80-530: Parkend is a village, located at the foot of the Cannop Valley, in the Royal Forest of Dean , West Gloucestershire , England, and has a history dating back to the early 17th century. During the 19th century it was a busy industrial village with several coal mines , an ironworks , stoneworks, timber-yard and a tinplate works, but by the early 20th century most had succumbed to a loss of markets and
160-503: A parliamentary constituency , both of which cover wider areas than the historic Forest. The administrative centre of the local authority is Coleford , one of the main towns in the historic Forest area, together with Cinderford and Lydney . The origin of the name is unknown. The prevalence of Welsh place names in the area suggests a possible corruption of din (meaning "hillfort"). However, similar or identical elements from Old English exist throughout England. In Welsh, Forest of Dean
240-491: A further 2 + 1 ⁄ 2 miles (4.0 km) through/into the middle of the Royal Forest at Speech House Road (close to the nearby Beechenhurst Visitor Attraction), bringing the line to a total of about 6 + 3 ⁄ 4 miles (10.9 km) in length. In 2016, DFR's director of civil engineering and director of development Jason Shirley announced plans to expand the railway to Cinderford . The project's status as
320-527: A major Roman temple complex dedicated to the god Nodens was completed at Lydney. The central parts of the woodlands in the forest are believed to have been protected for hunting since Roman times. The area formed part of the Cantref Coch and was traditionally considered part of the Brythonic kingdom of Ergyng , centered in modern Herefordshire. Even when the area came under Anglo-Saxon control,
400-458: A network of railways, and numerous tramroads. The tradition of independence in the area resulted in a great number of smaller and not necessarily economically successful mines. In 1904 the Gaveller oversaw a period of amalgamation of collieries which allowed deeper mines to be sunk. During the early 20th century, annual output from the coalfield rarely fell below 1 million tons. In 1945 half of
480-466: A number of industrial areas but the focus has been to capitalise on the scenery and to create jobs from tourist attractions and the leisure sector. Significant numbers of residents work outside the area, commuting to Gloucester , Cheltenham , Bristol , Newport and Cardiff . The Forest of Dean is formed of a raised basin of palaeozoic rocks folded in the Variscan Orogeny , similar to
560-533: A road was built from there to a river crossing at Newnham on Severn and port at Lydney. The "Dean Road", still visible at Soudley , is believed to be a medieval rebuilding of the Roman road , and would have been an important route to transport iron ore and finished metal products. During Roman times there were Roman villas at Blakeney, Woolaston and elsewhere, and towards the end of the Roman period, around AD 370,
640-415: A strategic regional development means that a large proportion of the estimated £8million cost could be met by Government funding. Download coordinates as: For the 2001 diesel gala a number of diesel were display at Lydney Junction. These were 37029,37308,37906, D172, 47306, 56111, 60081, 66250 and 66524. The main running set is a mix of BR Mark 1 and 2 stock. Two Mark 2 carriages were purchased by
720-547: A third furnace was added at Parkend Ironworks, but the optimism behind this investment was to be short-lived. During the mid-1870s, industry in the Forest, and across the country as a whole, quickly began to slide into a deep recession . Parkend Tinplate Works, and the ironworks that had dominated the village for 90 years, succumbed to a loss of markets and both closed in 1877. Just a few years before, these two businesses alone had been employing 500 people between them, but even this
800-539: A week later. A total of £85 (equivalent to £11,900 in 2023) was paid in fines. A subscription was also launched which generously compensated the Frenchmen. The term "Who killed the bears?" existed for many years as an insult, directed particularly towards the people of Ruardean – despite the fact that all those convicted were from Cinderford. A fictional version of the incident was used by Dennis Potter for his TV play A Beast With Two Backs . Exploitation of
880-580: Is Fforest y Ddena . Gerald of Wales , writing in the 12th century, refers to the area as Danubia which may translate as "land of Danes" following the Viking settlements in that era. It is possible that an original name Dene developed from this. The area was inhabited in Mesolithic times, and there are also remains of later megalithic monuments, including the Longstone near Staunton and
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#1732798449466960-486: Is oak , both pedunculate and sessile . Beech is common and sweet chestnut has grown here for many centuries. The forest is home to foxgloves and other wild flowers. Conifers include some Weymouth pine from 1781, Norway spruce , Douglas fir and larch . The deer are predominantly fallow deer and have been present since the second world war (there were no deer from about 1855 when they were removed in accordance with an Act of Parliament). A number of fallow deer in
