Mitcheldean

Mitcheldean
Church of St Michael and All Angels, Mitcheldean
Mitcheldean is located in Gloucestershire
Mitcheldean
Mitcheldean
Location within Gloucestershire
Population2,776 (2021 Census)[1]
OS grid referenceSO663185
District
Shire county
Region
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townMitcheldean
Postcode districtGL17
PoliceGloucestershire
FireGloucestershire
AmbulanceSouth Western
UK Parliament
List of places
UK
England
Gloucestershire
51°51′53″N 2°29′25″W / 51.8646°N 2.4904°W / 51.8646; -2.4904

Mitcheldean is a market town in the Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire, England.

History

Mitcheldean Town Hall

Mitcheldean was a thriving community for many centuries due to the town's proximity to iron ore deposits. During the 19th century, the town grew due to revenues produced by Wintles' Forest Brewery.[2]

Like several of the Forest of Dean villages, Mitcheldean is a close-knit community with individual traditions. One of these was the locally famous (or infamous) Mitcheldean Prize Brass Band. It is vividly remembered and described in a memoir by Arthur Bullock, a resident of nearby Longhope, whose father and brothers were in it. Recounting the band's exploits, he comments, 'I only wish I could have been privileged to hear the Mitcheldean Prize Brass Band play when all of the players were fully sober at the same time'. However, it is indeed sobering to read his further reflection that the band must have been 'killed off by the 1914-18 war'.[3]

In the 20th century the town grew further due to the Rank Xerox photocopier factory. Although this industry significantly declined during the latter half of the 20th century, much of the former Rank Xerox site (now Vantage Point Business Village) is now occupied by small businesses, new manufacturing and distribution businesses.[2]

Transport

Mitcheldean is served by buses 24/24a, 25, 33 and 746,[4] which give it regular connections to Hereford, Gloucester, Cinderford, Coleford, Ross-on-Wye, Lydney and Chepstow. Mitcheldean was served by Mitcheldean Road railway station on the former Hereford, Ross and Gloucester Railway until its closure in 1964.[5] The station was quite a distance from the town – almost two miles away in Lea, Herefordshire. The nearest station was actually Longhope railway station in the neighboring village of Longhope.[6] Today, the nearest railway station is Gloucester railway station and, further afield, Ledbury railway station.[7]

Governance

The town is the most populous area of 'Mitcheldean and Drybrook' electoral ward. This ward starts in the north east at Mitcheldean and stretches south westerly to Drybrook. The total ward population taken at the 2011 census was 4,607.[8]

Amenities

There are several shops in the centre of the town, a Co-operative store, a butcher. 3 hairdressers, a pharmacy, a florist and 3 fast food outlets. There is also a community library, a doctor's surgery, and two pubs. There is also a Brewery bar/pub and separate restaurant in the Mews. Mitcheldean Town Hall was completed in 1710.[9]

Church of St Michael

Monumental brass of wives of Sir Thomas Baynham (d.1499–1500), Church of St Michael, Mitcheldean

Mitcheldean's wealthy tradition is evident in some of its buildings in the town centre, particularly the church of St. Michael.

Schools

The town has a secondary school, Dene Magna School, which has performed consistently well in Ofsted inspections since 2001.[10][11] The school has a sixth form and provides A-levels at a second campus in Cinderford which is a shared space with GlosCol. The other options for Year 12 students are Gloucestershire College, Newent Community School, Forest Highschool in Cinderford and a Sixth Form Centre in Newent, John Kyrle High School in Ross-on-Wye, Monmouth Comprehensive School in Monmouth or one of the grammar school-based sixth forms in Gloucester. As well as a secondary school, Mitcheldean has a primary school of about 200 children.

Media

Local news and television programmes are BBC West Midlands and ITV Central. Television signals are received from the Ridge Hill TV transmitter.[12] Local radio stations are BBC Radio Gloucestershire on 104.7 FM, Heart West on 102.4 FM, Greatest Hits Radio South West on 107.5 FM, and Dean Radio, a community based radio station that broadcast on 95.7 FM.[13] The town is served by the local newspaper, The Forester.[14]

Sport - Football

Mitcheldean has 2 men's team. The team competes in the North Gloucestershire Association Football League. The club also has a Ladies team and a youth section, consisting of teams between the ages of 9-15, each of which compete in the Severn Valley youth football league.

References

  1. ^ "Mitcheldean". City population. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
  2. ^ a b "Wintles Brewery, Mitcheldean". Gloucestershire Pubs. Retrieved 9 October 2023.
  3. ^ Bullock, Arthur (2009). Gloucestershire Between the Wars: A Memoir. The History Press. ISBN 978-0-7524-4793-3. Pages 27-30.
  4. ^ "Mitcheldean, before Lamb Inn". bustimes.org. Archived from the original on 26 January 2020. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
  5. ^ "Ross-on-Wye - Ross to Grange Court". Ross-on-Wye. 18 March 2011. Archived from the original on 13 February 2016. Retrieved 19 January 2020.
  6. ^ "Navigable 1946 map". NPE Map. Archived from the original on 1 July 2016. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
  7. ^ "Train stations near Mitcheldean (Gloucestershire) England Great Britain". Distantias. Archived from the original on 29 August 2020. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
  8. ^ "Mitcheldean and Drybrook ward 2011". Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 27 March 2015.
  9. ^ "History". Mitcheldean Town Council. Retrieved 9 October 2023.
  10. ^ "Dene Magna School 2001-2009". Oftsed. Archived from the original on 29 August 2020. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
  11. ^ "Dene Magna School 2011-2012". Ofsted. Archived from the original on 29 August 2020. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
  12. ^ "Full Freeview on the Ridge Hill (County of Herefordshire, England) transmitter". UK Free TV. 1 May 2004. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
  13. ^ "Dean Radio". Retrieved 7 November 2023.
  14. ^ "The Forester". British Papers. 19 June 2014. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
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