Mines in Gloucestershire

Gloucestershire's mining is essentially the story of the Forest of Dean's Free Miners, whose ancient birthright — recognised by Royal Charter and still exercised today — entitles any man born and resident in the Hundred of St Briavels to dig for minerals within the forest after working a year and a day underground. Iron ore and ochre pigment have been extracted here since the Bronze Age, and Clearwell Caves remains Britain's last working ochre mine.