GSIA visit to Dean Heritage Centre on Saturday, 31 May 2025

[Alexander Gay]

Dear Members and Friends,

Our first visit of the summer season is on Saturday, 31 May 2025, when we will be visiting the Dean Heritage Centre in the beautiful Forest of Dean.

Members will have to pay the 'group rate' admission of £7.50 (concessions £6.50) on arrival.  Car parking is free.

Members will be able to attend the Museum from its opening at 10am until it closes at 5pm.  The Museum's cafe will be open and there are facilities for picnicking.

At 2pm we have arranged for a senior Museum Guide to give a short talk on the Forest of Dean, the Dean Heritage Centre and the Heritage Centre's interesting site which has seen a mix of uses over the past 400 years.  Please meet at the entrance to Gallery One (behind reception/shop) at 2pm.

The Museum is run by the Dean Heritage Museum Trust, which states "our goal is to preserve the Forest of Dean's heritage through stories and artefacts".  A wide range of subjects and activities featured in the Museum might be of interest to GSIA members, including forestry and timber, charcoal production, iron ore extraction and smelting, coal mining, relevant geology, early steel production, fishing, riots and clockmaking.

We have a limit on numbers (25) and we wish to ensure that all members attending benefit from the 'group rate', so if you wish to attend, please contact: alexg...@gmail.com

As always,  members and friends attend at their own risk and should note and follow the health and safety requirements of the Dean Heritage Centre.  There are more details on the Museum's website concerning access for those with mobility issues (the cafe is upstairs but there is a ramp).  Some paths around the Museum are a little uneven, so please take care.  Stout shoes are recommended.

The address is Dean Heritage Centre, Camp Mill, Soudley, GL14 2UB.

If driving from the north, follow A48 from Highnam roundabout, a mile or so after Westbury-on-Severn take the right turn onto A4151 (Elton Road to Cinderford), after two miles (in Littledean) take second exit (right) at roundabout onto Broad Street (A4151), after 250 yards take left onto Sutton Road (becomes Grange Lane on some maps) and after two miles take left onto Church Road, becomes Cinderford Road and Dean Heritage Centre is on the right.

The Museum is served by Newport Bus service 72 between Mitcheldean and Chepstow, five buses each way, nearest stop northbound is Upper Soudley School. Stagecoach's Gloucester to Cinderford hourly service 22 sometimes connects with the 72 service at Cinderford Bus Station.  Please check timetables.     

We hope you will join us.