The Forest of Dean Heritage Museum (Autry Museum of Western Heritage)

Member Name: TimStavert

Product:	Autry Museum of Western Heritage
Date:	01/09/09 (17 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Inspiration to all including writers, artist photographers

Disadvantages: Take some wellies on a wet day and the roads are windy

Welcome to the Forest of Dean Heritage Museum, which I have visited regularly over the last two years.
Not that I spend actually going around it every time, but walking around the surrounding area.
The Museum is a fantastic place for the family, with lots to do with an events guide on the internet as well.
Email: info@deanheritagemuseum.com. Their website wets your appetite with so many activities available from Family History days to Bird spotting, to taking part in skills from the bygone years.
The museum has endless information of the forest dean mining and forestry industries from where most of the timber was used to build the tall ships of Nelson's fleet and back in Tudor times and beyond; with the coal being extracted to drive the steam trains and industries over the years.
The Gage Gallery has 18000 records of information regarding the history of the Forest of Dean from the Ice Age to present day: with five other galleries exhibiting various events and legacies over the years.
The Museum is set in the grounds of an old mill with outside attractions which display an old country cottage, old equipment and animals from pigs, hens and sheep and a pond with ducks and other water fowl.
Near to this are a Charcoal burning camp, Adventure playground and a free mine.
Sometimes you will hear the sound of chainsaws within the grounds with forest artist creating wonderful sculptures out of wood and what they have created when I last visited two weeks ago is quite amazing and well worth seeing.
Of course if you just want to have a stroll, there are many walks with some beautiful wildlife on the lakes on the opposite side of the road where there are trout, ducks and wildfowl and the beautiful kingfisher in all its colourful splendour and deep in the woods you may see wild boar.
If you carry on up the hill to the other side, there is a viewing point overlooking Lydney and the River Severn with some spectacular views.
After a long walk there is the Cafe with a patio looking out on the lake and Mill, and the food is good with homemade produce available.
You can find the heritage museum on the B4227 at Soudley approximately 3 miles from Cinderford.
The address is:
Dean Heritage Centre
Camp Mill
Soudley
Glos
GL14 2UB

Summary: Plenty to do for all the family deep in the forest