1040-654: Is a 4 + 1 ⁄ 4 -mile (6.8 km) long heritage railway that runs between Lydney and Parkend in the Forest of Dean , Gloucestershire . The route was part of the former Severn and Wye Railway which ran from Lydney to Cinderford . The society that operates the line started steam locomotive operations in 1971, and bought the trackbed and line from British Rail in 1986, reaching Lydney Junction in 1995 and Parkend in 2005. Trains are operated by both steam and heritage diesel locomotives , and heritage diesel multiple units . The Dean Forest Railway has been given
1120-449: Is necessary. Under its international obligations the UK government is obliged to consider the reintroduction of species made extinct through the activities of man, the wild boar included. The Forest of Dean is known for its woodland birds; pied flycatchers , redstarts , wood warblers , lesser spotted woodpecker , nightjars and hawfinches can be seen at RSPB Nagshead and other parts of
1200-605: The Bessemer Process by discovering the solution to early quality problems which beset the process. In a second key advance in metallurgy Mushet invented 'R Mushet's Special Steel' (R.M.S.) in 1868. It was both the first true tool steel and the first air-hardening steel . It revolutionised the design of machine tools and the progress of industrial metalworking, and was the forerunner of High speed steel . The remains of Darkhill are now preserved as an Industrial Archaeological Site of International Importance and are open to
1280-494: The Bessemer Process by solving the quality problems which beset the process. In a second key advance in metallurgy he invented Mushet steel (R.M.S.) in 1868. It was the first true tool steel and the first air-hardening steel . It revolutionised the design of machine tools and the progress of industrial metalworking, and was the forerunner of High speed steel . The remains of Darkhill are preserved as an Industrial Archaeological Site of International Importance and are open to
1360-514: The Civil Service Motoring Association (C.S.M.A.). The Dean Field Studies Centre, once part of Parkend Ironworks , is owned by Bristol City Council and is used to accommodate schoolchildren from that city. The village and parish church are dedicated to St Paul and situated on the eastern edge of the village in a forest clearing. The shape provides the point of interest, being both octagonal and cruciform, with
1440-472: The Dean Forest Railway between Lydney Junction and Norchard is now a heritage railway . The Gloucester-Newport line continues to carry passengers. Lydney railway station serves the Forest of Dean, with 0.196 million passenger entries and exits in 2017–18. The station is served by trains operated by Transport for Wales , linking the Forest directly to Cheltenham and Gloucester to
1520-506: The Forest of Dean Coalfield developed rapidly in the early 19th century with increased demand from local ironworks, and when some of the earliest tramroads in the UK were built here to transport coal to local ports the area was transformed by the growth of mining and the production of iron and steel. In 1818–19 David Mushet built Darkhill Ironworks , where he experimented with iron and steel making. In 1845, his youngest son, Robert Forester Mushet , took over its management. He perfected
1600-591: The South Wales Railway at Bullo Pill . The less successful Forest of Dean Central Railway attempted to compete with the other lines for coal traffic but was rendered obsolete by the opening of the Mineral Loop, a new line opened by the Severn & Wye to connect a number of pitheads. Most of these railways now cease to exist, with most of the railways in the Forest abandoned by 1968. A section of
1680-525: The South Wales coalfield to the west. Underlain by great thicknesses of the Old Red Sandstone , the basin is filled with Carboniferous limestones , sandstones and coal measures , all of which have contributed to the industrial history of the region. Its highest point is Ruardean Hill (290 m, 950 ft). The forest is composed of deciduous and evergreen trees. Predominant
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#17327984494661760-550: The kingdom of England by Æthelstan in 926. Throughout the next few centuries Vikings conducted raids up the Severn, but by the 11th century, the kingdom of Wessex had established civil government. The core of the forest was used by the late Anglo-Saxon kings, and after 1066 the Normans , as their personal hunting ground. The area was kept stocked with deer and wild boar and became important for timber , charcoal , iron ore and limestone . The Hundred of St Briavels
1840-597: The Broadstone at Wibdon, Stroat . Barrows have been identified at Tidenham and Blakeney . Bronze Age field systems have been identified at Welshbury Hill near Littledean , and there are Iron Age hill forts at Symonds Yat and Welshbury. There is archaeological evidence of early trading by sea, probably through Lydney . Before Roman times, the area may have been occupied by the British Dobunni tribe, although few of their coins have been found in
