Forest of Dean pubs through time - Geoff Sandles

The Gloucestershire Forest of Dean is one of Britain's last ancient crown forests. Covering some 27,000 acres, this historic woodland has been a royal hunting ground, a source of timber for shipbuilding as well as a home to iron and coalmines. The villages and small market towns of the Forest boast a close-knit community and a rich and varied history. It is unsurprising, then, that the area has pubs dating back some 900 years that still retain their place at the heart of these neighbourhoods. Today these characterful traditional pubs and inns offer a warm welcome to the tourists who flock to this area of natural beauty, offering them a chance to mingle with the locals and maybe even meet the odd ghost of the Forest's vibrant past! Join Geoff Sandles as he introduces the pubs of the Forest of Dean, using old postcards and beautiful modern colour photography to tell their unique story.