Coleford, Gloucestershire

2025-06-06T19:44:36Z

147.161.237.21: /* Today */

{{short description|Market town in Gloucestershire, England}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2016}}
{{Infobox UK place
|country = England
|coordinates = {{coord|51.7910|-2.6162|display=inline,title}}
|official_name = Coleford
|constituency_westminster = [[Forest of Dean (UK Parliament constituency)|Forest of Dean]]
|post_town = COLEFORD
|postcode_district = GL16
|postcode_area = GL
|dial_code = 01594
|os_grid_reference = SO5710
|population = 9,273
|population_ref = (2021 Census)<ref name="bua2011">{{cite web |title=Coleford |url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/uk/southwestengland/admin/forest_of_dean/E04004301__coleford/ |website=City population |access-date=25 October 2022}}</ref>
|shire_district = [[Forest of Dean (district)|Forest of Dean]]
|shire_county = [[Gloucestershire]]
|region = South West England
|static_image_name = Coleford Market Place - geograph.org.uk - 743937 - edit.jpg
|static_image_caption = Coleford Market Place
|static_image_2_name = Coleford Railway Museum - geograph.org.uk - 2520.jpg
|static_image_2_caption = Coleford Railway Museum
}}
'''Coleford''' is a [[market town]] in the west of the [[Forest of Dean]], [[Gloucestershire]], England, {{convert|2|mi|km|0|abbr=out|spell=in}} east of the Welsh border and close to the [[Wye Valley]]. It is the administrative centre of the [[Forest of Dean (district)|Forest of Dean district]]. The combined population of the town's two [[Wards and electoral divisions of the United Kingdom|electoral wards]] at the [[United Kingdom Census 2011|2011 census]] was 8,359.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=7&b=11122187&c=Coleford&d=16&e=62&g=6427237&i=1001x1003x1032x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1427453011984&enc=1 |title=Parish population 2011 |access-date=27 March 2015 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304200422/https://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=7&b=11122187&c=Coleford&d=16&e=62&g=6427237&i=1001x1003x1032x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1427453011984&enc=1 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The population of the town's parish was 9,273 in the 2021 Census.<ref name="bua2011">{{cite web |title=Coleford |url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/uk/southwestengland/admin/forest_of_dean/E04004301__coleford/ |website=City population |access-date=25 October 2022}}</ref> The parish includes the village of Baker's Hill.

==History==
Coleford was originally a [[tithing]] in the north-east corner of [[Newland, Gloucestershire|Newland]] parish. The settlement arose at a [[Ford (crossing)|ford]] through which [[charcoal]] and iron ore were probably carried. By the mid-14th century, hamlets called Coleford and Whitecliff had grown up in the valley of Thurstan's Brook. Coleford had eight or more houses in 1349 and was described as a street in 1364. It had a place of worship by 1489. In 1642 the commander of a [[Roundhead|parliamentary]] garrison in Coleford started a market in the town, as the nearest chartered market in [[Monmouth]] was under [[Cavalier|royalist]] control.<ref name="vch-col">[http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=23255 Coleford], ''A History of the County of Gloucester'': Volume 5 (1996), pp. 117–138. Victoria County History. Accessed 16 April 2013.</ref>

Coleford soon saw some action in the [[English Civil War]]. On 20 February 1643, [[Edward Somerset, 2nd Marquess of Worcester|Lord Herbert]], the Earl of Worcester's eldest son and the King's Lieutenant-General of South Wales, marched through Coleford heading for [[Gloucester]], at the head of an army of 500 horse and 1500 foot. At Coleford their progress was impeded by a troop of Parliamentarians under Colonel Berrowe, aided by a disorderly group of country people. A skirmish ensued, in which the market-house was burnt and Major-General Lawday, who commanded the foot, and two other officers were shot dead from a window. Colonel Brett was then put in command of the foot, Lord John Somerset continuing at the head of the horse. The Royalists forced a passage through, after capturing Lieutenant-Colonel Winter, together with some other officers and soldiers, and so putting the Parliamentarians to flight. They then marched unimpeded to Gloucester.<ref>H. G. Nicholls, (1858), ''[http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/24505 The Forest of Dean: An Historical and Descriptive Account]'', pp. 28–29.</ref>

After the [[Restoration (England)|Restoration]], a market was granted in 1661 and a new market house built in 1679. Much building took place in the town, which was thought by 1710 to have 160 houses. Of the older surviving buildings in the market place, the ''Old White Hart Inn'' dates from the 17th century. In the late 18th century and early 19th, the town expanded along its other streets and most of its older houses were rebuilt. The ''Angel Inn'', which had opened by the 1650s, was re-fronted or rebuilt around 1800. For many years it housed an [[excise office]]. In the mid-18th century it was the town's principal [[coaching inn]] and used for public meetings and assemblies. The number of public houses increased as the town grew in importance. By 1830 there were seven or eight, most of them in the market place, and also a larger number of [[beerhouse]]s.<ref name="vch-col"/>

