Sometimes called ‘the prettiest coalfield in Britain’, the Forest's main coal output was in the 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries, although for hundreds of years coal has been won in the area via ‘free-mines’, which could only be operated by local people known as freeminers. One or two survive today.
The Forest is sometimes called ‘the most attractive coalfield in Britain’. Its main coal output was during the 18th, 19th, and early 20th centuries, though coal mining has been ongoing through ‘free-mines’ for hundreds of years. These mines could only be operated by local freeminers known as freeholders. A few still exist today.