All Hands to the Pumps

While it does have some rather interesting features, the Fountain Inn holds no claim to architectural or historical greatness. Indeed, it’s a fairly typical Forest of Dean pub, dating from the Industrial Revolution and evolving over the decades in response to a wide range of pressures. So why would you want to buy this book? Industrialisation, changing social attitudes, economic pressures, wars, tourism and even the advent of the motor car are just some of the factors that have played a role in shaping our local hostelries. Most of the changes brought about by these influences took place gradually, although a few occurred, quite literally, overnight. None of them, however, took place in isolation and telling the story of our pub’s evolution also paints a broad picture of Dean Forest life from an intriguing and rarely seen perspective. It’s a story spanning more than 250 years and one which we hope will prove to be of interest to a wide range of readers, not just those who enjoy their history served with a pint.

All Hands to the Pumps - Sample Images