Mitcheldean
Local Attractions
And
Brief History
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attractions | facilities | location l terms | photoshoots | packages | ilbordello | recordstruthin
The parish and town of Mitcheldean is positioned on the uppermost edge of the Forest of Dean, 10 miles from the city of Gloucester and 20 miles from Bristol. Mitcheldean is a small community - however as it has a Town Hall and a fairly substantial population, it is often called a town. It is positioned on the old route of an ancient road, which stretched from the Roman road between Gloucester and South Wales, and as such has a history stretching back to the Domesday book and beyond. The road would have been used for carrying iron, made from locally mined iron ore, so it can safely be assumed that there was a settlement close by.
The earliest Lords of the Manor were responsible for the 'woodward ship' of the Bail wick of Mitcheldean, paying rent at St Briavel's Castle estate. The town of Mitcheldean began to develop a community based on the products of the nearby forest, and like most small communities at the time, would have been almost entirely self sufficient. A charter granted by Henry VI in 1328 allowed Mitcheldean to hold markets, bringing in products from outside the town.
By 1430 a cross was erected, The High Cross, providing a covered market for the traders, which moved along the High St in 1431. The only properties to survive this time are the three timbered houses along Mill End St, The General Stores being one of them.
The independent church was established in Mitcheldean around the 1670s, with the earliest school being established in 1545. Most views of Mitcheldean are dominated by the church spire of St Michael's and All Angels. Built of local stone, it is possible that an earlier church of wooden construction stood on this site.
Key employment in the Forest consisted of mining, agriculture, tanning, cloth making and nail making. Mitcheldean went into decline in the 1700s , but the expansion of the Forest of Dean coalfield meant that employment was plentiful in the 1800s. The Forest Brewery was founded in 1868, from sandstone blocks quarried from the nearby Wilderness Quarry. 'Mitcheldean Ales - Best in the West' was their slogan, and in the early 1900s it was taken over by The Cheltenham Original Brewery Co Ltd.
The opening of a cement works up 'the Stenders' in 1885 provided a short spell of employment, but it closed in 1914. In 1941, however, the original brewery site was taken over by British Acoustic Films, after national policy had dictated that key firms should move out of London during the blitz, and it was put to use producing searchlight equipment, gunfire direction tables and film projectors. In 1948, this in turn became part of the Rank Organization, which later became Rank Xerox in 1956. The first licence for a dry copier came out in the late 1940s, and the Mitcheldean site was used to build this new product. By the 1970s, the Rank Xerox workforce had reached almost 5,000, but due to fierce industrial competition, the workforce was trimmed to 1,000 by 1984. Sadly in 2001, Rank Xerox broke the devastating news for the community that it was to close, keeping a small staff of 250 on for a small repair and maintenance facility.
(with thanks to Paul Mason for his extensively researched and illustrated "A glance back at...Mitcheldean", by Black Dwarf Publications, available on loan from Mitcheldean Library).
Before and After Mill End Mitcheldean Images
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BBQ |
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Blue Room |
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Butter Fly Room |
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Dining Room |
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Hot Tub |
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Sitting Room |
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Stone Paving |
Local Attractions and Days Out
attractions | facilities | location l terms | photoshoots | packages | ilbordello | recordstruthin
The Royal Forest of Dean, Vale of Leadon and Wye Valley offer you the opportunity to see typical English Countryside at it's best ! The Royal Forest of Dean was designated as a National Forest Park in 1938, the first in England, and offers you its natural beauty and outdoor leisure. The Forest of Dean is steeped in history, from ancient megalithic sites through to the industrial revolution and the coal mining of the 20th Century.
The Forest of Dean lies in the western part of Gloucestershire, between the rivers Wye and Severn and on the borders of Wales and Herefordshire. It is one of the most distinctive areas of Britain having a seductive charm and character that is uniquely its own. Its range of stunning landscapes and spectacular scenery has inspired artists, craftspeople, inventors, poets and playwrights, as well as the many visitors who return to the area year after year.
