347 



octagonal pillars, with moulded caps ; these arches are of a later date than that 

 between the aisle and the north transept, which leads to the conclusion that the 

 present north arcade took the place of an earlier Xormaa one. The staircase 

 leading to the rood loft is in the south aisle and of Early English work. The 

 north transept was once used as a chauntry to the Virgin Mary. The small 

 excellently-proportioned pointed arches leading from the transepts into the aisles 

 are well worthy of notice. The string-course is continued over them as a label, 

 terminating in a fanciful representation of a serpent's head. When the present 

 chancel was built in 1861 an Early English piscina was removed to the chancel 

 and converted into a credence table. The remains of effigies now on the chancel 

 floor are those of William Warren, a large landowner, and of Mariana Catchmay, 

 his wife ; erected about 1573. The lower portion of the font is modern, the upper, 

 Norman, with a frill moulding round the base of the bowl. 



The old east window had Early English interlacing tracery ; there are 

 Early Decorated windows of the 13th century in the transepts ; there were an 

 Early English eastern window and piscina in the north transept ; and a fine 

 Perpendicular window of five lights, probably of 15th century, at the west end of 

 the nave. The clerestory windows in nave were re-opened by the alterations. 

 The four Early arches forming the cnix originally carried a central tower. This 

 was taken down from the intersections in 1831, and the present tower built on the 

 south side. The Church was restored and the chancel was rebuilt in 1861— the 

 old west window was taken out in 1861. Extensive repairs and improvements 

 took place again in 1880 to 1881, and subsequent years. The crown of the tower was 

 re-built and improved in 1881. Of the peal of eight bells, six were re-cast in 1764, 

 and two given in 1831. The rude stone coffin in the churchyard near the vestry 

 door, was taken out of the nave in 1881. At the present time there is in the 

 bar-parlour of a local inn a 12th century coffin lid, witli an incised cross, which 

 has been used as a breast-stone in the chimney. On page 92 of Bishop Swinfield's 

 Household Roll, a note says : " The Church of St. Briavel's and others witnessed 

 sanguinary outrages in the Episcopate of Swiufield ; fugitives who sought refuge 

 being not always safe." In truth, St. Briavel's was a lawless place, and it is feared 

 that many old coffin slabs were carried away ruthlessly from tlie Church and used 

 in building. 



Some members ascended the tower, and reported favourably of the view 

 obtained therefrom. On the west and north-west are the Trelleck Beacon, the 

 Sugar Loaf and Scyrrid near Abergavenny, the hills on the boundaries of 

 Herefordshire, such as Garway and Saddlebow, &c. On tlie north are the 

 Kymin, Buckstone, Staunton, Berry Hill, Ruardean, the Plump Hill, and the 

 more distant May Hill in Gloucestershire. The Forest of Dean is in the fore- 

 ground, to the north-east, and the elevations in the neighbourhood of Dursley, 

 beyond the Severn are seen a little south of east. The tower itself is on an 

 elevation of 800 feet above the valley of the Wye. On the south the ground 

 rises, and the view is more limited. 



No wonder that such a site should have been selected for military defence. 

 St. Briavel's Castle was apparently one of those forming an outer line of defence 



