ABOUT COLEFORD

Coleford is situated within easy reach of a great many interesting places to visit in the Forest of Dean, from the Wye Valley and Symonds Yat in the west, to the beautiful forest walks in the centre of the forest.

The centre of the town has been designated as a Conservation Area and there are numerous buildings of historic interest to see in and around the town. The public library in Coleford has a number of excellent reference books on local history, plus free leaflets can be picked up at the town's Tourist Information Centre.

Coleford boasts its very own cinema, two excellent golf courses, the Great Western Railway Museum, a nearby off-road driving centre, free car and coach park, plus a good range of shops, restaurants, cafes and hotels.

Coleford is a thriving community and the administrative centre of the The Forest Of Dean District Council. 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 Coleford in the 1800's that Robert Mushet invented the process of making steel, and developed the first self-hardening tool steel.

There is a whole range of events that take place in Coleford throughout the year, including the Carnival of Transport in April, the well established Coleford Music Festival in May and dancing through the Dean in July, plus visitors have the opportunity to sample the locally produced food and drink at the Coleford Farmers Market which takes place in the town square on Fridays.

Notable people from Coleford include playwright Dennis Potter, Lady Edna Healey, wife of the Labour politician Sir Denis Healey and an eminent historian and biographer, plus Robert Mushet who perfected the Bessemer process for making steel in 1856. Cyril Hart, the eminent Forest of Dean historian, still lives in Coleford.