The Berkeley Legacy: Sir Giles Berkeley (d. 1294) and Sir Thomas Berkeley (d. 1365)
The Berkeley family was one of the wealthiest and most powerful noble families in medieval England, with substantial landholdings and properties concentrated primarily in the southwest of the country. The family’s principal estate and seat of power was Berkeley Castle, located in Gloucestershire. This castle, still standing today, has been in the Berkeley family since the 12th century and remains one of the most significant and well-preserved medieval castles in England.
Sir Giles Berkeley (d. 1294)
Sir Giles Berkeley was part of the family when they were solidifying their power and influence. While Berkeley Castle was the core of the family’s holdings, the Berkeleys also had estates and lands across Gloucestershire, including in Wotton-under-Edge and Coberley, where St. Giles Church is located, which houses his monument. These lands were strategically important as they helped the family maintain control over large swathes of the region.
At the time of Sir Giles Berkeley, the family’s primary focus was on managing these estates, maintaining loyalty to the crown, and expanding their influence through marriages and alliances with other noble families.
Sir Thomas Berkeley (d. 1365)
By the time of Sir Thomas Berkeley, the family’s holdings he had expanded further. Sir Thomas, known for his military service at the Battle of Crécy, had the resources from his family’s landholdings to support his role as a knight. The family’s holdings continued to centre around Berkeley Castle, but they also controlled lands in Slimbridge, Cam, King’s Stanley, and several other surrounding areas in Gloucestershire.
In addition to their properties in Gloucestershire, the Berkeleys were also connected to lands in Somerset and Wales through marriage and strategic alliances. Sir Thomas’s lineage continued to expand the family’s influence, both in terms of land and political clout, positioning the Berkeleys as a formidable force in English nobility during the Hundred Years’ War.
Key Berkeley Estates and Properties:
- Berkeley Castle (Gloucestershire) – The family’s primary seat, one of the oldest and most important castles in England.
- Coberley (Gloucestershire) – The location of St. Giles Church, where Sir Giles and Sir Thomas’s monuments are located, and part of the family’s extensive estates in the region.
- Wotton-under-Edge (Gloucestershire) – Another significant Berkeley estate tied to their family holdings.
- Slimbridge (Gloucestershire) – Part of the Berkeley family’s landholdings in the area.
- Cam and King’s Stanley (Gloucestershire) – Additional estates that contributed to the Berkeley family’s wealth and local influence.
The monuments of the Berkeley family reveal their true heritage, indicating that they were what society would today label as ‘Black.’ While I use this term on my website because it is now mainstream, I personally find it derogatory and believe it fails to honor the nobility of their lineage. This family represents a once-great heritage that has been largely obscured. My mission is to illuminate this truth, pay homage to my ancestors, and reclaim a history that deserves recognition. I hope that one day, this label will be removed from my people, allowing us to be identified for who we truly are. It’s time for my community to emerge from the shadows and take their rightful place in history
“What you have stolen can never be yours.”
Halldór Laxness
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