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Custom · St Briavels

St Briavels Bread and Cheese Dole

Duck: here comes the cheese.

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Illustration: St Briavels Bread and Cheese Dole
The legend
Custom

St Briavels Bread and Cheese Dole

Hold out your hat.

Stand where it happened

What's there
Medieval castle gatehouse in a village
Legend from
Living custom
Tone
Lively
Customs[custom]

Before you go

Village event; castle is a youth hostel. Check before you go.

  • St Briavels Castle
  • Near B4228
  • The pin marks the spot.
  • DateBread and Cheese Dole (Whit Sunday)

Catch your bread and cheese at Whitsun.

Each Whit Sunday bread and cheese is thrown to the crowd at St Briavels. Wikipedia says it is said to date to Miles of Gloucester in the 12th century, and it is linked to the right to gather wood in the Hudnalls. The Forester (2026) says it is now thrown from a cherry picker rather than the Pound Wall opposite the castle.

Sources

  1. St Briavels, Wikipedia —
  2. St Briavels, Visit Dean Wye —
  3. Gerald Creswick mourned as 'King of the Hudnalls' (27 May 2026), The Forester —

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