The Forest of Dean has been lived in and worked for its iron ore, ochre, coal and stone since Prehistoric times.

Mining was developed by the Romans and Phoenicians traded up the Severn river.

Tolkein based The Hobbit on the Forest when he worked on the Romano-Celtic temple of Nennius at Lydney.

The Forest was stripped to produce trees for the Armada and Nelson ordered the planting of tall oak and beech to replenish the woods.

In the 18th century Forest borders were encroached and the 1787 Survey shows the initial two up two down cottage of the Old Tump House.

By the early nineteenth century a pub was added with no bar, the home-made cider was fetched from the cellar.

A thrity-foot Function Room – the longest in the Forest – was added in the late nineteenth century for the miners’ Hon. Order of Buffalo to hold their meetings and has now become the two main Bed and Breakfast rooms.