IDENTITY STATEMENT
Reference code(s): GB 0074 ACC/2599
Held at: London Metropolitan Archives
Title: BERKELEY FAMILY AND ESTATES
Date(s): 1688-1940
Level of description: Collection
Extent: 0.01 linear metres (37 files).
Name of creator(s): Berkeley | family | of Gloucestershire
CONTEXT
Administrative/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).
CONTENT
Scope and content/abstract:
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.
ACCESS AND USE
Language/scripts of material: English
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 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.
Physical characteristics:
Fit
Finding aids:
Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm
ARCHIVAL INFORMATION
Archival history:
Immediate source of acquisition:
Records deposited in August 1988.
ALLIED MATERIALS
Related material:
For other microfiche records of the family see ACC/0530 and ACC/0867.
DESCRIPTION NOTES
Archivist's note:
Date(s) of descriptions: Records prepared May to September 2011.