Lost Verses of Forest Poetess Catherine Drew Uncovered at Dean Heritage Centre
Catherine Drew Poetry Discovered at Dean Heritage Centre in Historic Find
Newly unearthed manuscripts shine a fresh light on the Forest poetess
The Dean Heritage Centre has uncovered long-lost poetry manuscripts by Catherine Drew, the celebrated “Forest poetess”, in a thrilling discovery made during their ongoing Collections Review, funded by the NLHF.
While cataloguing a box marked “19th century manuscript poems anon…”, staff and volunteers were stunned to identify the familiar paper and handwriting style of Drew, whose poetry reflects the social and environmental landscape of the Forest of Dean during the early 1800s.
This remarkable find was made possible thanks to the Forest of Dean Writers Collection Project, which aims to archive and promote the region’s literary heritage. A key clue came from a 1954 Dean Forest Mercury newspaper clipping—sent by American descendent Michael Wright—which featured two poems: “The tender mother’s soliloquy” and “Amidst the trees”. The original manuscripts, along with an unseen additional verse, were instantly recognised by the team at Dean Heritage Centre.
Born in 1784, Catherine Drew’s humble beginnings and limited education did not prevent her from becoming a respected local poet. Her only published volume in 1841, supported by the community, remains a testament to her legacy and insight into life in the Forest of Dean during a time of great social change.
As part of the discovery, Dean Heritage Centre will now exhibit some rare and never-before-seen artefacts related to Drew, including:
- Her original 1841 poetry collection
- A handwritten poem manuscript
- A nightcap preserved as a family heirloom and brought to America by her son in 1870
Jason Griffiths, Project Manager, shared the excitement:
“This is such an exciting find and adds to our understanding of Catherine as a poet. Are there perhaps more of her poems out there waiting to be discovered?”
To learn more, visit:
Explore Gloucestershire
13 June 2025
For further information.
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