Coleford

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

Other local places to visit

Coleford Town Walks

Coleford has established a series of Town Walks, each including places of interest and illustrating the history of Coleford.

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

All of which can be found on the Coleford Project Pages

Coleford History

The Town
People
The Railways
Family History Resources

All of which can be found on the Coleford Project Pages

Coleford in Photographs - Then and Now

All of which can be found on the Coleford Project Pages

Dining Out

Speech House Hotel
Tudor Farmhouse Hotel
The Wyndham Arms, Clearwell
Muffins Restaurant 12, St. John Street, Coleford, Glos.Tel: 834841
Hong Kong House, Chinese Takeaway, 32 Market Place. Tel. 835428

Nearest Bank

Lloyds TSB Bank
Midland Bank

Shops

Coleford has several supermarkets, and many smaller family-owned shops catering for all needs.

Local Schools

Royal Forest of Dean College (Tertiary and adult education)Lakers School (Secondary School)St. John's Church of England Primary School (phone: 01594 832046) Dean Hall SchoolThe Rose Day Nursery - Market Place, Coleford GL16 8AJ

Churches

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). Also see Coleford Project PagesBaptist ChurchThe 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. Old Church Records for family historians, and details of Coleford's other old chapels