Abenhall is a tiny, ancient village in a secluded quiet valley near Mitcheldean. The parish includes the settlement of Plump Hill, on the Mitcheldean to Cinderford Road as it climbs into the high Forest.
Once part of the Westbury Hundred (which was known as Dene at the time of the 1086 Doomsday book) Abenhall is on the Flaxley to Mitcheldean Road. Originally a mining and iron making centre, it is notable for its 14th century Church of St Michael, which is built of local red sandstone and has excellent contemporary carvings relating to the Forest of Dean's industries. These include a shield bearing the arms of the Freeminers on the west wall and the fabulous mid -15th century octagonal font, that has tools of miners and metalworkers incised on its St Michaels at Abenhall sides.
St. Michael's Church - originally built as a chapel of ease, the church was expanded in the 14th century to include nave, south aisle and tower. The arms of the Freeminers can be seen on the south side of the tower and on the 18th century font. St. Michael's Church - Abenhall is 1.5 km south of Mitcheldean and is set in beautiful surroundings on the edge of the Forest. Old Parish baptism, marriage and burial registers, from 1596, are stored at the Gloucestershire Record Office.
Abercraf is well known for these attractions: Waterfalls caves and close by the National Red Kite Centre.
Abercraf is also close to our base in Monmouthshire and in easy reach of our experienced team. Having worked on buildings of all ages in the area, you can be sure that your project will be carried out not only in accordance with your wishes, but also in keeping with the style of your building and the materials used in the local area.
Aberdare is well known for these attractions: Country park fabulous indoor market and Aberdare Park home of historic motorcycle road races.
Aberdare is also close to our base in Monmouthshire and in easy reach of our experienced team. Having worked on buildings of all ages in the area, you can be sure that your project will be carried out not only in accordance with your wishes, but also in keeping with the style of your building and the materials used in the local area.
Abergavenny is well known for these attractions: Sugar Loaf Mountain The Skirrid White Castle and gliding centre.
Abergavenny is also close to our base in Monmouthshire and in easy reach of our experienced team. Having worked on buildings of all ages in the area, you can be sure that your project will be carried out not only in accordance with your wishes, but also in keeping with the style of your building and the materials used in the local area.
Abersychan is well known for these attractions: Within the historic county of Monmouthshire close to areas of outstanding natural beauty.
Abersychan is also close to our base in Monmouthshire and in easy reach of our experienced team. Having worked on buildings of all ages in the area, you can be sure that your project will be carried out not only in accordance with your wishes, but also in keeping with the style of your building and the materials used in the local area.
Abertillery is well known for these attractions: Mining Memorial Pwll Mawr (the Big Pit) National Owl Sanctuary Ironworks Museum.
Abertillery is also close to our base in Monmouthshire and in easy reach of our experienced team. Having worked on buildings of all ages in the area, you can be sure that your project will be carried out not only in accordance with your wishes, but also in keeping with the style of your building and the materials used in the local area.
Aberystwyth is well known for these attractions: Clilff Railway Vale of Rheidol Railway Castle and seat of the University of Wales.
Aberystwyth is also close to our base in Monmouthshire and in easy reach of our experienced team. Having worked on buildings of all ages in the area, you can be sure that your project will be carried out not only in accordance with your wishes, but also in keeping with the style of your building and the materials used in the local area.
Alvington : One of a series of small hamlets that grew up along the Roman military coast road that led from Newnham to Chepstow, Alvington was a manor by late Saxon times and in the Doomsday Book survey of 1086 it had in Lordship (i.e. under control of the Lord of the Manor) 2 ploughs; 12 villagers with 9 ploughs; they pay 20 looms of iron and 8 sesters of honey'. As with some other places in the Forest, Alvington was originally part of Herefordshire and it only became part of Gloucestershire in the 13th century when it was absorbed into the Bledisloe Hundred and made a separate parish.
At this time, the manor and much of the parish was owned by Llanthony Priory in Gloucester and Alvington Court, a 16th century Elizabethan house that lies east of the village along Court Lane was probably built on the site of an early grange of the Priory. The oldest building in the village is the Church of St Andrew, built by Llanthony Priory around 1140 at which time it was dedicated to St Mary. Its dedication was changed in 1523 and in 1858; the church was radically restored, losing much of its original stonework apart from one small Norman window in the chancel.
Alvington is located on the lower slopes of the Severn escarpment, about 5 kilometres south-west of Lydney. It is bisected by the A48 trunk route. The village originally developed in a linear form along the main road. This part of the village is still characterised by older terraced properties along the A48. To the north of the A48, more recent development has taken place off Clanna Lane including an estate of over sixty houses. To the south-east of the main road, development occurred initially in the form of small cottages in large plots. Subsequently, a variety of bungalows and houses have been constructed in this area, although it still retains an open spacious character. The minor roads in this part of the village are generally unsuitable for additional traffic, and their junctions with the A48 are unsatisfactory. The majority of the village lies within a Conservation Area.
Awre is an ancient place with a history going back before Saxon times. It has been listed in the Doomsday Book, and has character molded over the years by winds and tides of the River Severn. Once it boasted an important harbour and although all trace of this is lost now, salmon fishing is still carried out by local people.
