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469:. Cut off from the rest of England by the tidal Severn River to the east and the treacherous tidal Wye to the west, the Forest was in many ways more isolated than most other parts of the country. As a result, this area produced a culture, language and way of living peculiarly its own. The Forest is full of ancient customs and traditions.
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entitling them to gather firewood from the nearby
Hudnalls wood. Some believe in the power of these edible morsels and preserve them for good luck (miners originally used them as charms to protect against accidents underground). Today some people choose to place them in matchboxes and rest them under
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Village life today is centred on the school, church, the
Pavilions, Assembly Rooms, The George and the Pantry. The Assembly Rooms has a hall with a stage for entertainment and special events for the local close knit community. It also has a small office for hire with Internet and telephone options.
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granted 'Free-Mining' status to all Forest of Dean coal and ore miners. This authority gave
Freeminers the right to dig for minerals anywhere in the Forest of Dean except beneath churchyards, orchards and gardens. To be a Freeminer, an individual has to be "born and abiding within the
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The general character of the village is typified by a mid 19th century core, complemented to the east by a large number of houses built during the 1970s. Although many residents now no longer work in the area the village retains a relatively vibrant community.
879:. The station was renamed three times during its life: firstly Bigsweir Station, then St Briavels and Llandogo Station, and finally St Briavels Station. The station was closed to passenger services on 5 January 1959 and the line closed to freight in 1964.
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Other peculiarities to the area include the ancient right for 'sheep badgers' to let their flocks roam freely and pigs were also allowed to forage freely in the Forest. Firewood was also allowed to be gathered from the local
Hudnalls wood.
773:. The floats include St Briavels School, St Briavels Infants, St Briavels Juniors, St Briavels Playgroup and the Carnival Queen Float. The floats then process through the village, finally parking at the bottom of the recreation ground.
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and local remains can still be seen in the nearby
Hudnalls Wood. The Normans thought it an ideal site for one of the many castles built from Chepstow to Chester to check the intrusion of the warlike Welsh tribesmen from the Welsh
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465:'s Parish Church, built in 1089, must have been the site of a considerable community, for the castle was the home of the Constable of the Forest of Dean, a region stretching northwards and eastwards toward the city of
637:, born within the ancient administrative area of the Hundred of St Briavels. There are still several traditional Forester families living and working in the area keeping the ancient traditions and rights alive.
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used in the mills and cider presses of the time were quarried in the
Hudnalls and rolled down the hillside to be transported away by barges on the River Wye. Between the 16th century and 18th century
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In the Middle Ages, local miners were highly valued for their digging skills during military campaigns. It is said that, after a particularly successful job undermining the foundations of
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into the more peaceful areas east of the Severn and Wye rivers. At
Windward, the highest point in the parish, the land rises to 800 feet (240 m) above sea level;
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and a doctors' surgery. It also has a well regarded village shop and delicatessen called The Pantry operating from a small building opposite The George. The
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in the Forest, are rights and responsibilities extended to the people of St
Briavels that are still exercised today, although more so elsewhere in the
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of the river. To the west, Cinder Hill drops off sharply into the valley. It is sheltered behind the crumbling walls of the 12th century
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In the late middle ages and early modern period open cast stone mining was prevalent in the woods to the west of the village. Many
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itself is somewhat lower at 600 feet (180 m) and nestles into the hillsides, with a commanding view of the Wye Valley between
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from the Forest was heavily relied upon for the construction of ships - and almost became exhausted, supplying to the demands of
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761:, known as 'The Carnival', attracts large crowds and is usually held on the second Saturday afternoon in June. Five carnival
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The St
Briavels Assembly Rooms are used by the community for classes, playgroups and various events. A recent grant from
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Today the
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Upper Meend and Lower Meend are locales situated on the west of the village on the slope leading down to the
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as early as 1130. The castle was later granted to him with the Forest of Dean in July 1141 when he was made
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Little is known about the origin of St Briavels. The name is thought to be from a much-travelled early
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and stretches south to St. Briavels. The total ward population taken at the 2011 census was 3,297.
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of St Briavels', of the age of 21 and upwards who shall have worked for a year and a day in a
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is the largest in the Forest of Dean and its boundaries approximate to the Forest boundaries.
