Ruardean, United Kingdom

Ruardean's Congregationalist minister in the early 19th century was Reverend John Horlick. His relatives, James and William, born in Ruardean, were the inventors of the hot malt drink Horlicks. The shed in which they first developed the technique of producing dried milk with malt, in the 1860s, still stands behind the Malt Shovel public house on the high street.

A notable event in the village's history occurred on 26 April 1889. Four Frenchmen and their two tame bears were making their way to Ruardean, having performed in Cinderford. They were attacked by a mob, enraged by rumours that the bears had killed a child and injured a woman. The bears were killed and the Frenchmen badly beaten. It soon became clear that the bears had not attacked anyone. Police proceedings followed, and 13 colliers and labourers appeared before magistrates at Littledean a week later, charged with ill-treating and killing the bears, and assaulting the Frenchmen. All but two were found guilty on one or more charges, with another convicted a week later. A total of £85 (equivalent to £9,444 in 2025) was paid in fines. A subscription was also launched which generously compensated the Frenchmen.

The question "Who killed the bears?" was used for many years as an insult, directed particularly towards people from Ruardean, despite the fact that all those convicted were from Cinderford. This caused a long-term feud between the inhabitants of the town and village.