TimeRef.com
  • Episodes
    Episode Index
    Key Dates Timelines
    By Category
    This day in history
  • People
    A..Z List of Medieval People
    Kings and Queens of England Kings of Scotland Kings of France Kings of Denmark Emperors of Byzantine Popes and Antipopes Crusader States and their Rulers
    Family Trees
  • Life
    Life in Medieval Times
    Life in a Castle The Feudal System Country Life and Agriculture Life in a Medieval Town Life in a Religious Community
  • Castles
    Castle Index Page Castle Development
    Early Fortifications Motte and Bailey Castles Square Keeps Castles of William the Conqueror Concentric Castles Castles of Edward I
    Castle Siege Tactics Parts of a Castle
    Locations of over 300 Castles UK Castles by County
  • Places
    A..Z list of Medieval Buildings 3D Virtual Reconstructions Maps Photographs
    Abbeys and Monasteries Cathedrals Medieval Architecture
  • 3D/VR
    3D Virtual Reconstructions VR Experiences
    Virtual Motte and Bailey Castle Virtual Norman Keep Virtual Siege Engines
    Bodiam Castle Skenfrith Castle Middleham Castle The White Tower Etal Castle
    Knights Training
  • More
    Test your Knowledge
    Glossary of Terms Scriptorium
    Games Early Access
    Copyright / About TimeRef.com Contact the Author
TimeRef.com
  • Episodes
    Episode Index
    Key Dates Timelines
    By Category
    This day in history
  • People
    A..Z List of Medieval People
    Kings and Queens of England Kings of Scotland Kings of France Kings of Denmark Emperors of Byzantine Popes and Antipopes Crusader States and their Rulers
    Family Trees
  • Life
    Life in Medieval Times
    Life in a Castle The Feudal System Country Life and Agriculture Life in a Medieval Town Life in a Religious Community
  • Castles
    Castle Index Page Castle Development
    Early Fortifications Motte and Bailey Castles Square Keeps Castles of William the Conqueror Concentric Castles Castles of Edward I
    Castle Siege Tactics Parts of a Castle
    Locations of over 300 Castles UK Castles by County
  • Places
    A..Z list of Medieval Buildings 3D Virtual Reconstructions Maps Photographs
    Abbeys and Monasteries Cathedrals Medieval Architecture
  • 3D/VR
    3D Virtual Reconstructions VR Experiences
    Virtual Motte and Bailey Castle Virtual Norman Keep Virtual Siege Engines
    Bodiam Castle Skenfrith Castle Middleham Castle The White Tower Etal Castle
    Knights Training
  • More
    Test your Knowledge
    Glossary of Terms Scriptorium
    Games Early Access
    Copyright / About TimeRef.com Contact the Author
  1. Home
  2. Medieval Places
  3. Berkeley Castle
Castle
Castle
Please note that the TimeRef website is currently being redesigned.

Berkeley Castle

Tweet
 County

Gloucestershire (4 castles) 

 Categories

Motte & Bailey / Stone / Shell Keep / Baronial castle

 Remains

Excellent remains

 Access

Only open at certain times

 Comments

Original motte now encased in a shell keep. This privately owned castle is open on a regular basis. Check times before travelling.

 Location51.6889,-2.4571 (Google Maps) DirectionsDirections via Google Maps
 County

Gloucestershire (4 castles) 

 Categories

Motte & Bailey / Stone / Shell Keep / Baronial castle

 Remains

Excellent remains

 Access

Only open at certain times

 Comments

Original motte now encased in a shell keep. This privately owned castle is open on a regular basis. Check times before travelling.

 Location
51.6889,-2.4571
 Directions
Directions via Google Maps
erkeley Castle is special because, apart from a short period in the ownership of the crown, it has remained in the ownership of the same family since Norman times. In Saxon times the site was the location of a nunnery. Harold Godwinson obtained the land by corrupting the nuns with a carefully laid plan involving a 'young man of great beauty' sent to the nunnery pretending to be ill. After the Norman Conquest the land was granted to William Fitz Osbern, a follower of William the Conqueror. Under his command Roger de Berkeley of Coberley built and a simple motte and bailey castle on the site. In the reign of Henry II Berkeley Castle was granted to Robert FitzHarding a supporter of his through the conflict with King Stephen. It is around this time that the wooden castle was replaced with stone. Robert's son Maurice married Alice de Berkeley ensuring that the ownership of the castle remained in the Berkeley family.

The Keep and Bailey

The stone keep that replaced the original wooden stonghold was not built on top of the motte but was built around it enclosing the motte in stone. This is commonly known as a shell-keep. Projecting from the keep are three half-towers and a larger rectangular tower, known as Thorpe's Tower, on the northern side. Thorpe's Tower overlooks the church not very far away. The bailey lies to south of the keep and is protected on its southern side by a steep cliff. The original Norman buildings have been replaced by later buildings.

