Museum
The Dean Heritage Centre has five galleries. You can explore the journey from prehistoric times to how the community coped during WW2.
The museum offers a fun and interactive experience. It has fun activities and visual displays. Our indoor trails let you learn more about the centre and its amazing exhibits. Ask a member of our team at the centre for more details during your visit.
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Gallery One - Prehistoric and Early History
Gallery 1 shows glimpses of what life was like in the Forest of Dean from prehistory to Roman times through displays on archaeology and geology. Displays show Carboniferous fossilised plants from 300 million years ago, the remains of animals like mammoths and hyenas that used to live here thousands of years ago, prehistoric tools used by the Forest's early settlers as well as Iron Age and Roman finds. You will also find a display about animals living now in the Forest of Dean; sheep, boar, deer and rabbits.
Gallery Two - Medieval to 18th Century
Gallery 2 shows the use of natural resources in the Forest of Dean: iron, coal, stone and wood. The Forest has a rich industrial heritage – iron mining, coal mining, stone quarrying, charcoal production for fuel and timber for ships and buildings.
In medieval times the Forest was a Royal hunting Forest used to hunt wild boar and deer. The importance of the timber industry is highlighted in displays.
A display on freemining explains the history of this unique Forest tradition of mining iron and coal, showing the tools used by miners.
Displays on iron production show the importance of the Forest of Dean as a major centre of iron production. There were many forges and furnaces in the Forest and you can see a model of Soudley Charcoal blast furnace along with samples of iron in this gallery.
There is a section explaining the impact of the 1640s Civil War on the Forest of Dean with a display of canon, musket shot and roundhead sculptures by a local artist.
Gallery Three - Industry and Society
Gallery 3 explores the Forest of Dean's industrial history from the Victorian era to now. A large section focuses on the Dean's coal mining history with displays of miner's lives, tools, mine rescue and hodding. The Sopwith model shows the landscape and coal seams in the Forest of Dean.
A display on the David Mushet and his son Robert Mushet highlights the importance of their work on metals to the Forest and nationally. Robert invented the first steel rail, the first tool steel and air hardening steel as well as perfecting the Bessemer steel process.
Further displays show other Forest industries and trades such as ochre mining, fishing, wood working and metal working. The Voyce longcase clocks are an example of a Forest trade carried out by three generations.
Community life is shown in this gallery with displays on chapel, brass bands, rugby, Friendly societies and childhood.
Forester's Cottage
Currently closed for maintenance
The Forester's Cottage is a rebuilt cottage in the style of around 1900. It has original fireplaces, like a kitchen range, and furnishings that show how Foresters lived at home. In the cottage grounds, you will find a privy, a delightful vegetable patch and a variety of cider making equipment.
Woodland trail
In the woodland at the back of the site there is a charcoal burner's camp where we carry out annual demonstrations of charcoal burning. There is also an area with exhibits and information about free mining in the Forest of Dean.
Gallery 41 - Community
Gallery 4 shows a small display about the Forest during the Second World War. It also has a rotating programme of exhibitions that share the story of the Forest people, from the past to the present.
On this floor there is also a Dennis Potter exhibition room with exhibits and information about Potter's life and works as he grew up in the Forest of Dean which had a big influence on his work. We house the Dennis Potter archive, for more information see Collections and Dennis Potter Archive.
Gallery Five - Power and Transport
Gallery 5 focuses on the advent of steam power and transport from the 1800s. See the impressive beam engine from Lightmoor colliery which was made here at Camp Mill in the 1800s when it was an iron foundry run by Samuel Hewlett. The foundry made marker posts, rails and other parts for railways, some of which you can see in this gallery.
The stone cart from Bicslade highlights the importance of quarrying in the Forest.
A large relief map on the wall shows the layout of the Forest and the network of trams and railways along with a display of tram wheels and rails.
The gallery also has working models and interactive displays that show how steam power works.
Victorian Schoolroom
Our Victorian Schoolroom provides students with an excellent learning experience. Students will travel back in time to see life in a Victorian School Room. They will use slate and chalk as their workbooks. Younger visitors can dress up in traditional Victorian costumes or play old-fashioned games. This creates a great photo opportunity!
Forestry
Forestry England are the major landowners in the Forest, owning most of the central Statutory Forest for timber growing and extraction. In the 1800s the Office of the Woods administered the Crown land in the Forest. In 1924 the Forestry Commission was created and in 1938 the Forest was designated the first National Forest Park. Find out more and see various tools with our displays running up the central stairwell.
The Craft Hut
Let’s get creative! After exploring outside and the fun trails in the museum, our Craft Hut is a great spot for younger visitors to relax and get creative. A great option on a rainy day! The Craft Hut is open at weekends and during the school holidays.