2o8 PROCEEDINGS COTTESWOLD CLUB 1914 



asked to observe the vaulting, and the Rector informed them that this was 

 characteristic of the domestic ofihces of the farmhouse, although there had 

 been two fires and much damage. From this room the Members climbed to 

 the garrison chapel, where Mr Bromehead, ascending the piscina, said he 

 would constitute that his pulpit, and from this he delivered a short address. 



He said some kind of stronghold existed on the site of the castle more 

 than a thousand years ago, and by 1051 it was well known, for the three 

 Earls, Godwin, Harold and Sweyn, lodged at Beverston. Probably no 

 trace of that fortress was left, but they knew that it was besieged by the 

 Empress Matilda in 1145. The next castle was built by Maurice de Gaunt 

 in 1225, and it was held by him for 100 years.. 



The castle was re-built and enlarged by Thomas, Lord Berkeley, some- 

 times known as the great Lord Berkeley, c. 13 56-1 361. He obtained the money 

 from the ransom received for French prisoners taken at Poitiers and in- 

 carcerated at Beverston. The castle remained in the hands of the Berkeleys 

 until the reign of Elizabeth, when the representative of the junior branch 

 of the family sold it and emigrated to Virginia, where he was murdered. It 

 was owned by the Hicks-Beach family until 1842, when it passed to Mr Hol- 

 ford, of Westonbirt. When Sir Michael Hicks-Beach was made a peer he was 

 desirous to take his title from Beverston, and for that purpose endeavoured 

 to purchase the castle, but owing to the entail he was unable to do so. The 

 castle was besieged in 1644 by Colonel Massey in the Parliamentary wars — 

 or rather it was stormed for twelve hours. It remained in the King's hands 

 for four or five months, and then it only fell in consequence of strategy. With 

 a twinkle in his eye the Rector reminded his hearers that they had all been in 

 love, and it was because Col. Oglethorpe, the commanding officer in defence 

 of the castle, neglected his duty by going into the village to court a maid at a 

 farm that the Parliamentary forces were able to outwit an incompetent 

 lieutenant, and put themselves in possession of the castle. 



At the present time there remain a large tower, which would have formed 

 the south-west angle, 34 feet long by 30 feet wide, and 60 feet high ; another 

 tower set diagonally at the north-west angle, 24 feet square ; a curtain or 

 wall connecting these towers, containing various rooms and galleries, about 

 65 feet long ; and a barbican commanding the entrance. What remains of 

 the moat on the west and south sides shows us what was its original shape and 

 extent. The whole area within it has been calculated by Mr Blunt to have 

 been 2,255 square yards. 



Reference was made to a salt-cellar which was sold at the Ashburnham 

 sale and realised ;£5,6oo. It belonged to the Berkeleys and had been in use 

 at Beverston. 



From the garrison chapel the party ascended the tower, where a fine 

 view of the surrounding country was obtained, and incidentally Mr Brome- 

 head was able to point out the original dimensions of the castle. [W.T.] 



THE GEOLOGY OF THE DISTRICT. 



From Beverston the Members motored to Veizey's Quarry, in the bottom- 

 beds of the Forest Marble and the top-beds of the Great Oolite. Here Mr 

 Richardson reminded the Members that they were well up on the Cotteswold 

 upland and amid typical Cotteswold scenery. If a boring were put down 

 some 600 feet at Tetbury this upland mass would be found to be composed 

 of the following geological formations : — 



Forest Marble. — Beds of blue shelly limestone, clay and sand. 

 Great Oolite. — Wedge-bedded and massive-bedded limestone ; about 106 

 feet. 



