<P> After the restoration, Sir John Winter successfully reasserted his right to the Forest of Dean . However, in 1668 forest law was reestablished by Act of Parliament . in 1672, the King's ironworks were closed, to reduce pressure on the forest from mining . </P> <P> The Speech House, between Coleford and Cinderford, was built in 1682 to host the Court of Mine Law and "Court of the Speech", a sort of parliament for the Verderers and Free Miners managing the forest, game, and mineral resources . The Gaveller and his deputy were responsible for leasing gales - areas allocated for mining - on behalf of the Crown . The Speech House has been used as an inn and hotel since the 19th century . </P> <P> During the 18th century, squatters established roughly - built hamlets around the fringes of the Crown forest demesne . By about 1800, these settlements were well established at Berry Hill and Parkend . </P> <P> The Forest of Dean, with its huge iron ore reserves and ready supply of timber, had been of national importance in the production of iron, using charcoal, for hundreds of years . Despite the abundance of coal, it was not used to produce coke for smelting and local ironmasters were reluctant to invest in new technology, but in the last decade of the 18th century coke - fired furnaces at Cinderford, Whitecliff and Parkend Ironworks were built almost simultaneously . </P>

How did the forest of dean get its name