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.
Full Version: Berkeley Castle
A plan of Berkeley Castle, by Mike Salter.
Some vintage postcards of Berkeley Castle from my collection.
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.
The first two are from the 1840s, and the other two are from the 1820s.
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.
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.
Another print of Berkeley Castle, from 1719 - an unusual view.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Castle Appeal
Prince Michael of Kent is to launch a £5.3 million appeal to prevent Berkeley Castle, Gloucestershire, from becoming a ruin.
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."
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."
An old print of Berkeley Castle, 1770. (courtesy of www.antiqueprints.com)
A very intresting place for a couple of reasons, Thanks Andrew
Berkeley Castle is one of the places engraved by Samuel & Nathaniel Buck which I have not been able to find so far. I have been in contact with the Berkeley Estate, who believe they have a copy of one somewhere. They will search for it, and hopefully let me have a digital image in the near future.
Well - if you don't ask, ..........
Meanwhile, here's some information from the castle websites.
From the website http://www.berkeley-castle.com/RestorationAppeal.html
Restoration & Repair of Berkeley Castle
English Heritage funded the undertaking of a detailed condition survey in 2004/5, which has allowed Berkeley Castle Charitable Trust to quantify the scale of repairs required for the Castle and to set priorities for those areas of work that need the most urgent attention.
Repairs and conservation work totalling c. £5.3 million were identified, and these were ranked in order of urgency from Priority A: work needed to be undertaken immediately, through to Priority D: work needed over the next 5-10 years.
The Roofscape, with its magnificent chimneys and sweeping lead and copper cladding, will cost £920,000 to ensure the Castle is sealed from the elements.
The External Walls, primarily made of sandstone, have survived remarkably well, given that some were constructed almost 900 years ago. £1.5 million is required to repair badly weathered areas and restore key features, including very important Norman carving.
Internally, the Charity needs to spend £600,000 to repair and restore important areas, including the internationally important 14th century painted decorations in the Morning Room.
Outdated and Inefficient Services need £2.4 million spent on them to ensure that the building meets current standards.
In total, we need to raise £5.5 million to complete these essential works on one of Britain's most important buildings. The Charity uses all income from visitors and events to cover the major running costs of the Castle, but needs support to complete the work and ensure that the nation can appreciate the splendour of Berkeley castle for at least another 900 years.
From the website http://www.berkeley-castle.com/history.html
HISTORY
The most remarkable thing of all about the Castle is the long survival together - spanning nine centuries - of the building itself, the Berkeley family, the archives (which go back to 1117), the contents, the estate and the town. Its place in history is significant, not just because it is still intact, but because the Berkeley family and their home played an important part in the power struggles of so many centuries.
The Castle is one of the March Castles, built to keep out the Welsh, and has all the trappings to match: trip steps designed to make the enemy stumble during an assault, arrow slits, murder holes, enormous barred doors, slots where the portcullis once fell, and worn stones where sentries stood guard. It is also a fairytale Castle with its warm pink stone that glows in soft sunset light. Outside, the battlements drop some 60' to the Great Lawn below; but inside the Inner Courtyard, the building is on a human scale, with uneven battlements, small towers, doors and windows of every shape and size. The surrounding land would have been flooded for defence.
The Family are one of only three families in England who can trace their ancestry from father to son back to Saxon times. English history has been lived out within these walls - and by this family. The Castle is the oldest building in the country to be inhabited by the same family who built it. For centuries, the Berkeleys were close to the throne, able administrators and fighters who supported their king or queen (as long as they could), backed the winning side, and married well. The house, naturally enough, is full of stories.
The Archives housed in the Castle date back from the earliest part of the 12th Century and number around 20,000 documents, 6,000 of which relate to the mediaeval period. The latter are mainly manorial records which relate to every county in England, excepting two only.
The Contents are items that have been chosen, collected and treasured by members of the Berkeley family throughout the centuries, and many reflect the history of the place. They include Francis Drake's cabin chest, Queen Elizabeth I's bedspread, and the banner that the 4th Earl of Berkeley took with him to the Battle of Culloden. Many of the unusual tapestries, paintings, ceramics and silverware, have their own story to tell.