1920-653: The Commoners Association. In October 2010 a woman won the right to be classified as a Freeminer. Elaine Morman, an employee at Clearwell Caves in the Forest, who had worked as a miner of ochre for a number of years, raised a claim of sexual discrimination against the Forestry Commission . After Mark Harper MP raised the matter in the House of Commons , the Forestry Commission reversed its position and agreed to register her. The forest
2000-565: The DFR Society in 2018 so that the Mark 1s could be overhauled. In early 2020, all the Mark 1 and 2s were transferred ownership from the Forest of Dean Railway limited company to the DFR society, including XP64 number 4729. Coach type codes There are lots different types of wagons at the DFR. Some are used for display and other for engineering works. Many of the wagons can be seen in sidings along
2080-458: The Forest of Dean proper has covered a much smaller area since the Middle Ages . In 1327, it was defined to cover only the royal demesne and parts of parishes within the hundred of St Briavels , and after 1668 comprised the royal demesne only. The Forest proper is within the civil parishes of West Dean , Lydbrook , Cinderford , Ruspidge , and Drybrook , together with a strip of land in
2160-683: The Forest of Dean remained under the auspices of the diocese of Hereford , rather than Gloucester. The Beachley and Lancaut peninsulas east of the Lower Wye remained in Welsh control at least until the 8th century. Around 790 the Saxon King Offa of Mercia built his dyke high above the Wye, but the area was still claimed by the Kingdom of Gwent and Morgannwg before it was annexed into
2240-637: The Forest of Dean was disafforested in the 1620s, causing a series of riots in 1631–32; this was part of enclosure riots across the South West commonly known as the Western Rising. In 1639 22,000 acres (8,900 ha) were disafforested, with 4,000 acres (1,600 ha) going to manorial lords and freeholders in compensation. 18,000 acres (7,300 ha) were to go to the Crown, and be sold on to Sir John Winter . Riots ensued in 1641. Winter's claim to
2320-594: The Forestry Commission’s headquarters since 1814, was bought by the Civil Service Motoring Association in 1970. It opened as a caravan site in 1971 and is now the largest tourist accommodation facility in the forest. Freight operations by the railway continued at Marsh Sidings up until 1976, after which much of the track was dismantled. The line was bought by the Dean Forest Railway Preservation Society and Parkend station
2400-462: The Friday, a party of 50 soldiers arrived from Monmouth , but by now the number of Foresters had grown to around 2,000 and the soldiers returned to barracks. Over the next few days more troops arrived from around the country. The Foresters' resistance crumbled and most of those arrested elected to rebuild the enclosures, rather than be charged with rioting. James was sentenced to death but his sentence
2480-570: The Gloucestershire County Cricket League, and the 2nd XI are in the Cheltenham, Gloucester and Forest of Dean League. They also have a Midweek senior XI team that traditionally took part in the annual West Gloucestershire Cricket Federation "Verderers Cup" competition, and a Sunday XI team that currently play the occasional friendly against neighbouring clubs. The Parkend juniors all play competitive cricket in
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2560-587: The Hundred of St Briavels supported King Edward I at the siege of Berwick-on-Tweed in the Scottish Wars of Independence by undermining the then Scottish town's defences in the first step of his campaign to seize Scotland from John Balliol . As a result, the king granted free mining rights within the forest to the miners and their descendants; the rights continue to the present day. Miners at that time were mainly involved in iron ore mining – although
2640-500: The Leadon Vale Youth Cricket League. The Parkend Players is an Amateur theatre group that performs most of its shows at the village Memorial Hall. Parkend Carnival, held on August Bank Holiday Monday, is renowned throughout the forest as being the biggest and best for miles around. During the summer, regular Sunday car boot sales are held on the recreation field, the profits from which go to support
2720-705: The Memorial Hall. The village also has a very active Women's Institute . Located on the western edge of the village, RSPB Nagshead is a quiet reserve, open all year. Facilities include a visitor centre, large car park, two viewing hides, two way-marked walks, and a picnic area. Birdlife regularly seen in the reserve includes great spotted woodpecker , Eurasian nuthatch , northern goshawk and common buzzard . Breeding birds include common redstart , pied flycatcher, and common crossbill and wood warbler , whilst Redwing , hawfinch and Eurasian woodcock can be found in winter. In 1942, nest boxes were erected, in
