Ruardean
Ruardean is a village in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire, England, to the west of Cinderford. It is located on a hillside with views west in the direction of the hills of South Wales. Little bit now remains of the town's commercial history, once it was a centre for iron ore smelting heaters, creates and also coal mines. The Norman castle, now bit greater than a pile, regulated the shortest route from Gloucester Castle to the Welsh Marches and the Wye Valley. The town has actually been, in times past, a crucial centre of iron as well as coal mining, however little evidence remains of this element of the village's background. The major historical landmark of the town is Ruardyn Castle, close to the parish church. In the past the village was spelt as Ruardyn and became part of Herefordshire. Nowadays the village lies inside Gloucestershire and also is part of the Forest of Dean area. Like much of the bordering location, Ruardean has traditionally been fairly poor; the 1831 census records 127 family members, with half the population employed in agriculture as well as 160 individuals on poor alleviation.