Step Back in Time
With its own historic origins, Pond Cottage is ideally located for exploring the most significant historic sites in the Berkeley Vale. A stone’s throw away is Berkeley Castle and adjacent St Mary the Virgin Church, both steeped in medieval history, located in the Saxon town of Berkeley. For keen walkers, ask for our circular walk directions encompassing the town of Berkeley and the River Severn and make a day of it! Further afield is the famous gothic Gloucester Cathedral boasting the finest cloisters in England and royal Tudor gem Thornbury Castle, with its manicured gardens and fine dining.
Berkeley Castle
https://www.berkeley-castle.com/
Berkeley Castle has been home to the Berkeley family since 1153, making it one of the longest-inhabited family homes in England. The castle dates from the 11th century and was developed from a Norman motte-and-bailey fort into a stone fortress. It is famously linked to the tragic story of King Edward II, imprisoned and murdered here in 1327. The castle later hosted visits from monarchs including Queen Elizabeth I. Its architecture reflects additions from the Norman, Tudor, and Stuart periods with its fortifications, magnificent Great Hall and panelled chambers while the surrounding gardens include terraced lawns, formal borders, and Victorian plantings.
Berkeley Town
https://www.berkeley-tc.gov.uk/about-berkeley/historic-town-trail
The ancient Saxon town of Berkeley is referred to in the Doomsday book and the town centre boasts plenty of historical landmarks in addition to Berkeley Castle. Use the link above for a trail highlighting the main features of the town including the following two notable landmarks:
St Mary the Virgin Church
https://www.stmarys-berkeley.co.uk
This early 12th century church with its separate 14th-century tower and spire stands beside Berkeley Castle and has long been associated with the Berkeley family, containing several of the family tombs. The church is noted for its fine Norman and Gothic architecture, including carved stonework and stained glass. Furthermore it is unusual in English church architecture for the tower and spire to stand separate from the main church building and is one of only a handful of examples like this in England. In the churchyard lies the grave of Dickie Pearce, court jester to the 8th Earl of Berkeley and reputedly the last recorded jester in England, who died in 1728.
Dr Jenner’s House
https://jennermuseum.com
One of Berkeley’s most consequential residents, Dr Edward Jenner, changed the course of medical history when, in 1796, he discovered that a simple cowpox inoculation could protect people from the deadly disease smallpox. This breakthrough led to the world’s first vaccine and saved the lives of millions. The Edward Jenner Museum is set in The Chantry, his former home, and brings his story to life with displays of his original study, vaccination equipment, and exhibits depicting how his discovery still shapes global health today.
Thornbury Castle
https://www.thornburycastle.co.uk/
On the outskirts of the neighbouring busy market town of Thornbury can be found one of England’s finest surviving examples of Tudor architecture, Thornbury Castle. It was once owned by King Henry VIII and visited by him and Anne Boleyn during their royal progress through the South West of England in 1535. Now a member of the prestigious Relais & Chateaux group, Thornbury Castle is a wonderful venue for afternoon tea and a wander through the manicured gardens or an evening spent fine dining in the historic surroundings.
Woodchester Mansion
https://www.woodchestermansion.org.uk
Woodchester Mansion is an atmospheric unfinished Victorian Gothic house tucked away in a quiet Cotswold valley. Set within attractive parkland, it offers a fascinating look at mid-19th-century stonemasonry and is also home to breeding colonies of both lesser and greater horseshoe bats.
Newark Park
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/gloucestershire-cotswolds/newark-park
Originally built as a Tudor hunting lodge in the 1550s, the property was remodelled and refurbished during the Georgian and Victorian periods, evolving into a country house with landscaped grounds. The views over the Ozleworth Valley are stunning.
Gloucester Cathedral
https://gloucestercathedral.org.uk/
Gloucester Cathedral is one of England’s great medieval landmarks, well known for its Perpendicular Gothic architecture and 14th-century cloisters — the earliest example of fan vaulting in the world and often said to be the finest in the country. Founded as an abbey in 678 AD, it became a cathedral in 1541 after Henry VIII’s Dissolution of the Monasteries, and is the burial place of King Edward II (murdered at Berkeley Castle), whose ornate tomb became a major medieval pilgrimage site. The magnificent cloisters were made famous as Hogwarts corridors in the Harry Potter films and other major productions including the highly acclaimed Wolf Hall.
