This volume investigates the historical development, land use, and administrative evolution of the south-western region of Gloucestershire from prehistoric times through the late twentieth century. N. M. Herbert, a seasoned historian associated with the Victoria County History project, compiles extensive archival research and topographical data to document the specific evolution of Bledisloe Hundred, St. Briavels Hundred, and the Forest of Dean. The work serves as a comprehensive reference, utilizing a structured, parish-by-parish framework to analyze how these settlements transitioned from ancient origins to modern administrative entities.

Experts and local historians regard this volume as a foundational reference for the study of Gloucestershire topography and administrative history. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose, which is typical of the Victoria County History series' commitment to exhaustive, scholarly documentation.