Coleford, Gloucestershire
Encyclopedia
Coleford is a small market town
in Gloucestershire
, England
in the west of the Forest of Dean
with a population of 8,351 (2001 census). It is situated some four miles east of the Welsh
border, and is close to the Wye Valley
, a popular walking and canoeing
area. It is the administrative centre of the Forest of Dean district
.
ed in the 19th century , but the one flowing through St John's Street was reopened in 2001 to allow for maintenance work, before being recovered.
Coleford is one of the oldest Forest of Dean
towns, largely developed before, and not deeply affected by, coal mining
, which became the Forest's staple industry during the 19th and early part of the 20th centuries. For this reason it differs visually from Cinderford
, the other major Forest town. Coleford's architecture is mainly Georgian
in appearance , although many of the façades cover much older structures.
In 1798, work commenced on Whitecliff Ironworks
, situated on the south-western edge of Coleford. Despite being managed by the noted Scottish
metallurgist
, David Mushet
, the works were not successful and ceased production by 1816. Other notable buildings include The Angel public house
, with its large arched entrance, hinting at coaching inn
days; what was Trotters Department Store, now home to Fairways Furnishings; and the clock tower in the town centre. This tower was originally attached to an octagonal church, built in 1821; but when, in 1882, the edifice was considered too small for the town's population, the main building was demolished. A much larger ecclesiastical building (St John's) was built on a hillside overlooking the town. A market hall stood next to the clock tower until the 1960s.
. Today, due to its prime location in the heart of the Forest, it is popular with walkers and cyclists, and the local council has been striving to encourage further tourist interest. There is a large factory here, originally called Carters, then Beechams, and now part of GlaxoSmithKline
, the sole production facility for Ribena
and Lucozade
. One old building that has survived is the former goods shed
for the defunct railway line to Monmouth
; it is now the Coleford GWR Museum
.
The town is home to author Andrew Taylor
, and children's writer and illustrator Shoo Rayner. The poet Paul Groves
lived locally from 1971 to 1996. Mary Howitt
, author of over 200 books, was born here on 12 March 1799.
Market town
Market town or market right is a legal term, originating in the medieval period, for a European settlement that has the right to host markets, distinguishing it from a village and city...
in Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire is a county in South West England. The county comprises part of the Cotswold Hills, part of the flat fertile valley of the River Severn, and the entire Forest of Dean....
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
in the west of the Forest of Dean
Forest of Dean
The Forest of Dean is a geographical, historical and cultural region in the western part of the county of Gloucestershire, England. The forest is a roughly triangular plateau bounded by the River Wye to the west and north, the River Severn to the south, and the City of Gloucester to the east.The...
with a population of 8,351 (2001 census). It is situated some four miles east of the Welsh
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
border, and is close to the Wye Valley
Wye Valley
The Wye Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is an internationally important protected landscape straddling the border between England and Wales. It is one of the most dramatic and scenic landscape areas in southern Britain....
, a popular walking and canoeing
Canoeing
Canoeing is an outdoor activity that involves a special kind of canoe.Open canoes may be 'poled' , sailed, 'lined and tracked' or even 'gunnel-bobbed'....
area. It is the administrative centre of the Forest of Dean district
Forest of Dean (district)
Forest of Dean is a local government district in Gloucestershire, England, named after the Forest of Dean. Its council is based in Coleford. Other towns in the district include Cinderford, Newent and Tidenham....
.
History
Coleford takes its name from one of two brooks that merge in its centre and was, as its name suggests, a fording point. The streams were culvertCulvert
A culvert is a device used to channel water. It may be used to allow water to pass underneath a road, railway, or embankment. Culverts can be made of many different materials; steel, polyvinyl chloride and concrete are the most common...
ed in the 19th century , but the one flowing through St John's Street was reopened in 2001 to allow for maintenance work, before being recovered.
Coleford is one of the oldest Forest of Dean
Forest of Dean
The Forest of Dean is a geographical, historical and cultural region in the western part of the county of Gloucestershire, England. The forest is a roughly triangular plateau bounded by the River Wye to the west and north, the River Severn to the south, and the City of Gloucester to the east.The...
towns, largely developed before, and not deeply affected by, coal mining
Coal mining
The goal of coal mining is to obtain coal from the ground. Coal is valued for its energy content, and since the 1880s has been widely used to generate electricity. Steel and cement industries use coal as a fuel for extraction of iron from iron ore and for cement production. In the United States,...
, which became the Forest's staple industry during the 19th and early part of the 20th centuries. For this reason it differs visually from Cinderford
Cinderford
Cinderford is a small town on the eastern fringe of the Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire, England. A population of 8,116 people is recorded in the 2001 census....
