For
thousands of years iron ore has been mined at Clearwell Caves. You can
still meet a Free Miner here: men whose ancient birthright entitles them
to dig for minerals within the Hundred of St Briavels and the Royal Forest
of Dean.
Clearwell Caves are now a working mining museum where visitors can see impressive caverns with geological and mining displays. Iron ore from the Caves has been used over many centuries to make tools, weapons and machinery. Some forms of the iron ore occurs in powder form, red, yellow, purple and brown ochre; they are highly valued as pigments and still mined at Clearwell Caves. The Caves are an important but secret part of the Forest of Dean's history and environment.
Clearwell Caves are run by father and son team, Ray and Jonathan Wright.
Ray
Wright was a founder member of the Royal Forest of Dean Caving Club when
it was created in 1964. Club activities were mainly based upon exploring
the mysterious abandoned iron ore mines in the area. Ray could see that
a whole underground world beneath the Forest of Dean was hidden from public
view and around 45 years ago he began work on his idea for a visitor centre
based upon the most suitable iron ore mine here at Clearwell. In 1968
Clearwell Caves were opened, with just one cavern accessible to visitors,
each following year another cavern was dug open until the present nine
impressive caverns could be enjoyed easily by the general public. Ray
continues to develop his vision up to the present day. In 1984 Ray was
joined by his son Jonathan and together they have continued to work on
the mine, its facilities and range of activities available.
Jonathan
Wright now manages Clearwell Caves and is the last Free Miner still mining
iron ore and ochre. Jonathan's family have mined in the Forest of Dean
for generations, many of them being Free Miners and he is proud to continue
his family's tradition into the 21st century.