St. Briavels

St. Briavels stands on the edge of a limestone plateau 800 feet above the Wye Valley, with spectacular views. The village shelters behind the remains of a 12th century castle which is now used as a youth hostel. The entrance gateway dates back to 1275 and the castle was the administrative centre of the Royal Huntin Forest. The founder of the castle was Milo Fitz Walter, the Earl of Hereford, who in the reign of Henry VIII found it necessary to monitor the infringements of the Welsh. The flat grass platform to the west of the castle is actually composed of a pile of cinders thrown out in the days of iron ore smelting.

An ancient connection connected with Hudnalls Woods involves the throwing of bread and cheese  from the pound wall on Whitsunday evening. Records state that this custom follows the rights given by King John, and later confirmed by Charles II to the parishioners of the village. It was necessary for the rights of local people to continue to cut wood from the Hudnalls, nearby.

The village has a small post office and a typical village garage, which inevitably adds to the rural character and charm. Within the village of St. Briavels, is a local craft outlet, and hostelries offering refreshment.

Tourist Information

Close to the River Wye and the Wye Valley St. Briavels Castle

Accommodation

Cinderhill House - Guest HouseTyersall - (B&B)Lupin Cottage, The Fence (B&B)Offa's Mead, The Fence (B&B) Cinderhill Cottages - self catering1 Townsend Cottage - self catering Youth Hostel The Castle, St. Briavels, Lydney [ E-mail stbriavels@y

Nearest Bank

The nearest banks are at Lydney and Coleford

Shops

The village has a local shop and a post office.

Churches

St. Mary the Virgin, St. Briavels

Standing 650 feet above the River Wye gives this church panoramic views over the valley, and can be seen from Bigsweir, as well as parts of the hillside on the other side of the valley, in Wales. It is probable that there has been a place of worhip on this site since the 5th century, but it was the Normans who built the first stone church here, using local Forest stone, in about 1086.

In the Lady Chapel there is an Easter Tomb with a decorated slab of Forest stone, which was made for the tomb of Robert Abbot of Lire in France, who died in St. Briavels in 1272. The recumbent figures at the west end of the south aisle are of William Warren and his family and are from a large tomb which had stood in the north wall of the chancel until 1860. The choir stalls were made in 1950 in oak by local craftsmen and here you will find the Priest's Stall with the arms of the Dean and the Chapter of Hereford and you will also see the Hunters Horn, which is the badge of the Constable of the Forest. The Norman font has a stone frill which is thought to be unique.

Old Church Records for family historians