, the other major Forest town. Coleford's architecture is mainly Georgian
Georgian architecture
Georgian architecture is the name given in most English-speaking countries to the set of architectural styles current between 1720 and 1840. It is eponymous for the first four British monarchs of the House of Hanover—George I of Great Britain, George II of Great Britain, George III of the United...
in appearance , although many of the façades cover much older structures.
In 1798, work commenced on Whitecliff Ironworks
Whitecliff Ironworks
Whitecliff Ironworks, sometimes referred to as Whitecliff Furnace, at Coleford, in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire, England, are industrial remains associated with the production of iron, using coke, in the Forest of Dean.-Background:...
, situated on the south-western edge of Coleford. Despite being managed by the noted Scottish
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
metallurgist
Metallurgy
Metallurgy is a domain of materials science that studies the physical and chemical behavior of metallic elements, their intermetallic compounds, and their mixtures, which are called alloys. It is also the technology of metals: the way in which science is applied to their practical use...
, David Mushet
David Mushet
David Mushet was a Scottish metallurgist and the youngest son of Margaret Cochran and William Mushet.-Early life:Mushet was born on October 2, 1772, in Dalkeith, near Edinburgh. He was educated at Dalkeith Grammar School....
, the works were not successful and ceased production by 1816. Other notable buildings include The Angel public house
Public house
A public house, informally known as a pub, is a drinking establishment fundamental to the culture of Britain, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. There are approximately 53,500 public houses in the United Kingdom. This number has been declining every year, so that nearly half of the smaller...
, with its large arched entrance, hinting at coaching inn
Coaching inn
In Europe, from approximately the mid-17th century for a period of about 200 years, the coaching inn, sometimes called a coaching house or staging inn, was a vital part of the inland transport infrastructure, as an inn serving coach travelers...
days; what was Trotters Department Store, now home to Fairways Furnishings; and the clock tower in the town centre. This tower was originally attached to an octagonal church, built in 1821; but when, in 1882, the edifice was considered too small for the town's population, the main building was demolished. A much larger ecclesiastical building (St John's) was built on a hillside overlooking the town. A market hall stood next to the clock tower until the 1960s.
Today
Coleford was more able to adapt to the mine closures of the 1950s than its neighbour CinderfordCinderford
Cinderford is a small town on the eastern fringe of the Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire, England. A population of 8,116 people is recorded in the 2001 census....
. Today, due to its prime location in the heart of the Forest, it is popular with walkers and cyclists, and the local council has been striving to encourage further tourist interest. There is a large factory here, originally called Carters, then Beechams, and now part of GlaxoSmithKline
GlaxoSmithKline
GlaxoSmithKline plc is a global pharmaceutical, biologics, vaccines and consumer healthcare company headquartered in London, United Kingdom...
, the sole production facility for Ribena
Ribena
Ribena is a British brand of fruit-based uncarbonated soft drink, carbonated soft drink and fruit drink concentrate produced by GlaxoSmithKline. The original and most common variety contains real blackcurrant juice.- History :...
and Lucozade
Lucozade
Lucozade is an umbrella name for a 6 series of energy and sports drinks, produced by GlaxoSmithKline in Gloucestershire. The former company became part of Beecham and, after the mergers of SmithKline and Beecham in 2000, GlaxoSmithKline....
. One old building that has survived is the former goods shed
Goods shed
A goods shed is a railway building designed for storing goods before or after carriage in a train.A typical goods shed will have a track running through it to allow goods wagons to be unloaded under cover, although sometimes they were built alongside a track with possibly just a canopy over the door...
for the defunct railway line to Monmouth
Monmouth
Monmouth is a town in southeast Wales and traditional county town of the historic county of Monmouthshire. It is situated close to the border with England, where the River Monnow meets the River Wye with bridges over both....
; it is now the Coleford GWR Museum
Coleford Great Western Railway Museum
Coleford Great Western Railway Museum is a railway museum located in Coleford, Gloucestershire, England. The museum was founded in 1988. Based in the former GWR Goods Shed along the Coleford Railway. There was also another station situated at Coleford, it was opened by the Severn and Wye Railway...
.
The town is home to author Andrew Taylor
Andrew Taylor (author)
Andrew Taylor is a British author best known for his crime novels, which include the Dougal series, the Lydmouth series, the Roth Trilogy and the historical novel The American Boy.-Biography:...
, and children's writer and illustrator Shoo Rayner. The poet Paul Groves
Paul Groves
Paul Groves is an English former footballer who notably captained and managed Grimsby Town. He was naturally a central midfield player, but later in his career was used as a central defender...
lived locally from 1971 to 1996. Mary Howitt
Mary Howitt
Mary Howitt was an English poet, and author of the famous poem The Spider and the Fly. She was born Mary Botham at Coleford, in Gloucestershire, the temporary residence of her parents, while her father, Samuel Botham, a prosperous Quaker of Uttoxeter, Staffordshire, was looking after some mining...
, author of over 200 books, was born here on 12 March 1799.