The Estate consists of 6,000 acres, and includes one of the best examples of a mediaeval deer park in the country, 18 tenant farms, a stretch of the River Severn and the land on which the famous Wetland Wildfowl Centre at Slimbridge is situated. Berkeley town itself goes back in time as far as the Castle, and evidence suggests that there may have been a mint here in Saxon times.
The Stories
The Castle's Keep was finished in 1153 by the first of the Berkeleys, one Robert Fitzhardinge, a wealthy provost of Bristol who was awarded the Castle by Henry II, the then Duke of Anjou. Since that time there is not much of Britain's history that has passed Berkeley Castle by. The Castle has connections
• with Shakespeare's Midsummer Night's Dream, which was written for a Berkeley wedding;
• with the murder of King Edward II, which notoriously took place here in 1327;
• with the signing of Magna Carta - the Barons of the West gathered at Berkeley before setting out to that momentous meeting with King John at Runnymede;
• with the Civil War, where the Royalists surrendered the Castle to the Parliamentarians after a siege;
• with the American Thanksgiving - the very first of which was held by Berkeley men;
• with Virginia - the first Governor of which was William Berkeley;
• with Yale and the University of California - who both benefited from the legacy of Bishop George Berkeley of Cloyne in the 18th Century
• with the battles of Agincourt , Crecy , Poitiers , Flodden , Culodden, and many more
• with Edward Jenner, the Rector of the town, who developed the smallpox vaccination
• with the last court jester in England , who died here in the Castle when he tumbled from the minstrel's gallery in the Great Hall (did he fall, or was he pushed?)
• with the monarchs of England: most notably King John, Henry VII, Henry VIII, Queen Elizabeth I, Charles I, George I, the Prince Regent - to name but a few
• with Francis Drake, Queen Elizabeth's most famous sea captain
Having been such a long-living and prolific family means that there are Berkeley connections all over the world, from Berkeley square in London to the North of America and Australia in the South. The stories are endless, and there is not enough room on this site to feature even a handful of them. You must visit the Castle for yourself.
Well - if you don't ask, ..........
Meanwhile, here's some information from the castle websites.
From the website http://www.berkeley-castle.com/RestorationAppeal.html
Restoration & Repair of Berkeley Castle
English Heritage funded the undertaking of a detailed condition survey in 2004/5, which has allowed Berkeley Castle Charitable Trust to quantify the scale of repairs required for the Castle and to set priorities for those areas of work that need the most urgent attention.
Repairs and conservation work totalling c. £5.3 million were identified, and these were ranked in order of urgency from Priority A: work needed to be undertaken immediately, through to Priority D: work needed over the next 5-10 years.
The Roofscape, with its magnificent chimneys and sweeping lead and copper cladding, will cost £920,000 to ensure the Castle is sealed from the elements.
The External Walls, primarily made of sandstone, have survived remarkably well, given that some were constructed almost 900 years ago. £1.5 million is required to repair badly weathered areas and restore key features, including very important Norman carving.
Internally, the Charity needs to spend £600,000 to repair and restore important areas, including the internationally important 14th century painted decorations in the Morning Room.
Outdated and Inefficient Services need £2.4 million spent on them to ensure that the building meets current standards.
In total, we need to raise £5.5 million to complete these essential works on one of Britain's most important buildings. The Charity uses all income from visitors and events to cover the major running costs of the Castle, but needs support to complete the work and ensure that the nation can appreciate the splendour of Berkeley castle for at least another 900 years.
From the website http://www.berkeley-castle.com/history.html
HISTORY
The most remarkable thing of all about the Castle is the long survival together - spanning nine centuries - of the building itself, the Berkeley family, the archives (which go back to 1117), the contents, the estate and the town. Its place in history is significant, not just because it is still intact, but because the Berkeley family and their home played an important part in the power struggles of so many centuries.
The Castle is one of the March Castles, built to keep out the Welsh, and has all the trappings to match: trip steps designed to make the enemy stumble during an assault, arrow slits, murder holes, enormous barred doors, slots where the portcullis once fell, and worn stones where sentries stood guard. It is also a fairytale Castle with its warm pink stone that glows in soft sunset light. Outside, the battlements drop some 60' to the Great Lawn below; but inside the Inner Courtyard, the building is on a human scale, with uneven battlements, small towers, doors and windows of every shape and size. The surrounding land would have been flooded for defence.
