Clearwell Caves

Over het museum

Clearwell Caves are a natural cave system in the Forest of Dean that people have mined for iron ore and ochre pigment, known locally as colour, since the Stone Age. Tools on display have been dated to at least 4,500 years old. The mines were worked by Freeminers, local men who hold an ancient right to dig minerals in the Forest of Dean, a custom now regulated by the Dean Forest (Mines) Act of 1838. Large-scale mining ended in 1945, but ochre is still extracted today, and the caves are described as the last working ochre mine in the British Isles.

The caves were first opened to visitors in 1968, when Ray Wright began showing the caverns to the public. His son Jonathan registered as a Freeminer in 1981 and joined full time in 1984; he still mines yellow, brown, red and purple ochre with traditional tools and, with his wife Heather, manages the caves. The ochre is milled, washed and dried on the surface and is sold in the shop as artists' pigment.

A visit is a self-guided walk through about nine or ten caverns, descending to roughly 100 feet below the surface. Displays show the history of the mine, including the work of children as young as seven, known as billy boys, who carried heavy loads of ore. Other areas include the Pit Theatre Chamber, used for events, and the Skeleton Pool with fossils on the rock walls. The caves are also a popular filming location, and more demanding caving trips go into the deeper levels of the mine.

Hoogtepunten

• Walk through caverns mined for iron ore and ochre for thousands of years
• Displays on the Forest of Dean Freeminers and their working methods
• Ochre still mined at the site and sold in the shop
• Skeleton Pool with fossils on the rock walls
• Deep Level caving trips beyond the show caverns

Vaste collectie

• Show caverns and mining displays – A self-guided route through the caverns of an ancient ochre and iron-ore mine, with displays on mining history and the Freeminers.

Opgericht

1968

Toegangsprijzen & kortingen

Prices are for general admission to the show caverns. Evening trips and special events, including the Christmas event, have separate prices, and a £5 fee applies to cancelling or changing a booking.

Toegankelijkheid

• Deels rolstoeltoegankelijk
• Lift: niet aanwezig
• Aangepast toilet: geen informatie
• Gehandicaptenparkeerplaats
• Hulphonden welkom
• Tastmodellen / voelbare objecten: geen informatie
• Rondleidingen in gebarentaal: geen informatie
• Informatie in eenvoudige taal: geen informatie
• Audiodescriptie: geen informatie

The caves are real mine workings with steep, uneven and sometimes wet paths and handrails on the steeper parts, so they may not suit visitors with walking difficulties. A single children's buggy can be taken through, but it is difficult for wheelchairs and double buggies, and mobility scooters and heavy electric wheelchairs cannot enter. Disabled parking and access are available near the entrance, café and shop, and the site asks visitors to phone for details. Assistance dogs are allowed underground.

Kinderen & gezin

Erg geschikt voor kinderen & gezinnen

• Doe- en voelstations

Children can test their strength with a load similar to the 60–70 lb of ore carried by child miners. Children under 5 are free and do not need a ticket. Only single children's buggies can be taken through the caves.

Bereikbaarheid & parkeren

The caves are 1.5 miles south of Coleford town centre. Follow the brown tourist signs from Coleford and the B4228 towards St Briavels and Chepstow, turn right for Clearwell village after about a mile, then follow the signs to the car park.

Service & horeca

• Café
• Museumwinkel

The Lamproom Café serves cakes, snacks, sandwiches, tea and coffee. The gift shop sells ochre pigments, minerals, ceramics, jewellery and sweets. Dogs are welcome in the café, shop and grounds but not underground.

Evenementen & zaalverhuur

• Ruimtes te huur
• Privéfeesten
• Bruiloften / trouwceremonies

The caves can be hired for events by emailing the office, and the large Pit Theatre Chamber has hosted theatre and wedding parties. The site is also available as a film and television location.

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