Berkeley Castle

• Celebrates the history of Berkeley Castle, unique in being inhabited by the same family for over 900 years 
• Features striking new photography of the castle interiors and exteriors

Berkeley Castle is unique among the great surviving medieval fortresses of England – the only one still lived in by the family that built it in the 12th century.

Key moments in British history have been played out here: Edward II was held captive and then murdered here in 1327, and during the Civil War (1642–45) the castle changed hands five times and was sacked at least once. These stirring events have left their mark on what you see today. The formidable 12th-century Keep served as a secure fortress, with the curtain wall and outer defences added in the 14th century, while the Great Hall celebrates the Berkeleys’ position as one of the leading noble families of the Middle Ages.

Berkeley Castle celebrates the long history of the Berkeleys and their castle and provides a walk-round guide to the rich variety of historical periods on view in the castle today.