The Coleford Area Partnership has once again pulled together a programme of events that are free to attend by working together with like-minded groups and individuals to bring more of the history of the Forest of Dean to all.

The cost of the local festival is met purely by the Partnership for everyone’s enjoyment.

Visitors are coming from as far away as Manchester this year specially to learn about the area.

The Partnership is grateful to all venue organisers for their willingness to participate in yet another year’s festival which runs the length and breadth of England.

Without the help from all the volunteers involved it would not be possible to produce a programme each year.

Heritage Open Days began in 1993 with a “one day” event run through Civic Societies.

It soon became obvious that the public are interested in much more than buildings alone.

So many people are interested in social history nowadays rather than the way history was taught based on battles and victories.

More recently, Heritage Open Days has developed to include the natural world and advance in scientific development.

People also love to look back on how areas have developed and this year the local programme provides that facility.

With Outstanding Inventions being the theme for 2022, it would not be right if we did not have an opportunity to hear about industry and especially the work of the Mushets.

Working in Coleford, David Mushet and his son Robert pioneered significant improvements in the production of iron and steel in the 19th century.

The festival begins with that theme on Friday September 9 at the Main Place in Coleford with a local walk and talk on how coal and iron came together in smelting, followed by two lectures.

The walk begins at 10am and numbers for this are limited, whereas the afternoon and evening events allow for more people in the Main Hall.

Over the weekend venues around the area also open their doors and the theme continues through the week and into the second weekend ending on Sunday September 18