Collection GB 0074 ACC/2599 - BERKELEY FAMILY AND ESTATES

Identity area

Reference code

GB 0074 ACC/2599

Title

BERKELEY FAMILY AND ESTATES

Date(s)

  • 1688-1940 (Creation)

Level of description

Collection

Extent and medium

0.01 linear metres (37 files).

Context area

Name of creator

Biographical history

The Berkeley family's seat was at Berkeley Castle, Gloucestershire built in 1153 by Lord Maurice Berkeley. Lord Berkeley of Stratton (died 1678) ran the Duke of York's household and built himself a magnificent London house in Piccadilly. His descendants laid out Berkeley Square in the grounds. In 1679 George Berkeley made first Earl of Berkeley by King Charles II.

The fifth Earl of Berkeley, Frederick Augustus (1745-1810) took Mary Cole, a butcher's daughter as his mistress. In 1796 they married, Mary having borne the earl five children and later that year their legitimate son Thomas Moreton was born. Mary was anxious about the legitimacy of her adored eldest son William Fitzharding (1786-1857). In 1799 she and earl forged the Berkeley parish register with a false entry for a secret marriage 1785 to make all their children legitimate. On the death of the earl in 1810, the Berkeley Peerage Case was heard in the House of Lords and in 1811 the earldom passed to Thomas Moreton. In 1841 William Fitzharding was given the title Earl Fitzhardinge.

The family held estates throughout England, including the Manor of Cranford, the Manor of Harlington and the Manor of Harlington with Shepiston. For a detailed history of the three manors please see: A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 3: Shepperton, Staines, Stanwell, Sunbury, Teddington, Heston and Isleworth, Twickenham, Cowley, Cranford, West Drayton, Greenford, Hanwell, Harefield and Harlington (1962).

Archival history

GB 0074 ACC/2599 1688-1940 Collection 0.01 linear metres (37 files). Berkeley , family , of Gloucestershire

The Berkeley family's seat was at Berkeley Castle, Gloucestershire built in 1153 by Lord Maurice Berkeley. Lord Berkeley of Stratton (died 1678) ran the Duke of York's household and built himself a magnificent London house in Piccadilly. His descendants laid out Berkeley Square in the grounds. In 1679 George Berkeley made first Earl of Berkeley by King Charles II.

The fifth Earl of Berkeley, Frederick Augustus (1745-1810) took Mary Cole, a butcher's daughter as his mistress. In 1796 they married, Mary having borne the earl five children and later that year their legitimate son Thomas Moreton was born. Mary was anxious about the legitimacy of her adored eldest son William Fitzharding (1786-1857). In 1799 she and earl forged the Berkeley parish register with a false entry for a secret marriage 1785 to make all their children legitimate. On the death of the earl in 1810, the Berkeley Peerage Case was heard in the House of Lords and in 1811 the earldom passed to Thomas Moreton. In 1841 William Fitzharding was given the title Earl Fitzhardinge.

The family held estates throughout England, including the Manor of Cranford, the Manor of Harlington and the Manor of Harlington with Shepiston. For a detailed history of the three manors please see: A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 3: Shepperton, Staines, Stanwell, Sunbury, Teddington, Heston and Isleworth, Twickenham, Cowley, Cranford, West Drayton, Greenford, Hanwell, Harefield and Harlington (1962).

Records deposited in August 1988.

Papers relating to the Berkeley family estates in Cranford and Harlington. Please note that the original records in this collection are now held at the archives in Berkeley Castle, Gloucestershire and only microfilm copies can be viewed at LMA.

The records include court rolls, minutes, rentals, particulars and other papers for the Manor of Cranford and the Manor of Harlington with Shepiston.

ACC/2599-1: Court rolls;
ACC/2599-2: Manorial court minutes;
ACC/2599-3: Enclosure records;
ACC/2599-4: Rentals;
ACC/2599-5: Particulars and reports;
ACC/2599-6: Property transactions;
ACC/2599-7: Unrelated items.

COLLECTION WITHDRAWN 1996. COPIES OF ORIGINALS ARE AVAILABLE FOR CONSULTATION ON FICHE.

Copyright to fiche copies of records in this collection rests with the depositor.

English

Fit

Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm

For other microfiche records of the family see ACC/0530 and ACC/0867.

Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.

Records prepared May to September 2011. Berkeley , family , of Gloucestershire Property Administration of justice Courts Manorial courts Family archives Manorial records Land use Estates (land) Land management Estate management Rentals Information sources Documents Primary documents Personal papers Family records Manor of Harlington with Shepiston Manor of Cranford Cranford Hounslow London England UK Western Europe Europe Hillingdon Harlington Land economics Agricultural economics

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Records deposited in August 1988.

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Papers relating to the Berkeley family estates in Cranford and Harlington. Please note that the original records in this collection are now held at the archives in Berkeley Castle, Gloucestershire and only microfilm copies can be viewed at LMA.

The records include court rolls, minutes, rentals, particulars and other papers for the Manor of Cranford and the Manor of Harlington with Shepiston.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

System of arrangement

ACC/2599-1: Court rolls;
ACC/2599-2: Manorial court minutes;
ACC/2599-3: Enclosure records;
ACC/2599-4: Rentals;
ACC/2599-5: Particulars and reports;
ACC/2599-6: Property transactions;
ACC/2599-7: Unrelated items.

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

COLLECTION WITHDRAWN 1996. COPIES OF ORIGINALS ARE AVAILABLE FOR CONSULTATION ON FICHE.

Conditions governing reproduction

Copyright to fiche copies of records in this collection rests with the depositor.

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

  • Latin

Language and script notes

English

Physical characteristics and technical requirements

For other microfiche records of the family see ACC/0530 and ACC/0867.

Finding aids

Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm

Allied materials area

Existence and location of originals

Existence and location of copies

Related units of description

Related descriptions

Notes area

Alternative identifier(s)

Access points

Subject access points

Place access points

Name access points

Genre access points

Description control area

Description identifier

Institution identifier

London Metropolitan Archives

Rules and/or conventions used

Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.

Status

Level of detail

Dates of creation revision deletion

Language(s)

  • English

Script(s)

    Sources

    Accession area