Forest of Dean

Properties and events in Forest of Dean

Before heading out for your Heritage Open Days visit, please check entries for last-minute changes.

Print selected events below

135 years of Music in the Forest of Dean

The Main Place, Old Station Way, Coleford, Gloucestershire, GL16 8RH
In person
Pre-booking preferred

Pillowell Silver Band celebrates 135 years on brass band music from the village of Pillowell in the Forest of Dean. Formed by a group of brass players in the village in 1889 the band is still very much alive and entertaining in the local area.

All Saints' Church, Viney Hill, Present and Future

All Saints' Church, Main Road, Viney Hill, Lydney, Gloucestershire, GL15 4NA
In person
Pre-booking not required

All Saints' Church described by F.W. Harvey as a "lantern on the hill" and built of Forest sandstone sits on the edge of Forest woodland over looking the Severn Valley. Enjoy exhibitions on church history, Gypsy Petulengro and future plans.

Bream Heritage Walk

West Dean Centre, High Street, Bream, Gloucestershire, GL15 6JW
In person
Pre-booking preferred

Explore the area around Bream, taking in its industrial past

Cinderford Memorabilia Day

The Town Council Chamber, St. Annals House, Belle Vue Road, Cinderford, Gloucestershire, GL14 2AB
In person
Pre-booking not required

An excellent display showcasing the history and heritage of Cinderford and its surrounding area.

Come along to Naas Court Farm and Barns

Naas Court Farm and Wedding Barns, Naas Lane, Lydney, Gloucestershire, GL15 4ES
In person
Pre-booking required

Visit a site sympathetically brought back into use as a property which now also houses a modern wedding and performance venue.

Dean Forest Railway - Guided Site Tour including behind the scenes.

Dean Forest Railway, Norchard Centre, Forest Road, Coleford, Gloucestershire, GL15 4ET
In person
Pre-booking required

Dean Forest Railway at Norchard have been preserving the heritage of the local railways of the Forest of Dean.They offer many activities throughout the year, and for Heritage Open Days Denis Martin will be giving a behind-the-scenes guided tour.

Dean Heritage Centre

Dean Heritage Centre, Lower Soudley, Cinderford, Gloucestershire, GL14 2UB
In person
Pre-booking not required

Dean Heritage Centre, set in a tranquil valley, holds many records of the social and industrial history of the Forest of Dean. There is normally a charge for admission to meet running costs but for Heritage Open Days 2024 this is waived for one day.

Following the Iron Queen

The Main Place, Railway Drive, Coleford, Gloucestershire, GL16 8RH
In person
Pre-booking preferred

Following the Iron Queen- sailing to Argentina (or nearly so) A talk sharing Eric's voyage from Cardiff, South Wales to Rosario, Argentina 130 years after his Great Grandfather sailed the Iron Queen there, delivering Railway lines and sleepers.

Forest Brass Band, Yorkley

Onward Hall, Stag Hill, Yorkley, Gloucestershire, GL15 4TD
In person
Pre-booking not required

Forest Brass is local band operating in an original tin hut at Yorkley, the only one of its kind still in existence. There will be an exhibition and followed by a concert.

Forest of Dean Writers Collection

Coleford Library, The Main Place, Old Station Way, Coleford, Gloucestershire, GL16 8RH
In person
Pre-booking not required

Exhibition showing new collection being established by University of Gloucestershire's Reading the Forest project and Dean Heritage Centre

Forest Writers: Networks and connections

Coleford Library, The Main Place, Old Station Way, Coleford, Gloucestershire, GL16 8RH
In person
Pre-booking preferred

An evening with the Forest of Dean Writers Collection team in Coleford Library. Findings are emerging from the new collelction.

Great Western Railway Museum, Coleford

The Old Railway Station, Railway Drive, Coleford, Gloucestershire, GL16 8RH
In person
Pre-booking not required

Visit a privately owned museum lovingly created from the GWR Goods Shed that marked the site of Coleford's two railways: the Great Western and Severn and Wye Railways that once served the area.

Gunns Mill Open Day, Nr. Mitcheldean, Glos

Gunns Mill, Lower Spout Lane, Mitcheldean, Gloucestershire, GL17 0EA
In person
Pre-booking not required

Beneath the weather-saving covering lies a building from times long passed. The building has one of the most complete surviving seventeenth century blast furnaces.

Historic bee keeping and candle making in the Forest of Dean

The Main Place,, Old Station Way, Coleford, Gloucestershire, GL16 8RH
In person
Pre-booking required

Hear why bee keeping became popular in monasteries and try your hand at hand making a candle.

Littledean Hall Grounds: Celts and Romans were here

Littledean Hall, Newnham Road, Littledean, Cinderford, Gloucestershire, GL14 3NR
In person
Pre-booking not required

More excavations at the site have uncovered yet more evidence of the area being occupied before the Romans arrived in Britain.

Lydney Masonic Centre Open Day

Masonic Hall, Highfield Road, Lydney, Gloucestershire, GL15 4LH
In person
Pre-booking not required

The Masonic Centre is housed in a former GPO telephone exchange which was converted for masonic use on the 1990s

Lydney Skiff Project

Unit 130, Harbour Road Industrial Estate, Lydney, Gloucestershire, GL15 4EN
In person
Pre-booking not required

Explore the work of a community based group building a skiff to row on the Severn. Learn about traditional boat building in the Forest of Dean.

Mitcheldean Town Hall, its history and its interesting contents

Mitcheldean Town Hall, High Street, Mitcheldean, Gloucestershire, GL17 0AT
In person
Pre-booking not required

Visit this historic building in a village which became know around the world for at least one of its industries. Originally, the hall would have provided shelter for market stalls when orchards abounded in the area.

Newent Market House Museum Special Opening Days

Market Square, Broad Street, Newent, Gloucestershire, GL18 1AH
In person
Pre-booking not required

Built in 1668, Newent’s black and white Market House has been the centre of the town for over 300 years. It houses a display of local history and a large collection of local artefacts plus music history featuring locals Joe Meek and Rutland Boughton.

Oh yes it is... Seventy years of panto fun

St Stephens Church, Belle Vue Road, Cinderford, Gloucestershire, GL14 2AA
In person
Pre-booking not required

Celebration of the connections and networks between the Wesley Players Pantomime and the local community over the past seventy years, featuring displays and performances.