Hi
I wonder if anyone knows the appoximate location of the following three mines

Barsenberes , Starky, The Brothers,

I have them mentioned in a will i have of Richard James Of Parkend dated 1767
Thankyou
Terry James

Terry,
Have you seen the following website, some info on Starkey and Two Brothers

http://www.lightmoor.co.uk/forestcoal/Coalopen.html

From that info on the Lightmoor Site do you think Starkey and Four Brothers were somewhere in the region of Bilston Green?

Hi there
This i dont realy know. I was wondering if any one had come across any of these mines in their research As Richard James was living in Parkend at the time he wrote his will, I would say that they were in that area. Bilson would be about eight miles away I will send the transcription of this will to admin for him to post on this site
Terry James

http://www.forum.forest-of-dean.net/index.php?mode=thread&id=20517

Terry

a very similar question from a while back :-)

I wonder if Barsenberes is Brazilly/Beaufort ?
http://www.lightmoor.co.uk/forestcoal/CoalBrazilly.html
which links to Beaufort Engine
Bellington Gate south of Parkend Church

--
Ἀριστοτέλης A Gloster & Hereford Boy in the Forest of Dean ><((((*>

Thankyou Slowhands for the suggestion I dont realy know. Perhaps a trip or e-mail to the Gavelers office might solve it
thanks again
Terry

I've just started reading Ralph Anstis' book and on page 27 it states that there were 20 pits (including one that Richard James owned and 3 others owned by John James and 2 owned by other James') on a ridge called The Delves which is north-east from Whitecroft village. This information may be helpful in locating the possible location of the 'lost mines'.

Title: The Forest of Dean
An Historical and Descriptive Account

Author: H. G. Nicholls

http://www.forest-of-dean.net/?eBooks

In addition to the above, the Assistant Deputy Surveyor of the same period reported,—
“the parts of the Forest in which the principal collieries are situate are these:—The Level
of the Fire Engine Colliery, which is one of the principal works, is in the bottom between
Nail Bridge and Cinderford Bridge, and there are pits all along the Bottom.

There are several Levels in the Bottom from Beechenhurst Hill along the Delves quite up to Nail Bridge.
Another large field of coal from Whitecroft Bridge, at the back of White Mead Park along the
Delves to Great Moseley Green, and from thence through Old Vallet Tuft and Aures Glow,
almost up to Little Stapleage. These are the works which do the greatest mischief to the Forest.

There are some others on the Coleford side, from which a great deal of coal is raised.
Very little timber is growing in any of these Delves; and enclosures might be made in the Forest,
so as to exclude all the principal coal-works. The coal-works in the Forest supply with fuel the
lower parts of Gloucestershire beyond Severn, and some parts across the Severn about Berkeley,
the greatest part of Herefordshire, the town of Monmouth, and part of the county of Monmouth.”

--
Ἀριστοτέλης A Gloster & Hereford Boy in the Forest of Dean ><((((*>

Thank you all for your imput of which i appreciate .But I think it will have to be a trip to Gloucester records office as i think they now hold alot of the mining papers from the Gavelers office in Coleford.
Thank you all once again
Terry James

I have a theory that maybe Barsenberes was misspelt in Richard's Will, although you may think I'm wildly off mark. In the approximate locality of where he lived is a Bostonbury Hill which if you take into account accents and illiteracy may sound similar. Could there have been coal mines there do you think?

Thanks Mcowan for your imput yes thats is possable i never thought of that
cheers
Terry