Dean Heritage Centre

Discover the story of the Forest, in the heart of the Forest.

Step out into the woodland to experience the lives of charcoal burners, traditional cottage-dwellers, and free miners. Explore a Victorian Foresters’ cottage, free mine entrance, and charcoal burners camp. An impressive waterwheel and beam engine are also on show and don;t miss our impressive chainshaw carving demonstrations

Indoors the museum tells the history of a beautiful Forest formed by an industrial past. It reveals a unique culture which visitors will find hard to forget.

For families, dressing up clothes, craft activities, and trails around the museum provide plenty to occupy everyone - not to mention our brilliant adventure playground!

Enjoy a range of homemade cakes, meals and drinks in our cafe overlooking the mill pond. Picnic areas and specially built barbeques can be found around the site.

Our shop stocks a wide range of gifts, from small pocket-money items, to the stunning work of a range of local artists including the Dean Oak Cooperative, Mary Rose Young, and Victor Hugo.

We also sell charcoal produced on site during our traditional charcoal burns.

A great place to start your visit to the Forest!

An exciting programme of events runs throughout the year; please visitwww.deanheritagecentre.com for full details.