ining the Forest, in
the said county of Gloucester." Mr. Surveyor Brimner states, that at a
meeting of the Verderers of the Forest, and the Roads Trustees, held at
Newnham, 22nd April, 1796, the following roads were appointed to be put
in repair:--

From Mitcheldean to Coleford Lane End.
,, St. White's ,, ,,
,, Coleford ,, Viney Hill.
,, Viney Hill ,, Purton Passage.
,, Miry Stock ,, Lydbrook.
,, Perry Grove ,, Clearwell.
,, The Bearse ,, Bream.

At this time, therefore, so much of the ancient road as lay between
Mitcheldean and Nail Bridge was discarded for the present one, which
ascends the Stenders Hill by a more even slope, and avoids the abrupt
rise of Harrow Hill. The old line may yet be traced, and Nail Bridge
remains; in allusion to which improvements the following advertisement
appeared in _The Gloucester Journal_, Monday, Sept. 5, 1796:--"James
Graham, at the George Inn, Mitcheldean, has great pleasure in returning
his respectful thanks for the liberal support he has received, and
announces to the public that the new road through His Majesty's Forest of
Dean, leading from Mitcheldean to Coleford and Monmouth, which is the
high road from Gloucester to South Wales, is already greatly improved,
and in a short time will be equal to any in this part of the country. It
is allowed that travellers will save a mile at least by taking this way
from Gloucester to Monmouth; and when accurately measured, it is imagined
that the saving will be found to be still greater. Graham has laid in a
stock of admirable port and other wines, and every exertion will be made
for public accommodation. Post chaises at 1s. per mile, and sober
drivers."

Nor was this advertisement a mere puff, as Mr. Budge, writing in the year
1803, states--"The great travelling road to Monmouth from Gloucester now
leads through Mitcheldean, which, with the good accommodation afforded to
travellers, will in process of time be probably the occasion of raising
it to a considerable rank among towns of this description." Besides
which, there are sufficient intimations in the double approach to the
George Inn and large yard adjoining it, as well as in the capacious
stable-yards belonging to the other inns of the town, which is beset with
six toll-bars, that its character must have been such as is here given;
to which may also be added the numerous farmers' teams which were
constantly passing through the town to and from the collieri