The Forest of Dean consists of four quite different landscape areas:
The ancient Royal Forest lies at the very heart of the district with the market towns of Coleford and Cinderford offering an insight into the industrial heritage and history of this fascinating area.
The Wye Valley is an area of outstanding natural beauty and forms the western border of the Forest, separating England from Wales. This unique area offers endless opportunities for outdoor activities such as canoeing and fishing on what is perhaps Britain’s most unspoilt major river.
The Vale of Leadon is a quintessentially English area featuring rolling farmland, vineyards and black and white timbered buildings centred around the picturesque town of Newent in the northern part of the district.
The
Severn Valley, through which flows the country’s longest river,
is famous for its tidal bore, Blaisdon plums and perry pears. The old
Severnside port of Lydney is the area’s main town, and is a thriving
business and shopping area. Steeped in history, abundant in local food,
rich in culture, and bursting with spectacular scenery, the Forest of
Dean offers you the chance to discover a part of England unlike any other.
Why not stay for a few days to fully explore the very best that the Forest
has to offer.
To make enquiries or reservations - contact postmaster@millendmitcheldean.co.uk
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The
Fountain Inn,
Parkend, Near Lydney, The Forest of Dean, GL15 4JD. Tel:
01594 562 189, Fax: 01594 564438 Take a trip back in time at The Fountain Inn. Built two hundred years ago to serve the local mining population, it was extended to provide refreshment and accommodation for passengers when the Great Western Railway reached the village in 1868. Relax and enjoy a drink in our comfortable bar with its open fire and cozy atmosphere, or choose from the extensive menu of traditional forest fayre. The inn has eight guest rooms, offering a variety of accommodation. The inn also offers a function room which can seat up to 300 people. |
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The Crown of Crucis is to be found in a picturesque village setting in the beautiful South Cotswolds near the town of Cirencester known as Corinium in its heyday of Ancient Roman times. Ampney
Crucis, Cirencester, Gloucestershire GL7 5RS |
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The
Old Passage Inn - Restaurant & Hotel
Arlingham : Gloucestershire : GL2 7JR Tel : (44) 01452 740 547 Fax: (44) 01452 741 871 The
freshest fish with the highest quality cuisine |
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The
Speech House Hotel
is a 17th century former hunting lodge set in the heart of the Forest
of Dean. Comfortably appointed bedrooms, several with four-poster
beds have been tastefully refurbished and offer modern facilities
while retaining their original charm.
The beamed Verderer's Court restaurant reflects the room's continuing use as a courthouse for the Foresters of Dean, while the more intimate Freeminers Restaurant maintains links with a unique Forest tradition. Tel: 01594 822 607 - Fax: 01594 823 658 - Email: relax@thespeechhouse.co.uk |
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Emperor Cantonese Restaurant : High St, Mitcheldean, Gloc. Tel : 01594 544 777 The Forest's Newest Cantonese Restaurant, is open six days a week from 12.00 noon to 2.00pm, and 5.30pm to 11.00pm and serves as a day-time cafe and lunch venue, and evening restaurant. It specializes in fish, with Steamed Sea Bass, Steamed Scallop in the Shell, Stir Fried Whole Lobster and Stir Fried Crab with Ginger and Spring Onion Next door is the Golden Kitchen, serving Chinese take-away meals and fish and chips.
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The George Pub, Mitcheldean, is immediately at the end of Mill End Street, and is a stone's throw from The General Stores Front Door. It has a small, village local style bar downstairs, and the King's Carvery restaurant upstairs, which is open all week. It also has a large garden to the rear, away from the road, which seems to get the sun all day long. |
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The White Horse and The Lamb are the other two pubs in Mitcheldean. The White Horse, next to Mitcheldean Town Hall (!) is the perfect place for sports enthusiasts - with live coverage of all big games. |
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Hopewell Colliery Museum Cannop
Hill, Coleford. Walk
through a true Forest of Dean Freemine.
