Castle of St Briavals

St Briavels Castle was originally built between 1075 and 1129 as the royal administrative center for the Forest of Dean. During the 13th century, the castle first became King John's favorite hunting lodge, and later the main center in England for the production of battle guns. The castle was transferred several times between royal favourites during the 14th and 15th centuries and gradually declined in appearance and importance. St Briavels Castle was primarily used as a courthouse and as a prison for notorious debtors, the terms of which were recorded by prison reformer John Howard in 1775.

The castle of St Briavels is beautiful but also very scary with the ghost stories surrounding it. Several tour companies organize ghost hunting tours at this castle and attract large numbers of courageous visitors. Those who slept in the castle of St Briavals recounted that they heard crying coming from the bedroom, or were walking when their clothes were pulled by invisible hands. Occasionally, it was discovered that there was a black dog roaming the castle, or the silhouette of an unknown woman walking down the corridor with the knight. Many people who come here say they feel stuffy as if something in the afterlife is present. Then they couldn't stand it and left.