2800-542: The Speech", a sort of parliament for the Verderers and Free Miners managing the forest, game, and mineral resources. The Gaveller and his deputy were responsible for leasing gales – areas allocated for mining – on behalf of the Crown. The Speech House has been used as an inn and hotel since the 19th century. The Forest of Dean, with its huge iron ore reserves and ready supply of timber, had been of national importance in
2880-428: The UK national target for clean air, set at 40 μg/m ( micrograms per cubic metre ). In 2017, no roadside monitoring site in the Forest of Dean District failed to meet the UK objective. The most polluted site measured was on Lydney High Street, with a 2017 average NO 2 concentration of 36.9 μg/m . The Forest of Dean once boasted a developed railway network, much of which evolved from plateways built in
2960-480: The area and control may have been contested with the neighbouring Silures . The area was occupied by the Romans in around AD 50. They were attracted by its natural resources which included iron ore , ochre and charcoal . The coal mining industry was probably established on a small scale in Roman times. The area was governed from the Roman town of Ariconium at Weston under Penyard near Ross-on-Wye , and
3040-451: The arms formed by the sanctuary, north and west transepts and the west tower. It was designed and built in 1822, together with the village school, by Henry Poole; a local priest who raised most of the money through public subscription and his own generosity. Parkend Cricket Club is an English amateur cricket club that is based on the northern edge of the village on Crown Lane. Parkend have 2 Saturday senior XI teams. The 1st XI compete in
3120-435: The bears had killed a child and injured a woman. The bears were killed and the Frenchmen badly beaten. It soon became clear that the bears had not attacked anyone. Police proceedings followed and a week later 13 colliers and labourers appeared before magistrates at Littledean, charged with ill-treating and killing the bears and assaulting the Frenchmen. All but two were found guilty on one or more charges, with another convicted
3200-513: The central area are melanistic . Small numbers of roe deer and muntjac deer have spread in from the east. The Forest is also home to wild boar . A population in the Ross-on-Wye area on the northern edge of the forest escaped from a wild boar farm around 1999 and are believed to be of pure Eastern European origin; in a second introduction, a domestic herd was dumped near Staunton in 2004, but are not pure bred wild boar. Attempts to locate
3280-506: The country’s first Forester Training School in 1910. The 1920s proved to be another difficult period for the residents of Parkend. The high demand for coal, that had been created by the First World War , was followed by a slump and industrial unrest. Matters were made worse as the local mines were now finding it difficult to access coal easily, and some had been worked out completely. There were major strikes in 1921 and 1926, and all
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3360-419: The decline of the mines, the area has undergone a period of significant change, ameliorated to some extent by a shift to high technology , with companies establishing themselves in the area, attracted by grants and a willing workforce. Many mines have now been reclaimed by the forest and the area is characterised by picturesque scenery punctuated by remnants of the industrial age and small towns. There remains
3440-520: The discontented to the side of Charles II . After the restoration Sir John Winter successfully reasserted his right to the Forest of Dean. However forest law was reestablished by Act of Parliament in 1668. In 1672 the King's ironworks were closed to reduce pressure on the forest from mining. The Speech House , between Coleford and Cinderford , was built in 1682 to host the Court of Mine Law and "Court of
3520-810: The early 19th century to facilitate freight traffic to and from mineral workings in the Forest. Many of these lines were part of the Severn & Wye Railway , which ran from the River Severn at Lydney to Cinderford, with branch lines to Lydbrook, where it connected with the Ross & Monmouth Railway , and Coleford, where it linked to the Wye Valley Railway via a line known as the Coleford Railway . The Forest of Dean Railway also ran towards Cinderford and its nearby collieries, branching from
3600-525: The east. The area is characterised by more than 110 square kilometres (42 sq mi) of mixed woodland, one of the surviving ancient woodlands in England. A large area was reserved for royal hunting before 1066, and remained as the second largest crown forest in England, after the New Forest . Although the name is used loosely to refer to the part of Gloucestershire between the Severn and Wye,
3680-466: The enclosed areas and unable to hunt or remove timber. In particular, they lost their ancient grazing and mining rights. As unrest grew, a populist leader named Warren James emerged in the riots against the enclosures. Attempts to peaceably resolve the matter failed, and on 8 June 1831, James, leading more than 100 Foresters, demolished the enclosure at Park Hill, between Parkend and Bream . Around 50 unarmed Crown Officers were powerless to intervene. On
