN TRADERS


Colin Green - This book contains a welath of information on the trows of the River Severn. Profusely illustrated with old photographs.

Hardcover £26.95 180 pages 1999
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.