THE chance discovery at an auction of a map of the Forest of Dean set local historian and geology expert Dr Cherry Lewis, of Lydbrook, on a fascinating trail of discovery into the world of the industrialist and ironmaster David Mushet.

After studying the 11 feet-long hand drawn and coloured geological map of the Forest, Dr Lewis quickly realised its importance not only locally but nationally.

She has since tracked down just a handful of similar maps, one of which is held at Lydney Park Estate, another in the archives of the Geological Society in London, and a third in the National Archives at Kew.

Hours of dedicated research led Dr Lewis to the conclusion that Mushet, who owned iron works and a coal mine in the Dean, had played a significant role in mapping the geology of the Forest.

Though geology was in its infancy when the work was completed 200 years ago, it has proved to be remarkably accurate and resulted in Dr Lewis producing an illustrated talk ‘David Mushet and his contribution to the map that changed the world’ as well as an accompanying 14-page article in the Forest of Dean Local History Society’s latest edition of ‘The New Regard’ .

On Saturday, Dr Lewis was presented with the Scott-Garrett Prize for the best talk of the year by vice-president Ian Pope.

Dr Charles Scott-Garrett was a former president of the society, well known for his interest in local archaeology. A Scotsman, he played in an international rugby trial and was also a well known hockey player. He came to the Forest to work on the manufacturing of acetone at the Speech House Road Distillation Works. He lived near Aylburton and famously discovered a complete fossil, about 10 feet in length, of an Ichthyosaurus on the shore at Awre.