Coleford is a thriving community and the administrative centre of the Forest of Dean. It has a rich history, and was recorded as Colevorde in 1275 when it was in part of the Royal hunting forest, but in existence for many hundereds of years previous to this. 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.

Coleford in the 1880's. Only the tower of the original church remains, the new church of St. John's being built shortly after this photograph was taken.

The Coleford Project has been established to promote Coleford, and these pages contain details of much of the town's history and future plans

The Coleford Walks
The Town
The People of Coleford
The History of Coleford
Coleford's Railway History
Family History Resources