Forest of Dean District Council as a merger of the East Dean Rural District, Lydney Rural District, Newent Rural District and West Dean Rural District, and from Gloucester Rural District the parishes of Newnham and Westbury-on-Severn. Forest of Dean District Council carries out a variety of district council functions including: Forest of Dean District Council Forest of Dean District Council is the local authority for Forest of Dean District. Forest of Dean District is located in West Gloucestershire in the South West of England region. Its council is based in Coleford. Other towns in the district include Cinderford, Newent and Tidenham. Forest of Dean District
Forest of Dean Coalfield mined without substantial investment and the Crown became determined to introduce the free market into the Forest. The Mine Law Court was outlawed in 1777 and all its documents were confiscated by Crown Officials. A Royal Commission was appointed in 1831 to inquire into the nature of the mineral interests and freemining customs in the Forest of Dean, leading to the passing of the Dean Forest Mines Act 1838, which forms the basis of freemining law. It confirmed the freeminers' exclusive right to the minerals of the Forest of Dean, but also allowed freeminers to sell their gales to a