Berkeley Castle
Berkeley Castle (/ˈbɑːrkli/ BARK-lee; historically sometimes spelled as Berkley Castle or Barkley Castle) is a castle in the town of Berkeley, Gloucestershire, England. The castle's origins date back to the 11th century, being designated by English Heritage as a Grade I-listed building.
| Berkeley Castle | |
|---|---|
| Berkeley, Gloucestershire | |
Berkeley Castle viewed from the southwest | |
Berkeley Castle | |
| Coordinates | 51°41′19″N 02°27′25″W grid reference ST685989 |
Listed Building – Grade I | |
| Official name | Berkeley Castle |
| Designated | 21 October 1952 |
| Reference no. | 1340692 |
The castle, traditionally believed to have been the scene of the murder of King Edward II in 1327, has remained in the possession of the Berkeley family since they reconstructed it in the 12th century, except for a period of royal ownership under the Tudors.
The Berkeley barony having separated from the earldom in 1882, the 8th and last Earl of Berkeley (1865–1942) bequeathed the ancestral seat to his 13th cousin, Captain Robert Berkeley, of Spetchley Park, Worcestershire (1898–1969), whose grandson, Charles Berkeley (born 1968), High Sheriff of Gloucestershire for 2019/20, inherited the castle and estate from his father, Major John Berkeley (1931–2017).
Since 1956, Berkeley Castle has been open to visitors (for a fee) and remains open from April to November (in 2023) on certain days of the week. The property has also been available for rent for private events.