BEVERSTONE, Gloucestershire - Extract from National Gazetteer, 1868

"BEVERSTONE, a parish in the upper division of the hundred of Berkeley, in the county of Gloucester, 2 miles to the W. of Tetbury. Stroud is its post town. It is an ancient place, and was called by the Saxons Byferestan. A castle existed here before the Norman Conquest. It was a square structure, with towers at the angles, and was defended by a moat. In the reign of Edward III. it belonged to the Berkeley family, by one of whom, Thomas, Lord Berkeley, it was enlarged and strengthened. It stood several sieges during the civil war of the 17th century, and was at last taken and destroyed by the parliamentary army.

The remains, now covered with ivy, consist of a tower, part of the walls, and the chapel; the latter still entire, and converted into a residence. The parish contains some quarries of roofing-stone. The living is a rectory* in the diocese of Gloucester and Bristol, value, with the curacy* of Kingscote, which is annexed to it, £590, in the patronage of the crown. The church, which has a stone pulpit, is dedicated to St. Mary."

[Description(s) from The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland (1868)
Transcribed by Colin Hinson ©2003]