St Briavels, Chepstow Road c.1955
Photo ref: S710018
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Photo ref: S710018
Photo of St Briavels, Chepstow Road c.1955

More about this scene

In the days when the Forest of Dean was a Royal hunting ground, St Briavels was its administrative center; the legacy of this former importance continues to the present time. Any man born in the Hundred of St Briavels who has worked for a year and a day in a mine within the Hundred has the right to apply to the Deputy Gaveller for 'gale', or mine working. If permission is granted he becomes a Freeminer, and can extract the mineral from that mine in return for a royalty payment to the Crown. Iron, coal, ochre and rock are worked by Freeminers in the Forest to this day.

Memories of St Briavels, Chepstow Road c1955

For many years now, we've been inviting visitors to our website to add their own memories to share their experiences of life as it was, prompted by the photographs in our archive. These memories are of St Briavels, Chepstow Road c.1955

Sparked a Memory for you?

If this has sparked a memory, why not share it here?

In the early 1970's I was a Scout Leader in Riverhead - near Sevenoaks in Kent - and we decided to spend our 1974 summer camp in the West Country or South Wales. I remember my fellow leader, Squadron Leader Mick Ryan, suggesting that we take the patrol leaders to "recce" the area at half term that Spring. And so we finished up staying in the splendid youth hostel within St Briavels ...see more