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The historic market town of Cinderford
is in the very heart of the Forest of Dean. The
name ‘Cinderford’ dates back to 1258, when it was spelled
‘Synderford’. It is believed that iron ore has been
mined and smelted in the area since Norman times. The ford, from
which the town’s name is derived, was replaced by a bridge
in 1674, when improvements were made to the town following the Civil
War. The original settlement in the area was a small collection
of houses, built just before 1800, along the edge of the forest
boundary. These buildings, known as "encroachment" cottages,
were built just inside the forest at a time when it was illegal
to build houses on the land of the Royal Forest.
In the 1700’s Cinderford was just a small hamlet comprising
a few houses. Nearby were the hamlets of St. Whites, and Stockwell
Green. By the early 1800’s the village began to develop around
the parish church of St. John, which was designed by Edward Blore
and consecrated in 1844.
Coal mining brought prosperity to the area in the mid 1800’s,
and the town developed as more people came to work in the mines.
The layout and architecture of Cinderford is similar to that found
in many of the Welsh Valley towns, which also expanded with the
growth of coal mining. In addition, heavy industry has had a major
influence on the way that the town has developed. As in many other
industrial areas, the manufacturing businesses are sited on the
flat valley floor, while housing is developed on the valley sides,
using sites that were less practical for large scale industrial
processes.
The centre of the town gradually shifted to its present position
around The Triangle and the town became connected to the outside
world by new railway links via both the Severn & Wye Railway
Company and the Great Western Railway. Early in 1921 Bristol Tramways
also arrived in Cinderford.
When the mines closed, in the 1950’s and 60’s, Cinderford
suffered a severe setback as there was little other industry in
the area. Now, however, there is increasing commercial and industrial
development in the town, with several thriving business parks catering
for national and international companies, as well as smaller enterprises.
Cinderford is one of the main commercial centres of the Forest of
Dean, and offers an excellent variety of shops, as well as a thriving
open air market. There are numerous local pubs, cafes and restaurants,
covering everything from Indian and Chinese to traditional English
food, as well as locally brewed beers. The town is virtually surrounded
by forest, so residents and visitors are ideally placed to take
advantage of many acres of beautiful woodland. Cinderford Rugby
Club is very well known and the area has its own football team,
Cinderford Town. Cinderford also has its own leisure centre.
Following a great deal of partnership working and consultation with
local residents and businesses, a town centre enhancement study
has been prepared to tackle calls for further town centre revitalisation.
As a result, a new 20 miles per hour traffic zone is being introduced
throughout the centre and work to enhance the Triangle is also planned,
to enlarge the public open space available for local events and
activities throughout the year. Bus routes in and out of the town
are plentiful, making Cinderford an irresistible place for all your
shopping needs.
Cinderford is within easy reach of the M4, M5 and M50, the rail
network and various regional airports. This makes commuting to southern
England, Wales and the midlands a practical proposition.
The town and its surrounding area offer a variety of things to see
and do. The Dean Heritage Centre, run by the Dean Heritage Museum
Trust, is dedicated to preserving the history of the Forest of Dean.
There are five galleries demonstrating how the landscape and character
of the area has developed from thousands of years of interaction
between the people of the Forest of Dean and its natural environment.
It is housed in an old corn mill, constructed in 1876, and is now
one of the main visitor attractions in the area. For the more energetic,
there is the three mile long Sculpture Trail through the Forest.
This features several pieces, including a spectacular stained glass
window suspended amongst the trees, and a Giant’s Chair. The
Trail begins and ends at Beechenhurst, a picturesque picnic site.
A welcome development in Cinderford itself is Linear Park, a wildlife
conservation site, which boasts a cycle path as well as footpaths,
and takes the route of the former railway branch line. There are
many other attractions, as well as festivals and events, and a Tourist
Information Point at the Belle Vue Centre, where details on all
of these can be obtained.
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