The market house (or town hall) was rebuilt on a larger scale in 1866. Also in the market place was the church, which was rebuilt on an octagonal plan in 1820, but proved too small for the growing congregation and was pulled down in 1882, its tower being retained for a [[clock tower]]. A much larger church, St John the Evangelist's, was built on a hillside overlooking the town. This church was closed in 2016 and its building put up for sale. Expansion continued in piecemeal fashion throughout the 20th century, through both council and private development. Traffic congestion in the market place was eased by demolition of the town hall in 1968 and the introduction of a gyro system around the clock tower.<ref name="vch-col"/>

===Industry===
Iron production in Coleford dates back to the Middle Ages. This produced large quantities of waste material or cinders. Some formed prominent mounds, which by the late 17th century were reworked to provide iron ore for the furnaces, which had become more efficient by then. The medieval ironworks were moveable forges operating on the royal [[demesne]] woodland of the [[Forest of Dean]]. An ore smithy or furnace was operating at [[Whitecliff Ironworks|Whitecliff]] in 1361, and the hamlet had several in the 15th and 16th centuries. In the later Middle Ages, iron was also worked in Coleford town, where there was a furnace next to the chapel in 1539.<ref name="vch-col"/>

There was coalmining to the north and east of Coleford from the 16th century. Limestone was also quarried at the south-west end of Whitecliff before the 17th century. [[Lime kiln]]s operated at Whitecliff, and Scowles, which supplied much [[Lime (material)|lime]] to [[Monmouthshire]].<ref name="vch-col"/>

In 1798, work began on [[Whitecliff Ironworks]] on the south-western edge of Coleford.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.gsia.org.uk/reprints/1980/gi198018.pdf |title=''The Whitecliff Ironworks in the Forest of Dean'', Part one, p. 22.}}</ref> The furnace there probably began firing in 1801 or 1802, and a second one beside it before 1808. The output was limited by the quality of [[Coke (fuel)|coke]] required. In 1809 [[David Mushet]], a noted metallurgist, was employed to increase productivity, but the works remained unprofitable and Mushet withdrew from the venture after a few months. The furnaces were abandoned several years later, perhaps by 1812 and certainly by 1816.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.gsia.org.uk/reprints/1986/gi198602.pdf |title=Standing, Ian. (1986). ''The Whitecliff Ironworks in the Forest of Dean'', p. 9.}}</ref> The surviving ruins can be viewed by the public.

===Transport===
Coleford was on the route of a [[tramroad|tramway]] that opened in 1812 to link mines in the Forest with the [[River Wye]] at [[Redbrook]] and [[Monmouth]].<ref name="vch-ind">[http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=23267 Forest of Dean: Industry], ''A History of the County of Gloucester'': Volume 5 (1996), pp. 326–354. Victoria County History. Accessed 16 April 2013.</ref> This continued in use until its track east of Coleford was lifted in the late 1870s.<ref name="vch-ind"/>

The first railway to reach Coleford, a branch line from [[Parkend]], was opened by the [[Severn and Wye Railway]] Company in 1875. It ran through [[Milkwall]] to a station on the south-east side of the town. A second railway, the [[Coleford Railway]] from [[Monmouth]], used parts of the old tramway route and was completed in 1883. It included a short tunnel at Whitecliff and crossed the Newland road to reach a station next to that of the Severn & Wye Co. A junction was made between the two railways in 1884, after the Monmouth line was taken over by the [[Great Western Railway]]. The Severn and Wye line ceased passenger services in 1929. And was then closed in 1967. The track between Whitecliff and Parkend was removed by 1971. Some railway buildings at Coleford, including a goods shed, were incorporated in the [[Coleford Great Western Railway Museum]] that opened in 1988.<ref name="vch-col"/>

The nearest railway station today is [[Lydney railway station|Lydney]] (8 miles, 13 km).

===Churches===
The Anglican Holy Trinity Church near the centre of Coleford was built in 1831.<ref>[https://www.colefordwithholcombe.co.uk/ Coleford and Holcombe churches. Retrieved 7 November 2020.]</ref> It has services on Sunday and Wednesday. Coleford Baptist Church has a Sunday service, as does the town's Pentecostal Church. Both have Facebook pages.

==Today==
Coleford adapted more ably to the mine closures of the 1950s than its neighbour, [[Cinderford]]. Their prime location in the heart of the Forest make them popular with walkers and cyclists and the local council has made moves to encourage further visitors. The large factory in the town, originally called Carters, then [[Beechams]], then [[GlaxoSmithKline]], is now owned by the Japanese firm [[Suntory]]. It is the sole production facility for [[Ribena]] and [[Lucozade]]. One surviving building is the former [[goods shed]] for the defunct railway line to [[Monmouth]]. This now houses the [[Coleford Great Western Railway Museum|Coleford GWR Museum]].

