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St Briavels

St Briavels (pronounced Brevels) is a medium-sized village in the Royal Forest of Dean in west Gloucestershire, England; close to the England-Wales border, and 5 miles south of Coleford.

It stands almost 800 feet (240 m) above sea level on the edge of a limestone plateau above the valley of the River Wye, above an ancient meander of the river. To the west, Cinder Hill drops off sharply into the valley.

The village, once known as 'Ledenia Parva' (Little Lydney), is sheltered behind the crumbling walls of its 12th century moated Norman castle, which was garrisoned by Miles of Gloucester for King Henry I as early as 1130.

The castle was later granted to him with the Forest of Dean in July 1141 when he was made Earl of Hereford.

St Briavels Castle has been a Norman fortress, a Royal castle and hunting lodge of King John of England, and was also visited by Henry II, who made the castle the administrative and judicial centre for the Forest of Dean. It has also been a prison, a school and a private house, but today it is a youth hostel.

Little is known about the origin of St Briavels. The name is thought to be from a much-travelled early Christian missionary, Brioc, whose name also appears in places as far afield as Cornwall and Brittany.
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  • St Briavels, Gloucestershire - December 30, 2018

    St Briavels, Gloucestershire - December 30, 2018

    View into the village from beside the castle

  • St Briavels Castle, St Briavels, Gloucestershire - December 30, 2018

    St Briavels Castle, St Briavels, Gloucestershire - December 30, 2018

    St Briavel's Castle viewed from the Moat which is conserved by the "Moat Society" as a public park.

  • St Briavels Castle, St Briavels, Gloucestershire - December 30, 2018

    St Briavels Castle, St Briavels, Gloucestershire - December 30, 2018

    Gate House - St Briavels castle. The castle currently functions as a Youth Hostel.

  • St Briavels Castle, St Briavels, Gloucestershire - December 30, 2018

    St Briavels Castle, St Briavels, Gloucestershire - December 30, 2018

    Gate House - St Briavels castle. The castle currently functions as a Youth Hostel.

  • St Briavels Castle, St Briavels, Gloucestershire - December 30, 2018

    St Briavels Castle, St Briavels, Gloucestershire - December 30, 2018

    St Briavel's Castle viewed from the Moat which is conserved by the "Moat Society" as a public park.

  • St Briavels Castle, St Briavels, Gloucestershire - December 30, 2018

    St Briavels Castle, St Briavels, Gloucestershire - December 30, 2018

    St Briavel's Castle viewed from the Moat which is conserved by the "Moat Society" as a public park.

  • St Briavels Castle, St Briavels, Gloucestershire - December 30, 2018

    St Briavels Castle, St Briavels, Gloucestershire - December 30, 2018

    St Briavel's Castle viewed from the Moat which is conserved by the "Moat Society" as a public park.

  • St Briavels Castle, St Briavels, Gloucestershire - December 30, 2018

    St Briavels Castle, St Briavels, Gloucestershire - December 30, 2018

    St Briavel's Castle viewed from the Moat which is conserved by the "Moat Society" as a public park.

  • St Briavels Castle, St Briavels, Gloucestershire - December 30, 2018

    St Briavels Castle, St Briavels, Gloucestershire - December 30, 2018

    View towards The George Inn from the castle moat.

  • St Briavels Castle, St Briavels, Gloucestershire - December 30, 2018

    St Briavels Castle, St Briavels, Gloucestershire - December 30, 2018

    St Briavel's Castle viewed from the Moat which is conserved by the "Moat Society" as a public park.

  • St Briavels Castle, St Briavels, Gloucestershire - December 30, 2018

    St Briavels Castle, St Briavels, Gloucestershire - December 30, 2018

    St Briavel's Castle viewed from the Moat which is conserved by the "Moat Society" as a public park.

  • St Mary's Church, St Briavels, Gloucestershire - December 30, 2018

    St Mary's Church, St Briavels, Gloucestershire - December 30, 2018

    St Mary The Virgin is an 11th century building, located opposite St Briavels Castle. The Church holds 150-170 people and is of mixed architecture dating from Norman to Victorian times. The Norman font is of unique design. The organ was built to the design of that in Liverpool Cathedral, voiced by the leading ‘voicer’ of the time and installed by Ernest Bryson, a composer and organist who retired to St Briavels.

  • St Mary's Church, St Briavels, Gloucestershire - December 30, 2018

    St Mary's Church, St Briavels, Gloucestershire - December 30, 2018

    St Mary The Virgin is an 11th century building, located opposite St Briavels Castle. The Church holds 150-170 people and is of mixed architecture dating from Norman to Victorian times. The Norman font is of unique design. The organ was built to the design of that in Liverpool Cathedral, voiced by the leading ‘voicer’ of the time and installed by Ernest Bryson, a composer and organist who retired to St Briavels.

  • Untitled photo
  • St Briavels Castle, St Briavels, Gloucestershire - December 30, 2018

    St Briavels Castle, St Briavels, Gloucestershire - December 30, 2018

    Carved wooden chair in the moat at St Briavel's Castle - looks a bit devilish to me!

  • St Briavels Castle, St Briavels, Gloucestershire - December 30, 2018

    St Briavels Castle, St Briavels, Gloucestershire - December 30, 2018

    Gate House - St Briavels castle. The castle currently functions as a Youth Hostel.

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