Ruardean is a village in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire, England, to the west of Cinderford. It is positioned on a hillside with views west in the direction of the mountains of South Wales. Little bit currently continues to be of the town's industrial background, once it was a centre for iron ore smelting heaters, forges and coal mines. The Norman castle, now little bit greater than a mound, regulated the shortest route from Gloucester Castle to the Welsh Marches and the Wye Valley. The village has been, in times past, an important centre of iron and coal mining, however little proof continues to be of this facet of the town's background. The major historic site of the town is Ruardyn Castle, close to the parish church. In the past the village was meant as Ruardyn and was part of Herefordshire. Nowadays the town exists inside Gloucestershire as well as becomes part of the Forest of Dean area. Like much of the bordering area, Ruardean has traditionally been reasonably inadequate; the 1831 census records 127 family members, with half the population employed in agriculture and 160 individuals on poor relief.