Speech House
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Speech House is the administrative building of the Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire, England, lying at the centre of the forest on the road from Coleford to Cinderford.[1]
The Speech House was authorised by the Act of 1668 as part of a reorganisation of the open land in the area, and its construction was finished in 1682.[2] It hosted the "Court of the Speech", a sort of parliament for the Verderers and Free Miners managing the forest, game, and mineral resources of the area.[3] It was severely damaged in the Revolution of 1688, but repaired soon thereafter.[4] Around 1840 it began to be used as an inn, and by the late 19th century it was functioning as an hotel, which (as of 2007) it continues to do.[5]
To the southeast of Speech House is a small lake, named Speech House Lake.
[edit] Notes
[edit] References
- Brooks, Alan; David Verey (1999). "Speech House", Gloucestershire 2: The Vale and the Forest of Dean. Yale University Press, p. 680. ISBN 0300097336.
- Nicholls, Henry George (1858). The Forest of Dean: An Historical and Descriptive Account. J. Murray; digital version by Google Books.
