What is the Bread and Cheese Dole?

The Bread and Cheese Dole is one of the oldest surviving traditions in the Forest of Dean and is closely associated with St Briavels Castle. According to local custom, bread and cheese are thrown from the castle walls each year on Whit Sunday to crowds gathered below. The event is believed to date back to at least the twelfth century and may be linked to ancient rights granted by the Lords of the Forest of Dean.

Over the centuries, local people came to believe that pieces of the bread carried good luck and protection. Some miners reportedly kept fragments as charms to guard against accidents underground. Today the ceremony remains a popular community event that attracts both residents and visitors. It provides a fascinating link between modern village life and customs that have survived for hundreds of years.