What Would Blackbeard Say
about St Briavels Castle?
Arr, gather 'round ye scallywags, for I'll be tellin' ye a tale of me family's voyage to St Briavels Castle, aye!
'Twas in me youth, when me father, bein' a ship captain o' some standin', received an invitation to a grand ale for the Whigs, aye, those political sea dogs be tryin' to garner support for the cause. Aye, we set sail from Bristol, across the treacherous Bristol Channel, up the River Wye, when the tide be high, and docked our vessel near the castle's shores.
St Briavels Castle stood tall, its mighty Norman walls towerin' o'er the land, and the grand Edwardian gatehouse stood sentinel at its entrance, a sight to make even the hardiest sailor tremble with awe. But no royalty graced its halls in those days, for it be servin' as a court and a place o' local rule.
Originally built as a royal keep in the time o' yore, 'twas transformed into a favored hunting lodge for King John, that scoundrel of a monarch. But 'twas its role in craftin' quarrels for crossbows that truly set it apart, aye, a fortress in times of war.
Through the ages, the castle passed from hand to hand like a prized booty, slowly diminishin' in grandeur and significance. Yet, 'twas still feared by many, for it housed debtors and scoundrels alike, Yet, the echoes of its past linger still, hauntin' its halls with tales of yore.
I did meet a few young fellers that I be sailin' with aboard the HMS Windsor a few years on. The Royal Navy be one alternative to bein' a merchant ship deck hand, or workin' in the iron trade locally where they be makin' anchors, chains, and such.
So there ye have it, me hearties, the tale of me family's visit to St Briavels Castle, a journey filled with adventure and history aplenty. Rubbin' elbows with the landlubbers wantin' to have control over the entire populace let me know that me didn't want to be amongst 'em. Smilin' and shakin' yer hand with one hand, and lootin' yer pocket with the other. Arrr!
Aye, mayhaps one day ye too shall set foot upon its storied grounds and make yer own mark upon its legend.
