| Where: | St Briavels, Gloucestershire - from the Pound Wall opposite the Castle |
| When: | Whit Sunday |
| Time: | 7pm service at St Mary's Church, 7.30 Scramble |
Every Whit Sunday, bread and cheese is blessed by the vicar and is thrown from the wall for the assembled crowd of Dole Claimers to collect. It supposedly has mysterious preservative properties, presumably because it has been blessed, and pieces are often kept as a lucky charm. The custom traditionally dates back to twelfth century origins, though written records date back only a couple of hundred years, and until the event became too rowdy it all took place in the churchyard. Before the scramble, a sermon is preached by visiting clergy – and if they get a cheer at the end, they are paid the Whittington Purse so it’s good incentive for it to be entertaining! The money for the charity was left by local landowner William Whittington who died in 1625 (look out for the board in the porch which lists all the good causes he supported) and the sum of £1. 6s. 8d. is awarded for an appreciated Sermon, still in old money. A few hymns and prayers follow the sermon in a brief service held at the church gates, before all move around the corner to gather in front of the very tall Pound Wall. The custodians of Hudnall’s Wood climb onto the top of the wall and shower the waiting crowd below – many catch the bread and cheese in upturned umbrellas. Musical accompaniment is provided by the local band and a barbecue follows the ceremony.
Helpful Hints
In 2025 Whit Sunday will be on 8th June.
Thanks to Jean Sheraton for the helpful information!
Click here for the Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/St-Briavels-Bread-and-Cheese-Ceremony-100360071698611/
Click here for the church website : http://stbandhchurches.org.uk/
I am originaly from Llandogo with lots of relatives in St Briavels,it was our custom to go every year to the throwing of bread and cheese. The last time I whent was when Doctor Eskell threw a bean can full and it cut someones head. Now I am back in the area I will attend again.
Maybe wear a hard hat this time?! It looks good fun – let us know how it goes!
Averil
Hi Bryan I have just seen all be it rather late about bread and cheese ceremony in St Briavels remember me Loveday (Wasley) now Wintle hoping you pick this up for
Hi have just seen your piece about St.Briavels bread and cheese
My mum (Eileen) and your dad (Eric ) were cousins I am daughter Loveday
Use to love the ceremony . .
Hi Loveday,
This is Averil, who writes all the articles on calendarcustoms. I can see you’re hoping to get in touch with Bryan, who left a comment about the Dole in 2013, but under the data protection laws websites can’t store personal details like email addresses etc so I’ve no way of putting you directly in touch with him. I guess there’s a chance he’ll see your messages in the comments section, but it’s a long shot!
Best wishes,
Averil
Hi I believe we are related Loveday (Wasley) your dad and my mum were cousins
Ive been coming to bread- cheese all my life, and I’m 60, but this is the first year that I will not be attending, as my dearest mum passed away in october on her 97th birthday, and she loved to come in her wheelchair and trying to catch the bread-cheese was such a laugh, and she really enjoyed it, of coarse it was also lovely to catch up with old friends, Mrs Kathleen Baker, formerly of (close turf farm) we would of loved to be there tonight, but without mam it wouldn’t be the same. Signed susan cuff (baker ) Paignton Devon.
Hi Susan,
I’ve put some photos from this years bread & cheese dole on the website so take a look – a video will follow when my husband has had a chance to edit it.It was a perfect evening for it and we thoroughly enjoyed it – our first visit to the custom.My Mum passed away this March so I know what you’re going through- hope the pics bring back some happy memories for you.
Best Wishes,
Averil
Nice to see the old traditions kept up, but the bread and chese must be
caught by hand to insure good luck through-out the coming year.
Mrs kath Baker was my cousin
Signed John Hunt. Selby Nth Yorks
Interesting – when we went most people were catching the bread in upturned umbrellas 🙂
Lovely to find this site with several names that I remember. I lived in the village Police House on the Coleford Road from 1952 until 1961.
It was a lovely place to grow up in.
Was hoping to visit for the Bread and Cheese this year but not sure yet if this is possible. If not there’s always 2023 🤞
Claire Beaman nee Drennen sister of Lynne remember St Briavels with very fond memories ideal place to grow up always remember bread and cheese ceremony also brownies with Mrs Johnston ( brown owl ) received my Brownie cooking badge (blancmange made in Castle YHA kitchen and fire lighting badge in HUGE fire place in Castle) will try to attend this year
I have added some photos of Mr Creswick to the Bread and Cheese Facebook page. I have a copy of his booklet.
I used to go to this,, as a child, when we lived in Monmouth. I am talking decades ago! I am now in London with my husband. I loved it. We were told that if you caught a bit of the bread or cheese, you did not merely have good luck. You also had the right to forage for free wood in the forest!