The Last of England’s Freeminers

The piece profiles the tradition of freemining in England’s Forest of Dean, where a dwindling group of local miners—known as freeminers—still hold medieval rights to mine coal and other minerals in personal plots called gales. Miles Ellingham explores both the ancient history that established freemining and the more recent battles miners have fought to defend their historic rights. The result is a portrait rich in charm and character.

Many people have thought themselves powerful enough to disregard foresters like Peg and Rich; but the foresters are hardy. In 1612, they rioted against the Earl of Pembroke’s claim to the land before beating him in the courts. In 1831, led by a man named Warren James, they threw open 60 miles of enclosures. James was subsequently captured and refused to remove his coal-stained work clothes for the trial, which saw him sent initially to the gallows, then to Australia. In 1954, they stopped the UK government from dropping radioactive material in their shafts. More recently, they led a successful movement against the coalition government, marshalled by Rich, who was awarded an MBE doing so.