Berkeley Castle
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Berkeley Castle (historically sometimes spelled Berkley Castle) is a castle in the town of Berkeley, Gloucestershire, UK, constructed from 1117 A.D., on the orders of Henry II, with the aim of defending the Severn estuary and the Welsh border. It continues to belong to the Berkeley family, descendants of Robert Fitzharding, who completed the keep in 1153.
King Edward II of England was held in the castle for 18 months, before being murdered there, in 1327. The cell where he is supposed to have been imprisoned can still be seen. The castle has remained within the same family since its construction, with many areas now open to the public. It is the oldest continuously-occupied castle in England.
In the 14th Century, a new hall was built that included painted wooden vaulted ceilings and one of the first examples of a biblical passage (from the Book of Revelation), written in the language of those who read it - Norman French. This room also contains an illustrated vellum book of plainsong that was used at Catholic rites, before the family converted to Protestantism in the 15th Century. In the 20th century, the 8th Earl Randall installed much of the gardens, added an extra wing in the same gothic style as the rest of the castle and changed some interiors, including an Art Nouveau take on a Medieval bedroom.
The castle is surrounded by a small but beautiful terraced garden.
During the English Civil War, it still held sufficient significance for it to be captured in 1645 by Colonel Thomas Rainsborough, for the Parliament side. As was usual, the walls were left breached after this siege; according to Pevsner, the breach is partially filled by a subsequent 'modern' rebuild..
In 2005, the remains of an Iron Age settlement were found at Berkeley Castle, adding 1,000 years of history to the area. [link]
Two ships of the Royal Navy have been named Berkeley Castle after the castle.
External links
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