by Denise Taylor

Orders of the day, Volume 32, No 6, Nov/Dec 2000

Berkeley Castle, located on the A38 between Bristol and Gloucester, has much of interest to people who study our period. One of the first rooms you enter is of great historical importance – that in which King Edward II was imprisoned and eventually murdered (remember Marlowe’s play?). It contains several pictures, including a painting of Charles II.

Throughout the castle there are various 17th and 18th century Dutch and English paintings. A number of rooms have interesting furniture: for example an unusual collection of 17th century ebony furniture which once belonged to Sir Francis Drake, and a couple of interesting marquetry tables from the late 17th century, one made from whalebone. There is a long central table covered in a 17th century table carpet, which has been repaired so you can see the colours more clearly. The old billiard room is now a dining room with a large late 18th century dining table and accompanying furniture, a 1680 long case clock and a 17th century hurdy-gurdy.

For me, of real interest was the medieval buttery with its 400-year-old beech table, the Tudor timbered roof and the sinks of solid lead. The ‘sugar loaf’, donated by Tate & Lyle, is about 2 foot high and shaped like a child’s wax crayon about 9” diameter at the base narrowing to about 4“ at the top and was last used commercially in 1890. Sugar was made by pouring the boiling mass into a cast iron mould, which was then upended to allow the sugar syrup to drain off, leaving the sugar crystals behind. The resultant ‘loaf’ was then cut in slices and then into small pieces using the sugar cutter. The room contains a good example of a 17th century spit roast which was turned by heat, with a tray underneath to catch the juices, a collection of pewter plate and a pair of waffle irons - apparently used for Elizabeth I, who loved them.

The game larder is hung with late 17th century Mortlake tapestries from a factory started by Charles I, of very high quality, with 400 stitches to the inch. The china room has a collection of fine china, but I was much more interested in an embroidered bedspread, said to have been owned by Queen Elizabeth I and used during her visit to Berkeley. There is also a display case containing embroidered cushions, a pair of embroidered gauntlets and a facsimile of Queen Elizabeth’s alms purse, made by several of the ladies of Berkeley. It is drawstring, consisting of ten segments with two big tassels and lots of smaller ones at the end of each segment, and with three tassels at the bottom.

The Great Hall has stained glass windows along one wall and a 16th century screen at the end, with good examples of 16th century linen-fold doors and a further collection of tapestries and paintings. It is entered via a smaller hall, which was attacked by Cromwell’s men in 1645. It contains examples of Civil War armour, Spanish rapiers and an Indian blunderbuss. There are also 17th century stone irons to mix gunpowder, a poacher’s gun, a sailor’s cutlass, halberds and two 17th century cupboards.

An interesting part of the castle is the landing, reached via a staircase dating from 1637. Here are four hoop-backed Queen Anne chairs with embroidered seats. The walls are covered in late 16th century embroidered hangings which were formerly part of bed hangings given by Henry VIII, made of the same material as soldiers’ jackets. The material was stencilled then hand embroidered, including plenty of buttons and French knots.

The Morning Room was originally a chapel and contains a 15th century fireplace and a sundial in the window; this was very common until Henry VIII destroyed the churches. There is a 16th century long table made of beech, 16th century tapestries, and a 500-year-old book, with the ink a mixture of urine and charcoal to preserve the writing.

The Long Drawing Room contains some hand-embroidered furniture, with a painting of the lady who did all the embroidery; it took her ten years to complete three easy chairs, four dining chairs, two long stools and three stools. There are six mirrors, as originally there were only small windows, a 1785 tapestry, a self-portrait by Holbein, a miniature of Charles II, and the original King’s pew on legs.

Berkeley Castle is a delightful place to visit. The guided tour was excellent and informative. We highly recommend a visit, and - if you have the money - it is a wonderful place for a wedding!