Venue

The fine twin-towered gatehouse of this castle, built by Edward I in 1292, once defended a crossbow bolt factory which used local Forest of Dean iron. Once a prison, it is now a youth hostel in wonderful walking country.

St Briavel’s was an important royal castle on the frontier with Wales and the administrative and judicial centre of the Forest of Dean.

Built in the early 12th century, it was the residence of the warden of the Forest of Dean – a royal hunting ground where the game was protected and the king alone allowed to hunt.

Arbury Hall, originally built on the ruins of a 12th century Augustinian Priory, now stands in the midst of beautiful 18th century landscaped gardens and surrounded by over 100 acres of lakes and parkland, and has been the home of the Newdegate family for over 400 years.

This beautiful  Elizabethan mansion house was transformed into the Gothic style by Sir Roger Newdigate during the second half of the 18th century. The exterior is entirely encased with stone and each aspect of the building presents a separate design of stunning architecture.

Garvagh Museum is unique in Northern Ireland in that it is a rural Folk Museum in the Bann Valley. It had its origins when artefacts collected from the town and district were housed in a small building adjoining Garvagh Secondary School. When the collection out grew the space, a new building was erected by enterprise Ulster, with the generous support of local businesses and others.

The Somme Heritage Centre opened in 1994 as an educational facility and tourist attraction. It examines Ireland's role in the Great War with special reference to local cross-community involvement in the three volunteer Divisions raised in Ireland: the 10th and 16th (Irish) Divisions, and the 36th (Ulster) Division. Since 2000 the Museum's remit has expanded into World War Two and other modern international conflicts.