Coleford is a thriving community and the administrative centre of the Forest of Dean. Coleford has a rich history, first recorded as Colevorde in 1275 when it was in part of the Royal hunting forest. It is well worth spending time looking around Coleford at its historical buildings, and taking the "Coleford Town Walk". It was here in in Coleford in the 1800's that Robert Mushet invented the process of making steel, and developed the first self-hardening tool steel.

Photos: Coleford town centre about 1880, showing the original octagonal church built in 1821 and demolished in 1882. The tower still remains.

The same view, taken in March 1999, the old church tower remains as the clock tower in the town centre.

Tourist Information

Coleford is situated within easy reach of a great many interesting places to visit in the Forest of Dean, from the Wye Valley and Symmonds Yat in the west, to the beautiful forest walks in the centre of the forest.

Coleford Town Walks

• Clearwell Caves - Ancient iron mines. Of great interest to the whole family
• Symmonds Yat - Superb views over the Wye Valley, good walks, and the Peregrine Falcons nesting.
• The Wye Valley - Picturesque easy walks, canoeing, fishing
• Puzzle Wood - Pleasant easy walks
• Beechenhurst - Picnic area with barbeque hearths, tourist lodge, cafeteria etc. Good walks
• The Sculpture Trail - Interesting walk with sculptures in the forest, including the stained glass window and the giant's chair.
• Railway Museum - An interesting collection of steam railway memorabilia from the Forest of Dean
• Perrygrove Steam Railway - see the monthly What's On pages for details of steam days

• The Churches Pilgrimage
• In Mushet's Footsteps
• Inns of the Past
• The Way we used to Live
• Tuckshops & Toyshops
• The Supernatural

St. John's, Church of England. St. John's Church was built in 1880, designed by S. Gambier-Parry, to replace the older original church in the market place (of which only the tower now remains).

Baptist Church

The Baptists first began worship in the town in 1805, and the present church was built in 1858, and extended in 1889 to include school rooms.

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