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The name 'Rwirdin' literally means 'fortified hill'. This pretty village is located to the north of the Forest of Dean and is home to the church of St John the Baptist, one of many on the fringe of the Forest. Its tall 180 foot tower commands spectacular views over the Wye Valley and the Welsh Mountain. It is also the base for Ruardean Garden Pottery which is well worth a visit when looking for unusual gifts or good garden ornaments.
The village is also where two brothers, James and William Horlick, who developed the famous hot drink Horlicks, were born. The malthouse and 'Horlicks House' can still be seen in the village, close to the Malthouse pub.
The question "Who killed the bears?" was used for many years as an insult, directed particularly towards the people of Ruardean. This refers to an event in 1869 when four Frenchmen and their two bears were attacked by an angry mob, enraged by false claims that the bears had killed a child and injured a woman (further details).
Ruardean Hill is 951 feet above sea level and was once the most northern boundary in the Forest. It is the highest point in the Forest of Dean. Pan Tod Beacon on Ruardean Hill is a miners' memorial, unveiled on Saturday 2 September 2017, by the Society's President, Baroness Jan Royall. The memorial was built by ex-miner Ernie Hughes, and is made of steel and stone. There are plaques attached with the names of many miners. The location offers views across the Forest of Dean and beyond.
