The area was occupied by the Romans around 50AD who would have been attracted by the natural resources of the area such as iron ore, ochre and charcoal. The ‘Dean Road’ still visible at Soudley is believed to be a medieval rebuilding of the Roman road, and as a transport route for iron ore and finished metal products it would have been vital. The central parts of the woodlands in the Forest are believed to have been protected for hunting since Roman times.
in 1296, King Edward I used miners from the area at the siege of Berwick-on-Tweed in the Scottish Wars of Independence to undermine the town’s defences and regain it from the Scots. As a result, the king granted free mining rights within the forest to them and their descendants; the rights continue to the present day.
There are still a number of small private mines in operation, worked by freeminers, with Hopewell Colliery now open to the public.
This became the country's first National Forest Park in 1938. If you're driving through it, beware of the sheep laying in the middle of the road. It has an excellent visitor centre, situated not far from Blakeney.
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