We also have a  Winter Lecture Programme

Saturday 31 May 2025
Visit to the Dean Heritage Centre

Our first visit of the summer season will take us to the Forest of Dean. The Museum is run by the Dean Heritage Museum Trust, which states “our goal is to preserve the Forest of Dean’s heritage through stories and artefacts”. A wide range of subjects and activities featured in the Museum might be of interest to GSIA members, including forestry and timber, charcoal production, iron ore extraction and smelting, coal mining, relevant geology, early steel production, fishing, riots and clockmaking.

Members will be able to attend the Museum from its opening at 10am until it closes at 5pm. The Museum’s cafe will be open and there are facilities for picnicking.

At 2pm we have arranged for a senior Museum Guide to give a short talk on the Forest of Dean, the Dean Heritage Centre and the Heritage Centre’s interesting site which has seen a mix of uses over the past 400 years. Please meet at the entrance to Gallery One (behind reception/shop) at 1-50pm.

Details
We have a limit on numbers (25) and we wish to ensure that all members attending benefit from the ‘group rate’, so if you wish to attend, please contact: alexg871849@gmail.com.

The address is Dean Heritage Centre, Camp Mill, Soudley, GL14 2UB. Members will have to pay the ‘group rate’ admission of £7.50 (concessions £6.50) on arrival. Car parking is free.

Sunday 8 June 2025
Afternoon Walk: Gloucester Docks

Following on from Tony Conder’s very interesting talk given to the society a few months ago, he has kindly offered to take a party on a guided walk around Gloucester Docks

We will meet at 1.45 for a 2pm start outside the Waterways Museum. There will be a maximum party size of 20 so please let Steve Mills know as soon as possible, please if you would like to book a place.

Sunday 27 July 2025
Afternoon Walk in Wimberry Slade, Forest of Dean

Wimberry Slade is less well known than its neighour, Bixslade, to the south, but it also has a rich industrial history and there will be plenty to see on our circular walk.

It should be noted that, while this will be a more strenuous walk than we usually do, it should be well within the capabilities of most of our ‘regulars’. To be specific there is one short steep descent (on the path) and the return leg has a long accent. However, we will go at the pace of the slowest and as the walk is relatively short at just over two miles, there will be no need to rush. Most of the walk is on forest paths but we will sometimes go off track (optional) to explore sites. If you have any queries please contact the leader Ray Wilson (01453 860595).

The first part of the walk will take us to the head of Wimberry Slade from where we will descend, following the line of the former tramroad with plenty of stone sleeper blocks visible. We will see the extensive Wimberry Quarries and various coal mining sites including the remains of Wimberry Colliery and some former free mines. On the return leg we will see the site of Worcester Colleriey free mine which has now been abandoned for many years. These will be some WWII history when we pass the scant traces of a former US Army encampment.

Details Meet after 1-45pm for at prompt start at 2pm at Mile End, Coleford at the junction of Worcester Walk and Woodville Avenue next to the Worcester Walk Memorial Playground.

Parking is available in Worcester Walk and Woodville Avenue (eastern end). Map GL16 7DL, SO 590 117, W3W = butternut.menu.towns

Please wear stout shoes, walking poles may be useful on the one steep downhill stretch.