Day Out: Archive Films

Originally broadcast in 1977 was this charming half-hour television programme which took a look round Clearwell.

As part of the BBC's 'Day Out' series - which visited a different Gloucestershire and West Country locale every week - presenter Derek Jones is seen exploring the area.

He begins next to the village well explaining how Clearwell got its name - apparently in ancient times it used to be called "Clowerwall" - clower meaning the "sluice gate of a mill dam". The well has never been known to dry up.

Ray Wright in Clearwell Caves

Derek tells us that there is a population of only about 350 people in Clearwell, and the village "during the day feels strangely deserted because the people have to find work elsewhere". He tells us the village hasn't changed much over the years. "Because it's off the beaten track it hasn't been discovered by folk looking for second homes," he says. In the middle of the village Derek sharpens his penknife on one of the worn stones which make up the base of the village cross, which was designed by John Middleton.

On the outskirts of the village Derek visits Old Ham Mine, now known as Clearwell Caves, which we are told closed just after the Second World War. Inside the caves we learn from the owner, Ray Wright, about the history of free mining. Ray tells us he's planning to open the caves as a mining museum.

Mostyn Watkins

Ray shows us various signs of iron mining still evident in the caves, and explains how the miners used to set fires to allow them to mine the rock easier. He tells us that the Ancient Britons would have originally been after the powdered iron for use as a paint.  We learn that the local term form red ochre is "raddle" and it was used for marking sheep.

Derek takes a stroll through 'Puzzle Wood', woodland which he explains is made up of the remains of old opencast iron workings whose gorges have now become overgrown with tall yew trees. Here he meets the wood's owner, local farmer Mostyn Watkins, who spends much of his time keeping the wood tidy. He's seen carrying a "billy" which was used for carrying the iron ore out to the surface of the mines.

Alice Yeates shows Derek the castle

Farmer and former miner Dennis Gethwyn, seen tending to his sheep, explains the hazards of having free roaming sheep in the Forest - such as them getting knocked down by cars and them getting lost in mine shafts.

The final stop on the journey is Clearwell Castle. We hear of Frank Yeates who was born at the castle and whose father was the head gardener there. Frank bought the castle in the 1950s after hearing it was in need of restoration. Derek is shown around by Frank's widow Alice who still lives at the "leading mock gothic castle in the country".

Check out the other fascinating films from the 'Day Out' series which were filmed in Gloucestershire by clicking on the links at the top right of this page.