3760-417: The existing tramway. This proved to be unsatisfactory and 1868 the company also added a broad-gauge steam railway line, but both were removed and replaced with standard gauge tracks by 1874. At around the same time, a loading wharf, known as Marsh Sidings, was constructed and Parkend railway station opened in 1875, allowing the company to also operate passenger trains alongside its freight operations. In 1871
3840-526: The forest. The mixed forest supports one of Britain's highest concentrations of goshawks and a viewing site at New Fancy is manned during February and March. However, goshawks are still illegally killed in the area, with a bird found dead with a shotgun wound in June 2022. Peregrine falcons can be seen from the viewpoint at Symonds Yat rock. Mandarin ducks , which nest in the trees, and reed warblers can be seen at Cannop Ponds and Cannop Brook, running from
3920-471: The former Panteg and Griffithstown railway station building. Its removal was completed in June 2016, and is expected to be placed at the new upcoming Speech House Road . CrossCountry are now providing a combined fare for travel to Lydney mainline station (on CrossCountry services only) and then onto the Dean Forest Railway. The Dean Forest Railway plans to extend its heritage services
4000-537: The fringes of the Crown forest demesne. By about 1800, these settlements were well established at Berry Hill and Parkend . In 1808 Parliament passed the Dean and New Forests Act 1808 , which included the provision to enclose 11,000 acres (4,500 ha) of woodland. This enclosure was carried out between 1814 and 1816. There were bread riots in 1795 and in 1801. Ordinary Foresters were already poverty-stricken, and their plight had grown worse. They were denied access to
4080-515: The general industrial decline . In more recent times, the village has become a tourist destination. The village has two public houses, both with guest accommodation, and one with an adjoining hostel; The Fountain Inn and Lodge and The Woodman Inn. There are also two guesthouses, several holiday let properties, a CIU affiliated club with caravan & camping facilities, and a large camping and caravan site named Whitemead Forest Park; owned and operated by
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#17327984494664160-567: The historic Forest; they do not include places which are located outside that area, but which are within the larger District Council area. The A40 runs along the northern and northeastern edges of the Forest of Dean. The road provides the Forest with a direct connection to Ross-on-Wye and the M50 in Herefordshire . Westbound, the road runs towards Monmouth and South Wales . To the East,
4240-488: The hope that pied flycatchers would control oak leafroller moths, which were defoliating trees. These boxes have been continually monitored since 1948, making it the world's longest running bird breeding programme. The railway in Parkend began life in 1810, as a horse-drawn tramroad , owned and operated by the Severn and Wye Railway Co . By 1874, the line had been converted to run standard gauge steam locomotives and
4320-702: The lands was voided by Parliament in March 1642, in part because he had failed to pay. His assets were sequestrated for supporting the Crown during the Civil War . The Protectorate tried to enclose a third of the forest in 1657, leaving two thirds to the Commoners. Although a relatively generous settlement, it caused resistance in April and May 1659, when fences of new enclosures were broken and cattle brought in to graze. Royalists including Edward Massey attempted to bring
4400-481: The male working population worked in the coal industry but after the Second World War increased pumping costs and other factors made the coalfield less economic. The last commercial iron mine closed in 1946 followed in 1965 by the closure of the last large colliery, Northern United. There are still small private mines in operation, worked by freeminers and Hopewell Colliery is open to the public. With
4480-441: The new vicarage in 1829, but the school developed structural problems and was rebuilt, on the same site, in 1845. A stone works opened in 1850 and a tinplate works was constructed in 1853. It stood to the left of the ironworks, and further along was built a row of terraced houses, known as ‘The Square’, which were used to accommodate the workers there. In 1864 the Severn and Wye Railway Company began operating steam locomotives on
4560-507: The north, and Chepstow , Newport , Cardiff and onward destinations in South Wales . CrossCountry runs limited services to the station, linking the Forest to Birmingham New Street and onward destinations in the Midlands . In 1967, John Berger 's sociological work A Fortunate Man was set in the Forest of Dean. A film of the same name was filmed in the Forest of Dean in 1972. Dean Forest Railway The Dean Forest Railway