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bread and cheese is thrown from the wall of the castle to local 'Dole Claimers' dressed in
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A community group called 'Heartbeat St. Briavels' has been set up to provide and maintain
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1258:"St Briavels - St Bruel's Close (C) Roy Parkhouse :: Geograph Britain and Ireland"
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499:. In 1155 the castle and the Forest of Dean were held by the Crown after the revolt of
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808:. Nearby hamlets and settlements include St. Briavels Common (which has not been
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344:, once known as 'Ledenia Parva' (Little Lydney)), is a medium-sized village and
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of £94,000 is currently being spent on updating the Rooms for increased usage.
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991:"Offa's Dyke: section on St Briavels Common, immediately south of Sittingreen"
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across the Wye is one of the world's first iron bridges, dating from 1827.
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costume. 'Dole claimers' could be anyone who paid a penny to the incumbent
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have all been important primary sources of income in the Forest of Dean.
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1336:"New defibrillators are hoped will save lives in Forest of Dean village"
1143:"The Forest of Dean Gloucestershire. Archaeological Survey. Appendices"
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Transactions of the Bristol and Gloucestershire Archaeological Society
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741:(then lord of the Forest of Dean) in the 12th century. Each year on
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855:. It was built in 1876 during the construction of the line on the
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The village is a populous part of 'Newland and St Briavels'
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Between 1876 and 1959, while industry was booming in the
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Photos of St. Briavels and surrounding area on geograph
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1231:"St. Briavels Assembly, Recreation & Reading Rooms"
410:, whose name also appears in places as far afield as
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The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Place Names
27:
Village and civil parish in Gloucestershire, England
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472:Between the 11th century and 13th centuries the
368:. It stands almost 800 feet (240 m) above
1477:The Wye Valley Railway and the Coleford Branch
1112:Journal of the Cerberus Spelaeological Society
754:their pillow to inspire dreams of the future.
737:tradition is said to date back to the time of
511:. The castle has been a hunting lodge of King
8:
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1284:"St Briavels Bread & Cheese Scramble"
739:Miles de Gloucester, 1st Earl of Hereford
719:, wine, honey and a range of delicacies.
640:Freemining, free roaming sheep grazed on
364:border, and 5 miles (8 km) south of
1312:. Forest of Dean and Wye Valley Review.
969:. Oxford University Press. p. 400.
832:lie on the Welsh side of the valley, in
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1310:"St Briavels set for carnival capers"
1264:from the original on 18 December 2018
1077:"St Briavels Castle and curtain wall"
501:Roger Fitzmiles, 2nd Earl of Hereford
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1454:from the original on 3 November 2008
1372:from the original on 31 January 2016
1290:from the original on 21 October 2017
1155:from the original on 24 October 2017
1122:from the original on 25 October 2015
943:from the original on 6 December 2007
1501:Saint Briavels Castle, 1066 to 1331
1392:"Newland and St Briavels ward 2011"
1316:from the original on 28 August 2020
1237:from the original on 22 August 2018
1211:from the original on 28 August 2020
1205:"St. Briavels Local Produce Market"
1185:from the original on 28 August 2020
1057:from the original on 28 August 2020
1027:from the original on 14 August 2018
1001:from the original on 28 August 2020
792:. This ward starts in the north at
715:pork, award-winning local cheeses,
67:
1179:National Heritage List for England
1148:. Gloucestershire County Council.
1081:National Heritage List for England
1051:National Heritage List for England
995:National Heritage List for England
769:contestants congregate around the
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1428:from the original on 5 March 2016
1398:from the original on 3 March 2016
1087:from the original on 4 March 2016
903:from the original on 3 March 2016
836:. At the base of the valley, the
735:St Briavels Bread and Cheese Dole
1108:"The Forest of Dean Free Miners"
1021:"History of St Briavel's Castle"
526:, St Briavels was served by the
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1475:B. M. Handley and R. Dingwall,
1366:"Aims - Heartbeat St. Briavels"
633:, is a resident natural of the
507:possession for the rest of the
534:was situated a mile away near
487:The village was garrisoned by
1:
704:offering a fine selection of
692:, dating from the 1870s, has
668:St Mary's Church, St Briavels
875:, which is further down the
1552:Villages in Gloucestershire
849:St Briavels railway station
694:Gothic Revival architecture
101:OS grid reference
32:Human settlement in England
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1522:St Briavels Parish Council
660:Amenities and village life
545:
515:, and was also visited by
482:The hundred of St Briavels
1106:Breakspear, Mike (1998).
476:counties were split into
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897:"Parish population 2011"
851:was a station along the
780:throughout the village.
