Shire Hall supports ancient rights of the Forest of Dean Freeminers  Mar 14, 2025
By Carmelo Garcia – Local Democracy Reporter GLoucestershire County Council has stood up to say it will protect the ancient rights of the Freeminers of the Forest of Dean to mine and burn coal. The rights of Freeminers were granted by King Edward I around 1296 and they allow people born within the Hundred of St Briavels, over 21, and who had worked underground for a year and a day, to mine coal, iron, and stone on specific plots known as “gales”