Berkeley Castle

Berkeley Castle, Gloucestershire, one of the most perfect medieval castles in England. It is unusual in that it has been owned and inhabited by one family for over 700 years. The castle, which stands close to the estuary of the River Severn, has its origins in the fortress built soon after the Norman Conquest by Fitz Osborn, Earl of Hereford. The keep, dating from the 1150s, survives from the Norman castle. The remainder of the fabric reflects the rebuilding carried out in the mid-14th century for Thomas, Lord Berkeley. The great hall, with its magnificent timber roof, is the most imposing of the interiors created at this time. Damaged during the Civil War, the castle was well restored in the early 20th century.

Berkeley Castle is famous as the scene of the murder of Edward II. Deposed from power, the king was brought to Berkeley in April 1327 and murdered there in September the same year. He was buried in St Peter’s Abbey, Gloucester (now Gloucester Cathedral).