Collection: Dean Heritage Museum

Collection-level records:

• Collection history (Collection development policy)

  The Dean Heritage Centre opened in 1983 with collections relating to the history and heritage of the people and the landscape of the Forest of Dean.  Most of the collections have been donated by people from the Forest of Dean and beyond.  The bulk of the collection is social and industrial items dating from the 19th and 20th century.

  As there was no already existing large collection when the museum opened, the onus was on collecting as many items as possible. Consequently, some items were accepted in the 1980s and early 1990s that would now be deemed peripheral, of little significance, or would not fit our collecting policy. At some point in the future, a rationalisation project would benefit the museum.

  A key curator and director in the 1990s was Ian Standing, who collected many important and significant items for the museum as well as ensuring the museum abided by good practice in collections management.  Ian is now involved with the Forest of Dean Local History Society and the Collections Officer maintains friendly contact with him. He remains a source of valuable information and advice.

  Regarding the book and document archive, a major donor was Laurie Edward Gage who in 1994 bequeathed his large collection of books, maps and documents on the Forest of Dean to DHMT. Our library was named after him; the ‘Gage Library’.

  A growth area in the 2000s has been archaeology. DHC is the designated repository for archaeological archives in the Forest of Dean. The expansion of professional commercial archaeological companies has resulted in more depositions of archaeology. DHC has 4 store rooms and 1 whole room now houses archaeology.

  An important addition to the collection came in 2011 with the purchase of the Dennis Potter archive. This is a collection of over 500 documents of Potter’s work, both published and unpublished. We now have a display on Dennis Potter for visitors and the archive is of particular interest to academics, researchers and anyone in theatre, drama groups and production companies.

  Source: Collection development policy

  Date: 2019

  Licence: CC BY-NC

• Collection overview (Collection development policy)

  The collections currently comprise approximately 20,000 items. The bulk of the collection dates from the 19th and 20th century. At present there are no objects formally designated as being of national or regional importance but as the only museum that tells the story of the Forest of Dean this museums’ collection is unique and important. The DHC collection includes items that are rare and highly significant.

  The Dean Heritage Centre collects objects relevant to the natural and manmade heritage of the Forest of Dean from prehistory to the present day. The Forest of Dean is defined as the area within the present Forest of Dean District Council boundaries and within the boundary of the medieval forest to its greatest extent.

  The bulk of the collection relates to social and industrial history with a smaller range of items covering other areas e.g. natural history, geology, archaeology. The collection reflects the trades and industries in the Forest which developed utilising the natural resources of the area; forestry and timber, stone and quarrying, iron mining, coal mining, ochre mining, charcoal burning and other industries.

  The collection’s wide variety and quality of items means that it does indeed meet the museum’s statement of purpose and key aim to provide a Centre and tourist attraction detailing the history, culture, wildlife and environment of the Forest of Dean, its people and traditions, and a local history reference library for the benefit of the local community and visitors to the district

  The collection is comprised of the following:

  1. Social History
  2. Industrial History and working life
  3. Archaeology
  4. The Gage library which contains books, documents, maps, photographs, postcards, oral histories and audio-visual material
  5. Natural History including geology
  6. The Dennis Potter archive
  7. Loans – significant items on loan include a collection of 18th century long case clocks and a geological model of the Forest of Dean by Thomas Sopwith
  8. Handling collection – for educational use

  Social History

  A mixed collection mostly from the 19th and 20th centuries giving comprehensive representation of Forest life.

  Domestic and Family Life

  • A range of household objects including furniture fixtures and fittings from the bedroom, lounge, bathroom, kitchen, parlour, cleaning and laundering, heating and lighting, the preparation, cooking and preservation of food, drinking vessels and accessories, ceramics and decorative objects, paintings
  • Leisure occupations, sport, hobbies, crafts and pastimes, toys

  Personal Life

  • A small range of costume and accessories from mainly the 19th and 20th centuries which is mainly working class including occupational

  Community Life

  • A small range of material on friendly societies, community groups, chapels, musical groups and welfare
  • A small range of material on war; the Civil war, WW1 & WW2

  Industrial History and working life

  A comprehensive collection on the industries, trades and working life of the Forest of Dean dating mainly to the 19th and 20th centuries.

  • Extensive collection on coal mining and further items on iron mining and ochre
  • Extensive collection on items associated with woodwork and forestry; Forestry Commission items, Forestry Training School items, carpenters tools, turning, sawmill, paper mill, wood distillation, charcoal burning, wheelwright and woodworking in many forms
  • Representative collection on items associated with metal trades and industries; iron furnaces and forges, ironworks, tinplate, pin works, blacksmiths and farriers
  • Range of items associated with other aspects of working life in the Forest of Dean; river trade, tram roads, saddlery, tanning, cider making, brickworks, quarrying and stonemasonry,  brewing, drink manufacturing,  cable works, engineering  and retail
  • Small range of material on agriculture both arable and dairy
  • Small range on fishing

  Archaeological

  A significant collection of archaeological finds covering Palaeolithic to more modern times on the Forest of Dean.

  The Dean Heritage Centre is the official repository of archaeological archives (documentary and finds assemblages) from work carried out in the Forest of Dean by professional archaeological units.

  The Dean Heritage Centre also accepts finds from amateur archaeologists and Treasure finds offered through the Portable Antiquities Scheme.

  Gage Library

  The Gage Library consists of the museum’s extensive collection of books, documents, maps, photographs, postcards, oral histories and audio-visual material covering a huge variety of topics. Significant collection of photographs, reports, maps, and documents relating to mining.

  Natural History

  A small collection of stuffed animals and birds eggs from the Forest of Dean.

  A small Geology collection of fossils, rock and mineral samples from the Forest of Dean.

  The Dennis Potter Archive

  In 2011 the Dean Heritage Centre purchased an archive of Dennis Potter’s work with HLF funding. Dennis Potter was born and raised in the Forest of Dean. The archive contains in excess of 500 documents; holograph manuscripts, manuscript fair copies, typescripts and associated production material for a large body of work composed by Dennis Potter between 1958 and his death in 1994.  It includes: drafts articles for television reviews, multiple draft manuscripts – typed and handwritten, published and unpublished work and production notes. The archive is significant because it provides details of how Potter worked, as well as highlighting the development of television playwriting.

  Loans

  Comprise approximately 4 – 5% of the collection.

  Significant items on loan include the Forestry Commission collection of tools and documents, a collection of 18th century long case clocks, a geological model of the Forest of Dean by Thomas Sopwith, and a 17th Century fire back.

  Handling Collection

  This consists of approximately 200 items covering various topics including but not limited to: WWII; medical; domestic life; laundry; Romans; archaeology. They are used for educational sessions for groups, mostly schools but also some other organisations. The handling collection is also used for loan boxes and handling sessions at the Centre.

  Source: Collection development policy

  Date: 2019

  Licence: CC BY-NC