But this post is about our visit to Berkeley Castle in Gloucestershire. I first became aware of the Berkeley family name and the Castle on a visit to Jamestown VA., USA, in 2017. There we visited a plantation, located to the west of Jamestown, called Berkeley 100.
As a result of this visit to Berkeley Castle I have renewed my research into how the plantation in Virginia got its name. One of its founders was Richard Berkeley but he was only one of a number of wealthy Gloucestershire and Bristol investors who established the colony in late 1619. They didn't necessarily go to Virginia themselves, they would have appointed representatives, one of these being Captain John Woodliffe. All that is a different, continuing story, this blog is about our visit to Berkeley castle.
Although Storm Floris mainly affected Scotland and northern England, we suffered rain and strong winds on our visit. It was a good job that most of the visit was indoors. The Berkeley family and the castle can trace its history back to the early years of the Norman Conquest, The lineage in fact, via the Fitzhardinge family, goes back to Saxon England.
The castle is still owned and manged by a branch of the Berkeley family and what a very fine job they are making of it. If a castle could be described as being the equivalent of a "Rolls Royce", this would be it. From the guides, labelling, layout, the rich history itself, to the café, all are of a very high standard. As you probably gather by now, we loved it. It does help if you are interested in English history.
Here are a few of the photos I took -
For much much more you will have to visit yourself. You wont regret it.
Nick
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