Tel : 01594 810706 (Museum) |
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The
Sculpture Trail
www.forestofdean-sculpture.org.uk www.fweb.org.uk/dean/visitor/recreation/outdoor/walk-wood.html |
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Taurus
Crafts Cafe,
restaurant, gift shop, gallery, working pottery, craft unitsOriginal
crafts, exquisite gifts, fresh food, handmade pots. Great atmosphere
for all the family |
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Kingfisher Boat Trips Symonds Yat is world famous for its natural river scenery. The river winds its way through Symonds Yat gorge and village, dividing it into east and west. The Kingfisher cruise trips, which last around 35 minutes, start at 11am and go on until sunset. A full commentary is provided, telling of the natural beauty and history of the area. Evening trips with bar and buffet can be made for larger parties by prior arrangement. Symonds
Yat Canoe
Hire Ltd, Symonds Yat West. 2-3
& 4 seat Canadian canoes, kayaks. Hourly, half day, full day
hire. Transport. BCU qualified instructors |
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The Dean Heritage Centre Camp Mill, Soudley, Forest of Dean, Glos. Tel. 01594 822170 deanmuse@btinternet.com The Art Gallery by the lake, features a different artist every month to tempt you with textiles, paintings, prints and photographs. There is a working blacksmith, The Dean Oak Cooperative, and other craftspeople. In the Museum Shop you can find crafts, toys, books, maps and quality gifts . |
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Pedalabikeaway Cycle Centre Cannop Valley (B4324), Tel: 01594 860065 Biking
for Everyone : Traffic free waymarked trail - hourly rated. Comprehensive
range of bikes for all ages. Special needs bikes and equipment.
Open April to October (Nov. to March weekends) : Group hire, Guided
Rides, Information/maps, Refreshments, Toilets |
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Lydney Park Gardens is situated on the A48 Gloucester-Chepstow road between Lydney and Aylburton. (20 miles from Gloucester, 8 miles from Chepstow, 12 miles from the Severn Bridge. The gardens, Roman Camp and Roman Museum are open on certain open days between April and June. Dates and times of opening vary each year, and can be found by enquiry to the Estate Office, tel. 01594-842844. The main display is in a sheltered wooded valley with excellent landscaping, pools and dream-like pathways. Teas are available in the house on open days, and there is ample space for picnics in the Deer Park. The Roman Camp and Temple is close to the house, and well worth a visit. This is one of the most important Roman archaeological sites in Britain. The buildings visible on site date from the final phase of Roman occupation, when a wealthy religious complex was built late in the 4th century. Few Roman temples have survived as well as this example. The Victorian house lies in a seventeenth century park, with a twentieth century garden. The terrace was paved in 1950 and the woods were made into a woodland garden in the valley, with plantings of rhododendrons and azaleas. The
Arts and Crafts Movement celebration of the purity of craftsmanship
and honesty of manual toil led to a progressive involvement of owners
in garden work - shown here in Lydney Park Gardens. |
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Wenchford
Cannop
Valley Russells
Enclosure A
Day Out in the Forest of Dean
Ramblers
Association Walks
Mallards
Pike |
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St Michael and All Angels, Mitcheldean The medieval church of St Michael and All Angels lies at the heart of Mitcheldean, at the junction of two ancient roads of the Roman period, and as the manor was Saxon prior to 1066, it is possible that there was an early church here of wood before the current one of stone. The earliest item in the church is the base of the Norman font, but the earliest architecture of the church is from the late 13th century, in both the lower parts of the tower and the porch with its lancet windows. |
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Harts Barn Flower and Craft Centre Monmouth Road, Longhope, Gloucestershire, GL17 0QD (on the edge of Mitcheldean) Tel: 01452 830954 This old Norman hunting lodge is one of the oldest properties in the Forest of Dean, built by William Duke of Normandy to keep his hounds when he came to hunt in the Forest. The main house and surrounding buildings have been sympathetically restored and incorporate the region's principal centre for dried flowers and traditional crafts. A Tea Shop and Pets Barn Vetinary Centre can also be found on site. |