4640-419: The parish of English Bicknor . Traditionally the main sources of work have been forestry – including charcoal production – iron working and coal mining . Archaeological studies have dated the earliest use of coal to Roman times for domestic heating and industrial processes such as the preparation of iron ore. The area gives its name to the local government district , Forest of Dean , and
4720-530: The period suggests that the Romans probably did not settle there. History is then silent until 1278, and the first record of a hunting enclosure called ‘Wistemede’ - later known as Whitemead Park. The village's location, at one end of this park, is how Parkend derived its name. In 1612 James I built a charcoal -fired blast furnace and forge at ‘Parke End’, bringing with it the first real settlement, however, ‘The King’s Ironworks’ proved horrendously inefficient and it closed in 1674. It would seem that occupation of
4800-543: The ponds through Parkend, is famed for its dippers . Butterflies of note are the small pearl-bordered fritillary , wood white and white admiral . Gorsty Knoll is famed for its glowworms and Woorgreens Lake for its dragonflies . The Forest of Dean is also a stronghold for Britain's only venomous snake, the European adder , although its population is now believed to be in dramatic decline. The lists below include towns, villages and places of interest which are within
4880-402: The presence of coal was well known, and limited amounts had been recovered in Roman times. Coal was not used for ironmaking with the methods of smelting then in use. Later the freeminer rights were used mainly for coal mining. The activities of the miners were regulated by the Court of Mine Law. This, and other forms of self-governance, coupled with the Forest's geographic isolation between
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#17327984494664960-432: The production of iron, using charcoal, for hundreds of years. Despite the abundance of coal, it was not until the last decade of the 18th century that local ironmasters were prepared to invest in the technology needed to produce iron from coke , when coke-fired furnaces at Cinderford , Whitecliff and Parkend were built almost simultaneously. During the 18th century, squatters established roughly-built hamlets around
5040-400: The public. The Park Gutter pit was renamed Princess Royal after Princess Victoria in 1842. The Princess Royal Colliery Company was founded in 1891 to work Park Gutter and Flour Mill Pits. It reached peak production in the 1930s, employing 1300 men. The pits closed in 1962. Cinderford was laid out as a planned town in the mid-19th century, but the characteristic form of settlement remained
5120-497: The public. In 1825, the lower pond at Cannop and a 1½ mile leat were constructed to provide a constant supply of water to a waterwheel at Parkend Ironworks. Despite the enormous effort expended in creating this supply, it proved inadequate and an engine house and steam engine were added in 1828. A second pond at Cannop was also constructed a year later. The school and St Paul’s church were built in 1822 and Henry Poole, who had designed both, became Parkend’s first vicar. He moved into
5200-471: The rivers Severn and Wye, has given rise to a strong sense of cultural identity in those from the area, who are collectively known as "Foresters". The ancient rights were put on the statute books in the Dean Forest (Mines) Act 1838 , the only public act to affect private individuals. Residents of the hundred over 18 can graze sheep in the Forest in accordance with an agreement between Forestry England and
5280-690: The road links the Forest directly to Gloucester , the M5 , Cheltenham and Oxford . North of the Forest, the road is managed by National Highways . To the southeast of the Forest, the A48 links the region to Chepstow , the M4 and Newport , or Gloucester . This route passes around the Lydney area and follows the course of the River Severn . Other key routes include: Nitrogen Dioxide (NO 2 ) levels, measured using roadside diffusion tubes , are generally well below
5360-482: The source of the illegal dumps were unsuccessful and boar can now be found in many parts of the Forest. Locally there are mixed feelings about the presence of boar. Problems have included ploughing up gardens and picnic areas, attacking dogs and panicking horses, road traffic accidents, and ripping open rubbish bags. The local authority undertook a public consultation and have recommended to the Verderers that control
5440-487: The sprawling hamlets of haphazardly placed cottages. Characteristics shared with other British coalfields, such as a devotion to sport, the central role of miners' clubs, and the formation of brass bands , created a distinct community identity. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the Forest was a complex industrial region with deep coal mines, iron mines, iron and tinplate works, foundries, quarries and stone-dressing works, wood distillation works producing chemicals,
5520-469: The station was built in 1875 to enable the company to also run passenger services alongside its freight operations. The level crossing gates by the station are reputedly the longest in Britain. A decline in coal production and a reduction in passengers saw the station close to regular passenger services in 1929. The last goods train left Parkend on 26 March 1976 and much of the track was dismantled. The line
