Berkeley Castle, Gloucestershire.
The castle, built to keep out the Welsh on a 6,000 acre estate, was completed in 1153 by Lord Maurice and has been home to the Berkeley family for nine centuries. The building, its contents, the archives (which go back to the 12th Century), the estate and town have all survived together. Its place in history is significant, not just because it is still intact, but because the Berkeley family and their home have played an important part in the power struggles of so many centuries.
The Contents of The Castle are items that have been chosen, collected and treasured by members of the Berkeley family throughout the centuries, and many reflect the history of the place. The family take great care in the restoration and preservation of the many treasures they hold.
Chippendale Furniture
A suite of Chippendale chairs.
The chairs were re upholstered in a silk tissue chinoiserie design. The design was redrawn from remaining original fragments now in the Humphries Archive. The same design is in the Victoria and Albert Museum Textile collection.
Project Reference: 480
Heavy wool and cotton tapestry cloth in petrol blue for further upholstery.
Project reference: 2110
