Berkeley

Berkeley at the beginning of the 20th century was a small town of just over 6200 inhabitants. Visitors could find accommodation at the Berkeley Arms (rooms 3s; dinner 2s 6d), and those fancying a look round the castle could buy admission tickets from the railway station or Miss Smith’s stationers in the High Street.
An extract from from"Down the Severn Photographic Memories".

The rickety-looking oriel window on its timber props and horned sash window frames are Victorian additions to the centuries-old corner house, which was a shop at the time this photograph was taken. But without doubt the most venerable building hereabouts is Berkeley Castle, the oldest inhabited in England. Berkeley Castle gained notoriety in 1327 when Edward II was murdered within its walls. The oubliette - a deep and uncomfortable pit into which the unfortunate monarch was cast - can be seen to this day. Incidentally, it was in the castle that Dickie Pearce, England’s last court jester, died while midway through a performance.
An extract from from"Gloucestershire Living Memories".

Delightfully neat and compact in appearance, the buildings that jostle shoulder to shoulder along the street are deceptively older than they look. Many were given a fashionable facelift in Victorian times with additions such as the bay fronts to the cottages on the right. But behind the facades are centuries-old houses, some of them timber-framed.
An extract from from"Gloucestershire Living Memories".

The arched entrance to The White Hart (centre) reminds us that this inn, along with others in the town such as The Berkeley Arms, rang to the clatter of hooves in the days of horse- drawn coaches. But Berkeley’s importance in former times goes back much further. In Saxon days this was a borough in its own right, and a Royal Mint was located in the town.
An extract from from"Gloucestershire Living Memories".

The earliest castle on the site was built during the reign of William the Conqueror, but the present structure dates from 1156, when work began on the stone shell keep. Edward II was brought here after he had been deposed, and was placed under the protection of the third Baron Berkeley. However, Berkeley was forced to surrender both castle and his royal prisoner into the hands of Thomas Gurney and Lord Maltrevers. On or about 22 September 1327, they put Edward to death using a red-hot poker - the King’s agonising screams could be heard throughout the fortress.
An extract from from"Down the Severn Photographic Memories".