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Ruardean
Garden Pottery
Using traditional techniques of throwing and press moulding John Huggins and his skilled assistants produce some of the finest English flower pots available. Visitors are always welcome; you can browse through displays of unique pots and enjoy the vibrant tones of real teracotta, rummage in the seconds corner or stroke the pottery cat! Ruardean
Pottery, Forest of Dean, Glos. GL17 9TP,Tel
:01594-543577
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Ross-on-Wye High on a sandstone cliff, overlooking a large loop in the beautiful River Wye is the historic market town of Ross-on-Wye. Situated in the heart of rural Herefordshire and in the picturesque Wye Valley it has become a popular destination for tourists. Ross is an attractive and friendly town with Tudor timbered houses clustered around the striking 17th Century Market Hall where the twice-weekly markets are still held. In the town itself there are some excellent shops ranging from small craft shops to some of the larger high street chains. For full town details visit www.wyenot.com |
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White
Hart Inn This
riverside pub just north of Newnham is popular with young people.
Of interest is the well inside the pub. |
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Newnham-on-Severn
is delightfully located on the banks of the River Severn. The village
has a tree-lined main street reminding you of the imminent surroundings
of woodlands, with may listed buildings. In the centre, you will
see the prominent clock tower. You will find delightful shops, selling
local crafts, antiques, books, porcelain and pottery, post office,
Inns, village stores as well as a delicatessen and library.
The church stands on high ground and if you venture up to it, you can see the horseshoe bend of the Severn. Unfortunately the church was partially destroyed by fire in 1881 but later in the year, it was rebuilt and re-opened for worship. |
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Westbury-on-Severn offers several vantage points for watching the phenominal "Severn Bore". Surfers and canoeists ride this amazing tidal wave as it rolls up the river. The energetic sightseer can climb Garden Cliff, distictly banded in red and grey, and (if you bring wellington boots - because it is always muddy) you can visit the foot of the cliff when the tide is out and find fossil pleisiosaur bones and sharks teeth from the Rhaetic era, and collect copralites (fossilised dinosaur dung!), fool's gold, and the amazing "devil's toenails". Westbury Court Gardens house has long gone, but the 'Dutch Style in England' garden survives as the leading example of its type - a 'canal garden'. There is a pavilion and two canals bounded by yew hedges. A formal water garden with canals & yew hedges, laid out between 1696-1705. Restored in 1971 & planted with fruit trees dating from pre 1700. Tel. 01452 760461 |
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The Mohair Centre is situated at Longhope on the A4136 just off the A40, 8 miles west of Gloucester. As you approach the Park, there will be brown directional road signs to help. It is based at Little London, Longhope, Gloucestershire, GL17 0PH. Tel : 01452 831 137. It
incorporates 8,000 sq ft of Indoor Activities including a Restaurant,
Shop, Play Area and Toy Corner. Outdoors it has a Giant Sand Pit,
Farm Pedal courses, a Rickety Bridge Play Area and a Water Zone
& Pets' Corner coming soon. There are also farm yard animals
which children can look at and feed, and an indoor mohair production
and retail display. At
£3 per head, and for the fact that you can take your own picnic,
The Mohair Centre represents fantastic value for money for family
days out. |
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The
Severn Bore
happens periodically through the summer, ranging from a one star
to a four star bore - days and times can be found in local papers
or from tourist information places. It is created by the river flow
downstream meeting the tide coming in, which creates a huge wave
large enough to surf on. A one star bore - see left - is fairly
small and insignificant, but the larger bores sweep the sides of
the river, almost coming as high as the road in places and splashing
the crowds of by-standers who wait to see it. |
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