5600-531: The village mines, except New Fancy , finally closed for the last time in 1929. There was a considerable knock-on effect for other industries too and the railway closed to passengers in the same year. Parkend stone works closed in 1932, marking the end of heavy industry in the village. The Forester Training School was commandeered by the War Office during WWII and used as a barracks by the American army. After
5680-503: The village then ceased until new dwellings appeared from 1747 onwards. Part of the Fountain Inn dates back to 1767 and is the oldest surviving building in Parkend. The first record of a coal mine in Parkend dates back to 1718, although the remains of several bell pits , possibly dating back to the 1600s, are visible in the woods south-west of St Paul's church. With the advent of coke -fired furnaces, Parkend, and its many coal mines,
5760-410: The village with the docks at Lydney. Demand for coal at the ironworks also lead to the appearance of several large coal mines in the village during the early 1800s, the most notable being 'Castlemain'. In 1818/9 another ironworks was also built at Darkhill , just to the west of Parkend, and in 1845 Robert Forester Mushet took over management of the site. One of his greatest achievements was to perfect
5840-429: The war it reverted to being a forestry school until it was bought by Avon County Council in 1972, for use as a field-studies centre, and regularly hosts groups of school children. The houses known as ‘The Square’ were demolished in the mid-1950s and their occupants re-housed in a new council estate. Another housing development, of 26 dwellings, was built near the railway station, in 2004. Whitemead Park, which had been
5920-476: Was bought by the Dean Forest Railway , based at Norchard , and Parkend was officially re-opened on Friday 19 May 2006 by the Princess Royal . The station is currently the northern terminus of the Dean Forest Railway. The earliest evidence of human activity in Parkend comes from a hoard of over 1,000 Roman coins, found in the village in 1852, and dating from around AD 300. A lack of other artefacts from
6000-406: Was established in the 12th century, at the same time as many Norman laws concerning the Forest of Dean were put in place. St Briavels Castle became the Forest's administrative and judicial centre. Verderers were appointed to act for the king and protect his royal rights, and local people were given some common rights . Flaxley Abbey was built and given rights and privileges. In 1296, miners from
6080-753: Was later commuted to transportation. He was sent to Van Diemen's Land ( Tasmania ) in October 1831, only to be pardoned five years later, although he never returned home. Conservatives were disliked in the Forest of Dean; on polling day in 1874, there was a riot in the market town of Cinderford in which the Conservative party headquarters and nearby houses were ransacked and damaged. On 26 April 1889, four Frenchmen and their two bears were making their way to Ruardean , having performed in Cinderford. They were attacked by an angry mob, enraged by claims that
6160-527: Was officially re-opened by princess Anne on 19 May 2006. Royal Forest of Dean The Forest of Dean is a geographical, historical and cultural region in the western part of the county of Gloucestershire , England. It forms a roughly triangular plateau bounded by the River Wye to the west and northwest, Herefordshire to the north, the River Severn to the south, and the City of Gloucester to
6240-444: Was once again considered an ideal location for the production of iron. In 1799 a new ironworks was constructed near the site of the current post office. Initially it suffered from technical problems, but by the early/mid-1800s it had triggered a major industrialisation of the village. The need for improved transport links was instrumental in the construction of a horse-drawn tramroad by the Severn & Wye Railway Co in 1810, connecting
6320-441: Was overshadowed by the closure of the Parkend coal pits in 1880, which went into voluntary liquidation with the loss of 700 jobs. By the mid-1880s, the industrial decline that had gripped the Forest was beginning to ease. The mines, which had closed in 1880, reopened in 1885 and by the 1890s they were prospering once again. The ironworks did not re-open and were demolished by 1909, although the imposing engine-house survived to become
6400-542: Was used exclusively as a royal hunting ground for the Tudors , and subsequently a source of food for the royal court. Its rich deposits of iron ore led to its becoming a major source of iron. The forest's timber was particularly fine, and was regarded as the best material for building ships. In the 17th century, as a result of King Charles I 's decision to rule without Parliament , he sought to raise finances through grants of royal forest lands. 3,000 acres (1,200 ha) of
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