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From the BBC Website, 6th June 2005

Iron Age remains found at castle

A team of university archaeologists has uncovered the remains of an Iron Age settlement in the grounds of a Gloucestershire castle.

The group, from the University of Bristol, found fragments of human bones and prehistoric flint tools in the gardens of Berkeley castle. The discoveries were made by students taking part in a training excavation.

Mark Horton, head of archaeology, said: "To find prehistoric remains is an exciting and unexpected discovery."

Parts of a ring ditch, which may have circled a house, were also uncovered in an area below the castle's Victorian flowerbeds and greenhouses.

Berkeley castle has been owned and inhabited by the same family since 1156, but little is known about the early history of the site.

"It is possible this settlement was located on a small ridge of high ground, to be visible from the River Severn, and might even have been located to help prehistoric navigation," Dr Horton said.

The excavations are due to be filled in, but it is hoped the artefacts will be put on display for visitors to the castle.

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A plan of Berkeley Castle, by Mike Salter.

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Some vintage postcards of Berkeley Castle from my collection.

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Some old prints of Berkeley Castle (not from my collection).
The first two are from the 1840s, and the other two are from the 1820s.

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And a basic history of Berkeley Castle.

From “Discovering Castles in England & Wales” by John Kinross, 1973.

The building of the present castle was begun by Roger de Berkeley in 1117 and completed by his son, also Roger, about 1153. The castle was granted to Robert FitzHarding, who was created Baron Berkeley, following the younger Roger’s opposition to Henry II. The Berkeleys opposed King John and later joined Simon de Montfort’s rebellion. In spite of this they continued to hold their property, due mainly to Thomas Berkeley who fought valiantly for Edward I in the latter’s northern campaign. During the deposition of Edward II by Queen Isabella and Roger Mortimer, Thomas Berkeley was turned out of the castle, which was used as a prison for the king under his two guardians, Lord Maltravers and Thomas Gurney. One of the cruellest deeds in English history took place on 21st September 1327 when the king was murdered.

Thomas Berkeley was exonerated from any complicity in the murder and the young Edward III soon had his revenge on Mortimer (See Nottingham Castle). Thomas’s grandson was one of Henry Bolingbroke’s supporters in the deposition of Richard II, and when he died in 1417 the ownership of the castle and estate was disputed between his son-in-law and his nephew, James Berkeley. The latter was awarded the estate but during the Wars of the Roses, the daughter’s grandson Lord Lisle, and James’s son William, waged a private war that had no connection with the major war that was going on elsewhere in England. In 1470 at the battle of Nibley Green, Lisle was defeated and killed. William had no heirs, and rather than allow the castle to pass to any of his cousins, he granted it to Henry VII in exchange for the title Earl Marshal in 1486. For sixty-one years the castle was held by the Crown until the great-grandson of William’s brother Maurice inherited it on the death of Edward VI.

During the Civil War Berkeley Castle was occupied by both sides, and finally the Royalist Sir Charles Lucas surrendered to Colonel Rainsborough in 1645 after a three-day siege. The usual slighting was not attempted, as Berkeley was popular with both sides. Only the outer wall was demolished and the keep breached, and it remains in the same condition today. In 1679 George Berkeley was made an earl but owing to a complication in inheritance in 1810 the ‘Berkeley Peerage Case’ left the castle in different hands for over one hundred years, until the earls again possessed it in 1916.

The Norman keep has been flattened on the top to give more space. This leads out to the inner ward, where there is the chapel, the great hall built during the reign of Edward III, and the residential quarters – all somewhat similar to an Oxford or Cambridge college. Edward II’s prison was in one of the three semi-circular keep towers although he is believed to have been murdered in a room above the fore-building, described by Horace Walpole as “a dismal chamber in a square tower’. The gatehouse is small and the moat narrow, so that it is remarkable that the castle has survived to the present day in such an excellent condition.

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Another print of Berkeley Castle, from 1719 - an unusual view.

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Amazing gardens! Thanks for sharing! If you notice, as time progressed and invasions were becoming not-so-popular, you can visually see in the representations of the gardens becoming more lavish and well plotted. Beginning in as early as the 15th cent., viewing mounts and exotic animals were added to make the gardens more for pleasure than just necessity. Always grand to see the scale of such productions. Can't wait to get started on mine! Just a wee bit longer yet....sigh.

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From the BBC Website, 27th March 2006

Archivist finds Henry I charter

A long-lost royal charter has been discovered by historians at Berkeley Castle in Gloucestershire. The document grants the manor of Maisemore from King Henry I to St Peter's Abbey in Gloucester.

Although not dated, experts know the charter was made on 3rd September 1101, more than 900 years ago, and have confirmed that it is original. The castle's owner John Berkeley said it had lost its seal, but was in all other ways authentic.

"I'm amazed that such an ancient document has turned up among my family papers," he said. “Our archivist, David Smith, came across it while looking for something else. I had no idea it was there."

Only about 300 such documents from Henry I's reign (1100 to 1135) have survived.

An extract, translated from the Latin, reads: "Know that I have given to God and to St Peter of Gloucester and Serlo their Abbot for the sustenance of the monks my land of Maesmores and all the woods and fields."

Mr. Berkeley said the document was found amongst papers relating to the family's Spetchley Park property in Worcestershire.

"It's especially interesting... because this year we are celebrating the 400th anniversary of its purchase by my ancestor Rowland Berkeley on 30 May 1606. It was when Mr Smith was looking for that deed that he found the charter," he said.

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From "The Daily Telegraph", 1st July 2006

Castle Appeal

Prince Michael of Kent is to launch a £5.3 million appeal to prevent Berkeley Castle, Gloucestershire, from becoming a ruin.

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From the BBC Website, 3rd July 2006

Appeal to restore historic castle

A £5m appeal is being launched to save historic Berkeley Castle in Gloucestershire from falling into ruin. A survey by English Heritage uncovered a long list of structural and cosmetic problems needing attention. The roof and walls would cost about £2.5m to repair - money is also needed for restoring valuable paintings.

The Grade One listed building, which dates back to the mid-12th Century, has been the home of the Berkeley family for 25 generations.

'Long process'

"We need to do work to the battlements, stonework, interior, some of the roofs and timberwork," said Charles Berkeley.

"Painted decorations in the morning room need to be looked at and every day things like drain pipes, window frames, masonry. We're looking at over £5m worth over time, it's going to be a long process."

The fundraising effort is being launched on behalf of the castle trust by Prince Michael of Kent, on Monday.

"We're not cash rich and there is a need to maintain the building," said Mr. Berkeley. "And I think for a building of such importance, we need all the help we can get really."