St. Briavels Castle St, Briavels Castle occupies a heightened site looking over the Wye Valley and also the Welsh Border. Niles Fitz Walter, Earl of Gloucester, first built the castle throughout the Anarchy, but Henry II required possession in 1160 also it continued to be a royal stronghold after that. Nobleman, especially John, came here to search within the Forest of Dean. It between occasions, it offered because the administrative core forest, that was essential for iron forges, and also the castle grew to become a stone house for that countless crossbow bolts made there. An enormous gate house rules the castle, Built by Edward I in 1292, it would have been a good illustration of the keep gate house theme along with a worthy counterpart towards the gatehouses of Edward's Welsh forts. The result is marred now by losing the parapet, lengthy since displaced by pitched roofs, and also the destruction of one for reds from the lengthy gate passage. Semi-circular flanking towers rise from square bases which retreat into the wall as short pyramidal spurs. This strengthening from the wall portcullises closed the gate passage, and more compact portcullises even barred the entrance doors leading in to the porter's lodges. Beneath one of these simple lodges is really a pit prison, and then the whole gatehouse offered like a prison for individuals who had fallen foul from the harsh forest laws and regulations. Initially, however, the 2 upper flooring from the gate house contained a hall along with other flats for that constable. The gatehouse forms one finish from the present house, which came from like a suite of royal flats. Though much changed within the Jacobean period and then, the home preserves lots of masonry from King John's time, particularly a totally reset fire place within the so-known as Jury Room. An changed chapel projects in to the bailey, however the hall that was opposite has disappeared.