Katherine, Lady Berkeley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Katherine, Lady Berkeley
|
|
|---|---|
_(sq_cropped).jpg)
detail from her effigy
|
|
| Born | Katherine de Clevedon |
| Died | 13 March 1385 |
| Known for | founding Katharine Lady Berkeley's School |
| Nationality | English |
| Spouse(s) | 1. Sir Peter Veel 2. Thomas de Berkeley, 3rd Baron Berkeley |
| Issue | 1. Peter le Veel - Joan (wife of
Sir Henry Moigne of Owermoigne), John MP and Thomas Veel 2. Thomas de Berkeley's - John, Maurice, Edmund de Berkeley |
| Occupation | Philanthropist |
Katherine Berkeley, Lady Berkeley (born Katherine de Clevedon; 1300s – 13 March 1385) was an English woman known for her kindness and for starting a school in Gloucestershire. In 1384, she received a special permission from the king to open a school. Today, this school is called the Katharine Lady Berkeley's School. It is believed to be the first school started by an ordinary person (not a church leader), the first started by a woman, and the first to offer free education to everyone.
Early Life and Marriages
We don't know exactly when or where Katherine was born. Her parents were Emma and Sir John de Clevedon. Her family lived at Clevedon Court, a large estate in North Somerset.
Katherine first married Sir Peter Veel of Charfield and Tortworth. She was his second wife. After Sir Peter died, she married again. Her second husband was Thomas de Berkeley, 3rd Baron Berkeley. His family lived at the famous Berkeley Castle.
When Katherine and Thomas married, she owned many lands. These lands were in places like the Welsh borders, Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, and Devon. She managed her own properties and was likely skilled in writing both English and French.
Katherine and Thomas had four children together, but only one of them lived to adulthood. Her second husband, Thomas, passed away in 1361. After his death, Katherine began to focus on helping others. She lived at her manor house in Wotton-under-Edge.
Founding a School
In 1384, Katherine founded a school for six students. This makes it one of the oldest schools still running in England. Schools existed in the area before this, but Lady Berkeley made her school official. She got a special royal licence, which means the king approved it. Her school became a good example for other schools to follow.
The first headteacher was John Stone. He was a priest and also held church services every day. Lady Berkeley is known for creating the idea of a "chantry school." These schools were often connected to a church and taught grammar.
Here is a part of what she wrote about starting the school:
To all the sons of the holy mother church, I, Katherine, who was the wife of Lord Thomas de Berkeley, late Lord of Berkeley, and we, Walter Burnell; chaplain, and William Pendock; chaplain, send greeting in Him who is the true health of all men, considering diligently and attentively that the intention of many persons desirous of being instructed in grammar, which is the foundation of all the liberal arts, ... to purchase certain lands and tenements, underwritten to them and to their heirs in fee, that they may build anew a certain schoolhouse in WOTTON UNDEREGGE for ... the support of one master and two poor scholars of the art of grammar; which said master and his successors shall govern and instruct all the scholars coming to the said house or school for the learning of this art, without taking anything for their trouble from them or any of them.
Katherine wanted to create more scholars who were good at Latin. Many skilled people had been lost during the time of the Black Death. This English grammar school was special. It is said to be the first school started by an ordinary person, the first started by a woman, and the first to offer free education to anyone.
Later Life and Legacy
Katherine spent a lot of time helping others. She also traveled to other countries on religious journeys called pilgrimages.
Katherine Berkeley passed away in 1385. You can see statues, called effigies, of Lady Berkeley and her husband on their tomb. Their tomb is located at Berkeley church in Gloucestershire. Later, other chantry schools were founded, like King Henry VI's Eton College in 1440, and a school started by Joan Greyndour in Newland.