Edward II

The castle is noted for its association with Edward II. Edward was imprisoned in April 1327 within the castle. Locked in its prison he was half staved to death and later murdered. He had been disposed by his wife Isabella and her lover Roger Mortimer. Isabella, known as the She-Wolf of France, hated her husband due to the favouritism he first showed to Piers Gaveston and later to Hugh Despenser. She wanted to put their young son Edward (III) on the throne of England so that she could act as regent.

The Civil War

During the English Civil War Berkeley Castle was held at different times by both Parliamentarian and Royalist forces. While the castle was held by the Royalists it came under siege by Colonel Rainsborough. The siege was over within days after the Parliamentarians brought in canons to destroy a section of the wall belongng to the keep. The attacking army used the protection of the near by church from which to launch their bombardment. Although the castle should have been destroyed as was usual after a capture it was left relatively untouched.

Location

See Also

People

  • Edward (II, King of England 1307-1327)
  • Henry (II, King of England 1154-1189)
  • Fitz Osbern, William (Earl of Hereford)
  • A .. Z List of Medieval People

Related Information

  • Why build and live in castles
  • Castle development timeline
  • Keep and bailey castles
  • Castles of William the Conqueror
  • Motte and bailey castles
  • Shell-Keeps
  • Square keeps
  • Polygonal Keeps
  • Castles of Edward I
  • Parts of a castle
  • Location of lots of castles
  • Castle construction timeline

Related Maps

  • Map of Castles

Related Episodes

Isabella, She-Wolf of France and death of Edward II (click here)

Isabella, She-Wolf of France and death of Edward II (click here)

Timeline

1117

...

Berkeley castle construction

Roger de Berkeley began the construction of Berkeley Castle in 1117 and it was completed by his son, also called Roger, by 1153. ¹

1154

...

Berkeley Castle changes hands

Henry II granted the castle at Berkeley to Robert Fitz Harding, a wealthy merchant who had helped Henry with financial aid during the conflict with Stephen.

1327

April

Edward II is imprisoned

Edward II was imprisoned in Berkeley Castle.

1327

September

Edward II murdered at Berkeley Castle

Edward was buried at the abbey church at Gloucester.

1470

March 20

Battle of Nibley Green

The private battle of Nibley Green in 1469 or 1470 was fought between William Berkeley and Thomas Talbot Lord Lisle over the inheritance of the Berkeley estate. The original dispute arose some fifty years earlier when Thomas Berkeley died and his inheritance was disputed by his daughter and nephew James Berkeley. William Berkeley, the son of James, won the battle leaving Lord Lisle dead on the battlefield. ¹

1645

September 26

Berkeley Castle falls to Parliamentarians

After a short siege Berkeley Castle surrendered reducing even further the control that the Royalists had in the south west of the country. ¹

3D Virtual Reconstructions

Transport yourself back up to a thousand years and explore historical buildings as they may have appeared in the past. Built using the popular game development tool Unity 3D, these reconstructions will run in the most of the popular web browsers on your desktop or laptop computer.

Medieval people

Uncover the lives of the hundreds of kings, queens, lords, ladies, barons, earls, archbishops and rebels who made the medieval people an exciting period of history to live through.

Selection of references used:

  • 1. John Kinross, Discovering Castles in England and Wales
  • 2. Charles Oman KBE, Castles
  • 3. C. V. Wedgwood, The King's War 1641 - 1647

    Explore the White Tower

    Explore four floors of the keep at the Tower of London.

     

    Adventure Game - Early Access

    Early Access to the TimeRef card-based Adventure Game.

     

    Medieval Town - Early Access

    Explore the medieval town.

     

    Medieval Village - Early Access

    Explore the medieval village.

     

    Medieval Abbey - Early Access

    Explore the medieval abbey.

     

    Medieval Theatre - Early Access

    Explore the medieval theatre.

     

    Location

    See Also

    People

    • Edward (II, King of England 1307-1327)
    • Henry (II, King of England 1154-1189)
    • Fitz Osbern, William (Earl of Hereford)
    • A .. Z List of Medieval People

    Related Information

    • Why build and live in castles
    • Castle development timeline
    • Keep and bailey castles
    • Castles of William the Conqueror
    • Motte and bailey castles
    • Shell-Keeps
    • Square keeps
    • Polygonal Keeps
    • Castles of Edward I
    • Parts of a castle
    • Location of lots of castles
    • Castle construction timeline

    Related Maps

    • Map of Castles
    3D/VR

    Virtual Buildings

    Transport yourself back up to a thousand years and explore historical buildings as they may have appeared in the past.

    Explore the White Tower

    Explore all four floors of the White Tower at the Tower of London using the Unity 3d game engine.

    ^ Back to top

            x-small

            small

            medium

            large

            x-large

            x-x-large

            This popup will contain more information
            This popup will contain more information
            xyz
            xyz