SIR - Regarding the interest shown in the Gazette about Dursley Castle may I inform you that I dowsed the site of the castle back in 1970 and your paper reported that it was in the Recreation Ground behind the Tabernacle. Also near the site was a Saxon burial ground.

In my book (page nine), History of Berkeley Vale, published in 1994 it states - Situated in the Recreation Ground behind the Tabernacle looking down on the town of Dursley, a fortified manor would be a better term than a castle. Its four round turreted towers along the west wall guarded the entrance which opened into a courtyard, alongside the walls were quarters built partly into the walls."

I became a member of the British Society of Dowsers in 1968, having to pass three tests: first, find a well; second, find a gas main running across the golf course near Leigh Woods, Bristol; and the third, map dowse for a Roman burial near Yatton. I passed all three tests.

My hobby was Roman remains and I have travelled throughout the West Country finding sites. Local ones were at Uley, Cromhall, Berkeley, Dursley, Kingscote and Hinton.

I was a dowser for Lister's for a number of years, finding old gas mains, water mains, electric cables, footings of old buildings and water courses. I have also helped the police to find missing persons.

One of my interesting finds were caves in the Mendips for the Mendip potholers and going underground with them and finding old Roman lead mines.

Royce Denning, Sunnybrook Cottage, Sharpness