Coleford mural

The small Gloucestershire town of Coleford is located in the Forest of Dean, a former coal mining and iron working area. On a wall of one of the town's houses is a mural that celebrates three writers who lived in the area - Joyce Latham, F.W. Harvey and Dennis Potter. I imagine that I am quite typical in that I don't know anything of the first two names. I do, however, know quite a bit about Dennis Potter, particularly his innovative series for TV that include Pennies from Heaven and The Singing Detective.

photos © T. Boughen     Camera: iPhone

Whitecliff Ironworks and the Mushets

In 1810 David Mushet, a leading metallurgist, and his family moved from Derbyshire to Coleford in the Forest of Dean to try to turn the Whitecliff ironworks into a paying proposition. In this endeavour he failed, but the Mushets remained in the area and in time, through their Darkhill Ironworks, advanced the manufacture of iron and steel in ways that had a national and international impact.

On a recent walk we took in a visit to the furnace that is the principle remains of the Whitecliff works. It is in a narrow valley and is accompanied by several other stone and brick structures. We also went into Coleford to see the rather fine mural that celebrates David Mushet and his son, Robert, the "Men of Iron and Steel". 

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Lumix FZ1000 2