Richard Berkeley (died 1604) facts for kids
Sir Richard Berkeley (1531–1604) was an important person in England during the time of Queen Elizabeth I. He lived at Stoke Gifford, a place in Gloucestershire.
Sir Richard was a Member of Parliament (MP) for Gloucestershire in 1604. Before that, he held other important jobs. He was the Sheriff of Gloucestershire in 1564. He was also a Deputy Lieutenant for Gloucestershire, helping to keep order.
In 1568, Queen Elizabeth I made him a knight. Later, in 1595, he became the Lieutenant of the Tower of London. This meant he was in charge of the famous Tower of London. In 1599, he was given the job of looking after Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex. The Earl was under house arrest at Essex House in London.
Sir Richard Berkeley died in 1604 while he was still an MP. He was buried in The Gaunts Chapel in Bristol. You can still see a statue of him there. This chapel was built in 1220 by Maurice de Gaunt, who was also part of the Berkeley family. The chapel is across from Bristol Cathedral, which was also started by a Berkeley family member.
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Early Life
Sir Richard Berkeley was born in 1531. He was the oldest son of Sir John Berkeley (who died in 1546). His mother was Isabel Denys. Her father was Sir William Denys of Dyrham, Gloucestershire. Isabel's mother, Anne Berkeley, was related to the Barons Berkeley.
Sir Richard's family was connected to the Berkeley Barons on his father's side too. He was the seventh generation from Maurice de Berkeley. This Maurice died in 1347 during the Siege of Calais. He had bought the land of Stoke Gifford in 1337.
When Richard was 14, his father died in 1545 or 1546. His father was hurt on a ship in Portsmouth. Because of his father's will, young Richard became a "ward" of King Henry VIII. This meant the King was his guardian until he was old enough.
His mother, Isabel, married again. Her second husband was Arthur Porter. He was also a Member of Parliament for Gloucestershire.
Building Stoke Park
In 1553, Sir Richard was 22 years old. He had just become old enough to take control of his family's land. He decided to rebuild the main house at Stoke Gifford. He built it in the style popular during the late Tudor period. This house later became known as The Dower House, Stoke Park.
Around the same time, his uncle, Sir Maurice Denys, was rebuilding Siston Court nearby. Sir Richard's new house was built on a high piece of land. This spot was probably chosen because it was easy to defend.
The house was rebuilt again in 1750 in a different style. This later version is the one you can see today. It is now near the M32 motorway and is painted yellow.
Land Ownership
Sir Richard Berkeley bought more land in Gloucestershire. In 1564, he bought the areas of Stapleton (which was next to Stoke Gifford) and Rendcomb. Rendcomb was quite a distance north of Stoke Gifford.
Between 1563 and 1567, he sold the land of Rockhampton. This land had been bought by another Berkeley family member in 1354.
Family Life
Sir Richard Berkeley was married two times.
- His first wife was Elizabeth Read. They had several children:
* Henry Berkeley (died 1606) who lived at Stoke Gifford. He married Mary Throckmorton. Henry was the father of Richard Berkeley (1579–1661), who also became an MP. * Elizabeth (or Ellen). She married Sir Thomas Throckmorton. They had two sons: * John Throckmorton (died young around 1591). * Sir William Throckmorton, 1st Baronet (around 1579–1628). * Mary * Anne, who married Hugh Lygon. * Dorothy
- His second wife was Eleanor Jermy. She was the daughter of Sir Robert Jermy. Eleanor was also the widow of Robert Rowe. Robert Rowe was the father of Sir Thomas Roe, who became an ambassador. Sir Richard Berkeley's grandson, Richard Berkeley, later married Mary Roe/Rowe.
Death and Burial
Sir Richard Berkeley died on April 26, 1604. This date is written on his monument in The Gaunt's Chapel in Bristol. After his death, John Throckmorton became one of the MPs for Gloucestershire on May 30, 1604.
Statue in The Gaunts Chapel
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You can see a statue of Sir Richard Berkeley inside The Gaunt's Chapel in Bristol. It is on the right side as you walk in. The statue shows him lying down, wearing armor. His hands are together as if he is praying.
There used to be a fancy carved cover over the statue, but it is gone now. On the wall behind the statue, you can see the Berkeley family's coat of arms. Below the arms, there is a Latin message. It talks about how people might want to know his name, but no one can truly know his thoughts. It also says that if someone asks who he is, the answer is "I don't know," but that person should try to know themselves instead.
His epitaph, a poem written for his grave, says: "Whom youth could not corrupt, nor change of dayes Add anything but years, he, full of them As they of knowledge, what need this stone prayse Whose epitaph is writt in the heartes of men That did this world and her child Fame despise His soule w.th (with) God, loe here his coffin lyes"
It also says in Latin: "He died the 26th of April in the year of Our Lord 1604, 71 years of age."