The Family are one of only three families in England who can trace their ancestry from father to son back to Saxon times. English history has been lived out within these walls - and by this family. The Castle is the oldest building in the country to be inhabited by the same family who built it. For centuries, the Berkeleys were close to the throne, able administrators and fighters who supported their king or queen (as long as they could), backed the winning side, and married well. The house, naturally enough, is full of stories.
The Archives housed in the Castle date back from the earliest part of the 12th Century and number around 20,000 documents, 6,000 of which relate to the mediaeval period. The latter are mainly manorial records which relate to every county in England, excepting two only.
The Contents are items that have been chosen, collected and treasured by members of the Berkeley family throughout the centuries, and many reflect the history of the place. They include Francis Drake's cabin chest, Queen Elizabeth I's bedspread, and the banner that the 4th Earl of Berkeley took with him to the Battle of Culloden. Many of the unusual tapestries, paintings, ceramics and silverware, have their own story to tell.
The Estate consists of 6,000 acres, and includes one of the best examples of a mediaeval deer park in the country, 18 tenant farms, a stretch of the River Severn and the land on which the famous Wetland Wildfowl Centre at Slimbridge is situated. Berkeley town itself goes back in time as far as the Castle, and evidence suggests that there may have been a mint here in Saxon times.
The Stories
The Castle's Keep was finished in 1153 by the first of the Berkeleys, one Robert Fitzhardinge, a wealthy provost of Bristol who was awarded the Castle by Henry II, the then Duke of Anjou. Since that time there is not much of Britain's history that has passed Berkeley Castle by. The Castle has connections
• with Shakespeare's Midsummer Night's Dream, which was written for a Berkeley wedding;
• with the murder of King Edward II, which notoriously took place here in 1327;
• with the signing of Magna Carta - the Barons of the West gathered at Berkeley before setting out to that momentous meeting with King John at Runnymede;
• with the Civil War, where the Royalists surrendered the Castle to the Parliamentarians after a siege;
• with the American Thanksgiving - the very first of which was held by Berkeley men;
• with Virginia - the first Governor of which was William Berkeley;
• with Yale and the University of California - who both benefited from the legacy of Bishop George Berkeley of Cloyne in the 18th Century
• with the battles of Agincourt , Crecy , Poitiers , Flodden , Culodden, and many more
• with Edward Jenner, the Rector of the town, who developed the smallpox vaccination
• with the last court jester in England , who died here in the Castle when he tumbled from the minstrel's gallery in the Great Hall (did he fall, or was he pushed?)
• with the monarchs of England: most notably King John, Henry VII, Henry VIII, Queen Elizabeth I, Charles I, George I, the Prince Regent - to name but a few
• with Francis Drake, Queen Elizabeth's most famous sea captain
Having been such a long-living and prolific family means that there are Berkeley connections all over the world, from Berkeley square in London to the North of America and Australia in the South. The stories are endless, and there is not enough room on this site to feature even a handful of them. You must visit the Castle for yourself.
QUOTE
Well - if you don't ask, ..........
...........very true, and if anyone was going to ask it'd be you, I hope it pays off.
An old print of Berkeley Castle, c1790.
That's a good 'un, great clarity. Any news on the Buck?
None as yet. Still hoping though.
Just had a response on the Berkeley Castle Bucks print search - they cannot locate it, but will continue searching, as the Events Manager is sure he has seen one around. Meanwhile, he HAS found one of Hurstmonceaux Castle (at his home), so is now checking to see if the Estate have an A3 scanner, so that he can scan it for me.
How kind.
How kind.
We should call you 'Chancer', it obviously pays!
Sometimes it does, and sometimes it doesn't. I got a very rude response from the owner of Chillingham Castle.
I'd like to know what was said please post it for others to see.
An old postcard of Berkeley Castle, recently purchased.
A series of old postcards of Berkeley Castle.
Published in Griffiths History of Cheltenham and Its Vicinity, 1838.
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