503:. It then remained as a
379:above the valley of the
356:, England; close to the
1532:Heartbeat St. Briavels
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559:ore extraction, stone
429:from the mouth of the
320:51.736571°N 2.637979°W
205:Postcode district
1047:"St Briavel's Castle"
690:Congregational church
667:
603:within the Hundred".
1346:on 14 September 2014
1286:. Calendar Customs.
1181:. Historic England.
1083:. Historic England.
1053:. Historic England.
1023:. English Heritage.
997:. Historic England.
937:"St Briavels Castle"
672:The village has one
350:Royal Forest of Dean
325:51.736571; -2.637979
185:Sovereign state
1175:"Church of St Mary"
1141:Hoyle, Jon (2008).
925:, Vol.9, 1884, p.35
532:St Briavels Station
489:Miles of Gloucester
383:, above an ancient
316: /
1448:"Re: Cold Harbour"
1422:The New York Times
1340:Gloucester Citizen
853:Wye Valley Railway
820:. The villages of
800:Surrounding parish
670:
528:Wye Valley Railway
448:St Briavels Castle
389:St Briavels Castle
261:UK Parliament
49:St Briavels Castle
1424:. 15 March 1885.
976:978-0-19-869103-7
757:An annual summer
644:, and grazing of
372:on the edge of a
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135:Shire county
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16:(Redirected from
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1418:"Cold Harbor.--"
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341:
340:(pronounced
337:
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29:
18:St. Briavels
810:common land
767:fancy dress
765:gather and
743:Whit Sunday
642:common land
553:Coal mining
509:Middle Ages
427:Offa's Dyke
421:Later King
338:St Briavels
323: /
74:St Briavels
38:St Briavels
1541:Categories
1376:23 January
1350:23 January
1268:8 December
947:8 December
883:References
877:Wye Valley
830:Whitebrook
812:since the
784:Governance
710:rare breed
608:millstones
542:Freemining
467:Gloucester
404:missionary
308:51°44′12″N
161:South West
92:Population
1458:9 January
1320:28 August
1294:28 August
1241:28 August
1215:28 August
1189:28 August
1159:28 August
1126:28 August
1091:28 August
1061:28 August
1031:28 August
1005:28 August
861:River Wye
818:Brockweir
806:River Wye
569:Verderers
561:quarrying
548:Freeminer
491:for King
439:Prestatyn
431:River Wye
401:Christian
381:River Wye
374:limestone
370:sea level
311:2°38′17″W
245:Ambulance
195:Post town
1479:, 1982,
1452:Archived
1426:Archived
1402:28 March
1396:Archived
1370:Archived
1314:Archived
1288:Archived
1262:Archived
1235:Archived
1209:Archived
1183:Archived
1150:Archived
1120:Archived
1085:Archived
1055:Archived
1025:Archived
999:Archived
965:(1960).
941:Archived
907:28 March
901:Archived
873:Llandogo
865:Bigsweir
844:Railways
822:Llandogo
747:medieval
713:pedigree
631:Forester
599:mine or
597:iron ore
565:forestry
538:bridge.
536:Bigsweir
517:Henry II
478:hundreds
456:Redbrook
435:Chepstow
416:Brittany
412:Cornwall
366:Coleford
352:in west
117:District
108:SO559044
826:Penallt
794:Newland
706:organic
686:chapels
620:Raleigh
589:Hundred
493:Henry I
463:St Mary
452:Tintern
395:History
385:meander
377:plateau
358:England
348:in the
342:Brevels
292:England
177:England
171:Country
1507:
1483:
1432:24 May
973:
871:, and
763:floats
684:, two
682:church
624:Nelson
612:timber
530:, and
425:built
221:Police
199:LYDNEY
153:Region
1153:(PDF)
1146:(PDF)
1118:(3).
724:DEFRA
717:cider
616:Drake
567:with
505:Crown
474:shire
433:near
408:Brioc
362:Wales
1505:ISBN
1481:ISBN
1460:2009
1434:2010
1404:2015
1378:2016
1352:2016
1322:2020
1296:2020
1270:2017
1243:2020
1217:2020
1191:2020
1161:2020
1128:2020
1093:2020
1063:2020
1033:2020
1007:2020
971:ISBN
949:2007
909:2015
828:and
759:fête
733:The
680:, a
646:pigs
622:and
593:coal
563:and
557:iron
454:and
414:and
233:Fire
210:GL15
863:at
674:pub
595:or
578:at
437:to
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