THE clearing of an old barn alongside the Ruardean home of Mr and Mrs Jack Weaver has led to the discovery of ancient cider-making equipment.
The finds reveal it to be a cider room once attached to the long farm building that was owned by Malt Shovel Farm, says local history enthusiast Andrew Gardiner, who explored the building with Jack Weaver.
"The cider room contains the last traces of an industry which lasted for hundreds of years, including perry production, with place names linking it to the Saxon period," said Mr Gardiner.
"The once-long building has slowly been made into separate homes, and soon the cider room will join them. But for the moment one can appreciate the back to back plank walling with its loft overhead, very reminiscent of the Welsh and Border long houses."
Mr Gardiner said Peter Horlick, the grandfather of James and William who brought Horlicks fame to the malting life of Ruardean, had both cider apple and pear orchards in the parish.
He also had millstones made out of the conglomerate strata of the area which were used to crush juice from the fruit.
"It is highly probable that he imbued his grandsons with this way of life before they crossed the Atlantic, taking with them the ways of the Dean," said Mr Gardiner, who added the Bulmer cider family swore by the quality of drink made from apples gathered in the Forest area.