17 



but King Henry II. gave it to Egbert Fitzhardinge. Maurice 

 DE GuNT, grandson of Eobert Fitzhardinge, was prosecuted 

 for fortifying his Castle of Beverstone without license in the 

 second year of Henry III (1217), but he obtained license two 

 years later, Maurice de Gunt dying without issue, the Manor 

 of Beverstone passed to the family of De Gourney, and 

 subsequently to the family of Ap-Adam, and was sold by Thomas 

 Ap-Adam to Thomas Lord Berkeley in 1329. The Castle had 

 probably become dilapidated during the wars of the Barons, for 

 Thomas Lord Berkeley made such great additions to it as to 

 render it in effect a new structure; expending on this work 

 moneys he had gained for ransom of prisoners taken at the 

 battle of Poictiers (1356). The Castle he built was square, 

 with a tower at each corner, and it was moated on all sides. 

 In the great civil wars, Beverstone Castle being garrisoned by 

 the King's forces, was attacked by Colonel Massey with 300 foot 

 and 80 horse without success ; but the Governor being taken 

 prisoner and carried to Gloucester, Colonel Massey learnt from 

 liim where the Castle might be attacked with the greatest 

 advantage, and advancing against it he summoned the garrison 

 to surrender. The Lieutenant who held the command, imme- 

 diately compUed, though it was thought he might have held it 

 with ease. The Castle was destroyed by fire soon after the 

 siege, and a large dwelling-house built within the walls was 

 likewise burnt down ; and that which was rebuilt is the present 

 farm house. This Castle is a model of a moated baronial 

 residence. So much of the moat is traceable at the present 

 time that the size of the 14th century castle as built by Thomas 

 Lord Berkeley may easUy be ascertained. The moat remains 

 on the west, the south and half of the east side. The area it 

 enclosed was less than 150 feet square. Of the buildings, there 

 remain the gateway — situated within the moat at the middle of 

 the east side, and the whole of the buildings forming the west 

 side of the Castle, and here, in the south-west towers are situated 

 the two chapels, shown on the accompanying plan. The larger 

 chapel occupies the second story; it is 27 feet 6 inches long, and 

 consists of two parts: a square compartment, which has a 



