Berkeley Castle

When I was a kid, maybe six or seven, I went to a castle which had a dungeon and a kitchen with a pyramid-shaped block of sugar and sugar-cutters. I’ve always wondered where that castle was and on Thursday I found out – it was Berkeley Castle in Gloucestershire.


Berkeley Castle is a nine-hundred year old castle which has been lived in by the same family for its entire history. The family has been involved in some big moments in British history including the murder of Edward II, the signing of the Magna Carta and the Civil War. In fact there is part of the external wall which was blown up by Cromwell during the Civil War. Some deal was done by the steward in charge of the house that allowed the castle to remain neutral if the wall was not rebuilt. The deal became law so that even today, if the wall is rebuilt the army is legally entitled (if not obliged) to blow up the castle. It’s rules like this that make our country what it is today!

Anyway, the castle was fantastic. We had a tour which was very interesting but photos weren’t allowed inside so you’ll have to make do with an outside one of the garden. Apparently the lands all around can be flooded as a defence against attacking armies. The scots pine to the left of the photo was apparently grown from a seed collected at the battle of Floden. The family had a tradition of taking seeds from trees on the battlefields on which they fought – a souvenir of sorts!


Inside, the castle has been changed by each successive generation but there are parts which are extremely historic. The great hall has a minstrel gallery which hasn’t been altered since the Tudor times – the paintwork is original and hasn’t been touched up – it is as it was (bar some fading and flaking) when Elizabeth I was entertained there. The grand staircase has wall coverings which are from the tent used by Henry VIII at the Field of the Cloth of Gold. I find it incredible that things so old are still around in almost original condition and are still being used rather than in a museum.

I loved Berkeley. To be in a place where so many historical figures and so much history has occurred and to have it still occupied by the same family rather than have it as a museum piece is quite unique. And to find out, after all these years, where I saw that sugar pyramid was pretty cool too!

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