#berkeley castle

‘For more than 800 years the storms of history have washed over the impressive ramparts of Berkeley Castle ..’

Berkeley Castle Wedding

Berkeley Castle is situated in the town of Berkeley in Gloucestershire, England. As with many other British castle there was first a Motte and Bailey castle on the site. This was constructed in 1067. 

The castle that stands today is a mishmash of 12th century and 14th century, with the majority of it being constructed in the 14th century. It is part of the castles of the marcher lordships. The Marches are essentially the border lands between Wales and England. Many castles were built in this are to keep the population of Wales under control. 

One of the most intriguing chapters of the castle’s history occurs in the reign of Edward II. Edward II was not a great king and it just kept getting worse. He would only listen to his lover, Hugh Despencer. Of course other nobles were not too please about this and rebelled and deposed the king. Roger Mortimer essentially became the ruler of England. Berkeley Castle is thought to be where the deposed Edward II was kept until his death. There has been much speculation about how Edward was murdered or if he even was murdered. It is believed that he was murdered on September 21, 1327. The most popular story of his murder is of a red hot poker being stuck up his anus to burn him from the inside to death. 

The castle of besieged during the English Civil War by Parliamentarian forces. Parts of the castle were destroyed by cannon fire. The walls of the castles were left in their breached condition. However the Berkeley family were allowed to keep the castle in the hands providing that they did not repair the damage that was made. This was enforced by an Act of Parliament which is still in place today.