Blakeny Hill, Awre offers low-lying and fertile riverside land which has been utilised for the farming industry, which has given it its "working" village atmosphere with its farms. A conservation area is continually being developed. At present, it is home to several young trees and shrubs. Oak bollards have been provided to protect the area and two or three small shrubs at the back of the verge.
Awre retains its natural charm with traditional verges, hedges and old buildings. Its inhabitants take a pride in the looks and spirits of the village. The local Inn serves food. Pronounced 'oar' this large agricultural parish is situated south of Newnham, below the River Severn's famous great horseshoe bend and fine views of the estuary can be had from the footpath, which follows the riverbank. Awre was originally one of the largest Forest Parishes and was held by the King, but it also claimed some lands in the parish of Slimbridge across the river. In the mid-13th century, the main river channel that runs down the estuary switched its course and began to erode away the shore, riverbank and land on the Awre side.
As a result of this erosion, it is estimated that Awre lost about one third of its territory and even today, the parish boundary is set about three quarters of the way across the estuary as if the parish is hoping that one day, its lands will be restored. One legacy of this period is the lost village of Woodend, which was a small hamlet lying half a mile south of Awre. This used to be some way from the river but as erosion increased, the waters gradually began to edge closer until, in the 'Great Floods' of 1741, Woodend was finally swept away. All that remains of this lost village today is a scatter of bricks and stones which can be seen at low water on the sands.
St Andrews, Awre - The church of St. Andrews, Awre dates back to early 13th century and the churchyard contains a 1000 year old yew tree and under the tree, beside the church, there are graves of fishermen who drowned in the River Severn in the days of the old Severn Trow sailing ships. The church lies among scattered farms in a loop of the River Severn. It has an embattled 15th century west tower with three stages divided by string courses and diagonal buttresses. A 13th century doorway has been reset within the tower as well as a window in the porch. The church has been lightly restored by Waller & Son in 1875. Inside the church you will find a magnificent wooden chest, carved out of a single trunk of an elm tree, which was supposedly used for laying out bodies recovered from the River Severn. Outside there is a good collection of typical Forest of Dean tombstones.
Aylburton is a small village on the A48 road, just south of Lydney. The village of Aylburton has a population of about 650.
The village boasts a fine 14th century preaching cross in a central position. Not far away from this is the Aylburton Methodist Church.
The "old hospital" at Upper High Street, now a private house, was founded early in the 1900's by Bertha, Lady Bledisloe of Lydney Park and later developed into the Lydney and District Hospital at Gove Road, Lydney.
The Aylburton Memorial Hall commemorates the village's fallen in two World Wars and was completed in 1922. St. Mary's - St. Mary's Church, although erected as late as 1857 incorporates much of the original 14th century fabric having been moves stone by stone from Chapel Hill, behind the village, at that time. The 15th century pulpit is one of only sixty left in England today.
Bargoed is well known for these attractions: Castle and cente of local gastronomic culture. Caerphilly cheese is world famous.
Bargoed is also close to our base in Monmouthshire and in easy reach of our experienced team. Having worked on buildings of all ages in the area, you can be sure that your project will be carried out not only in accordance with your wishes, but also in keeping with the style of your building and the materials used in the local area.
Barry is well known for these attractions: Barry Island Whiitmore Bay Dyffryn Gardens and Porthkerry Park.
Barry is also close to our base in Monmouthshire and in easy reach of our experienced team. Having worked on buildings of all ages in the area, you can be sure that your project will be carried out not only in accordance with your wishes, but also in keeping with the style of your building and the materials used in the local area.
Beaufort is well known for these attractions:
Beaufort is also close to our base in Monmouthshire and in easy reach of our experienced team. Having worked on buildings of all ages in the area, you can be sure that your project will be carried out not only in accordance with your wishes, but also in keeping with the style of your building and the materials used in the local area.
Bettws Newydd is well known for these attractions:
Bettws Newydd is also close to our base in Monmouthshire and in easy reach of our experienced team. Having worked on buildings of all ages in the area, you can be sure that your project will be carried out not only in accordance with your wishes, but also in keeping with the style of your building and the materials used in the local area.
Birchgrove is well known for these attractions:
Birchgrove is also close to our base in Monmouthshire and in easy reach of our experienced team. Having worked on buildings of all ages in the area, you can be sure that your project will be carried out not only in accordance with your wishes, but also in keeping with the style of your building and the materials used in the local area.
Bishopton is well known for these attractions:
Bishopton is also close to our base in Monmouthshire and in easy reach of our experienced team. Having worked on buildings of all ages in the area, you can be sure that your project will be carried out not only in accordance with your wishes, but also in keeping with the style of your building and the materials used in the local area.
Blackwood is well known for these attractions: Home of the famous Chartist leaders tried at Monmouth in the year of Queen Victoria’s wedding. Plans were hatched in the Coach and Horses still there to this day.
Blackwood is also close to our base in Monmouthshire and in easy reach of our experienced team. Having worked on buildings of all ages in the area, you can be sure that your project will be carried out not only in accordance with your wishes, but also in keeping with the style of your building and the materials used in the local area.