Berkeley Castle is a mid 11th century earthwork motte and bailey fortress, founded by William fitz Osborn, earl of Hereford. In the mid to late 12th century, Robert Fitzhardinge and his son Maurice completely encased the motte in a shell keep and added the south and east bailey walls. Only the early 14th century gatehouse now remains in the outer bailey but in the inner bailey are ranges of buildings from the 12th, 13th and 14th century. The interior of the inner bailey was completely remodelled by Thomas, Lord Berkeley, in the mid 14th century and it remained largely unaltered until modernised in the 1920s. During the Civil War the castle was held for the King, until the north-west fortifications were breached by Parliamentarian cannon, in the siege of 1645. 7 miles south-west is Thornbury Castle.