[[Pulsometer steam pump|SPP Pumps Ltd]], Britain's leading pump manufacturer<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.worldpumps.com/oil-gas/news/spp-pumps-wins-manufacturer-of-the-year-at-pump/ |title=SPP Pumps wins 'Manufacturer of the Year' at Pump Industry Awards |website=World Pumps}}</ref> has its main UK manufacturing site at Coleford, where it employs over 300 people.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.spppumps.com/ |title=Centrifugal Pump Manufacturer | Pumping Solutions | SPP Pumps |website=www.spppumps.com}}</ref> It mainly caters to the industrial and offshore firefighting oil and gas markets, and to the UK municipal water market.

==Media==
Local news and television programmes are provided by [[BBC West]] and [[ITV West Country]]. Television signals are received from the [[Mendip transmitting station|Mendip]] and the local relay transmitters.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ukfree.tv/transmitters/tv/Mendip|title= Full Freeview on the Mendip (Somerset, England) transmitter|date=1 May 2004|website=UK Free TV|accessdate=23 October 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://ukfree.tv/transmitters/tv/Coleford|title= Freeview Light on the Coleford (Gloucestershire, England) transmitter|date=1 May 2004|website=UK Free TV|accessdate=23 October 2023}}</ref>

Local radio stations are [[BBC Radio Gloucestershire]], [[Heart West]], [[Greatest Hits Radio South West]], and Dean Radio, a community based radio station.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.deanradio.co.uk/ |title= Dean Radio |access-date=23 October 2023}}</ref>

The town is served by the local newspaper, ''The Forester''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.britishpapers.co.uk/england-sw/the-forester/|title=The Forester|date=19 June 2014|website=British Papers|accessdate=23 October 2023}}</ref>

==Noted inhabitants==
*[[Olly Alexander]] (born 1990), singer and actor
*[[Alan Cornwall (cricketer)|Alan Cornwall]] (1898–1984), county cricketer and [[Marlborough College]] schoolmaster
*[[Paul Groves (poet)|Paul Groves]] (living), poet and schoolteacher, lived locally from 1971 to 1996.
* [[Edna Healey]] (1918–2010), author and wife of [[Denis Healey]] (1917–2015), was born in the Forest and lived in Coleford.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Edna Healey obituary|url = https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2010/jul/22/edna-healey-obituary|website = The Guardian|access-date = 7 September 2015|first = Julia|last = Langdon|date = 22 July 2010}}</ref>
*[[Mary Howitt]] (1799–1888), author of over 200 books, was born here.<ref name=dnb>[[s:Howitt, Mary (DNB00)|Dictionary of National Biography, 1885–1900, Volume 28, Mary Howitt]]</ref>
*[[Alex McLean]] (born 1975), electronic musician<ref>{{Cite web |title=READ_ME 2004 - Software Art and Cultures conference - Full program |url=http://readme.runme.org/conf_program_full.php |access-date=2023-02-12 |website=readme.runme.org}}</ref>
* [[David Mushet]] (1772–1847), Scottish metallurgist who pioneered techniques for iron production, lived in Coleford from 1810 to 1844.<ref>{{Cite news|title = Forest of Dean mural to David and Robert Mushet|work = BBC News|date = 12 July 2014|url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-gloucestershire-28266018|access-date = 7 September 2015}}</ref>
* [[Dennis Potter]], author and playwright who frequently used the region as a setting in his work, was born near Coleford.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Coleford Tourist Information and Travel Guide|url = http://www.royalforestofdean.info/forest-of-dean/coleford.shtml|website = www.royalforestofdean.info|access-date = 7 September 2015}}</ref>
*[[Shoo Rayner]] (born 1956), children's writer and illustrator
*[[Andrew Taylor (author)|Andrew Taylor]] (born 1951), author

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==Gallery==
<gallery perrow="4">
File:ColefordClock.jpg|Coleford clock tower
File:The Parish Church of Coleford, Saint John the Evangelist - geograph.org.uk - 766948.jpg|The Parish Church of Coleford, St John the Evangelist
File:Former Independent Chapel, Coleford - geograph.org.uk - 765886.jpg|Former Independent Chapel
File:A pink and white confection - geograph.org.uk - 766940.jpg|A pink and white house (Rock Castle Dental Practice)
File:Coleford glos angel hotel.JPG|The Angel Hotel, behind the site of the old Market Hall
File:Coleford glos st johns street.JPG|St John's Street, in the centre of Coleford
File:Whitecliff Ironworks.jpg|Whitecliff Ironworks, on Newland Street
File:Coleford Baptist Church - geograph.org.uk - 765976.jpg| Coleford Baptist Church

</gallery>

==External links==
{{Commons category|Coleford, Gloucestershire}}
*[http://www.colefordtowncouncil.gov.uk/ Coleford Town Council]

{{Gloucestershire}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:Coleford, Gloucestershire| ]]
[[Category:Forest of Dean]]
[[Category:Market towns in Gloucestershire]]
[[Category:Towns in Gloucestershire]]
[[Category:Towns of the Welsh Marches]]

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Coleford, Gloucestershire