Berkeley

City in Alameda County, central California, USA, 10 km/6 mi north of Oakland, on

the northeastern side of San Francisco Bay; population (2000 est) 102,700. It has an industrial waterfront, but is best known as the main campus of the University of California (1868) and for nuclear research at the Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory. During the 1960s, the campus was the site of major political demonstrations against US military involvement in Vietnam.

Berkeley was settled in 1841 and incorporated in 1878. It was named after the Irish philosopher, Bishop George Berkeley. It was badly damaged by fire in 1923. Berkeley has 54 entries on the National Register of Historic Places, including library and university buildings.

Berkeley

Town in southern Gloucestershire, England, between Bristol and Gloucester; population (2001) 4,100. It is situated in the Vale of Berkeley, rich dairy and pasture country once celebrated for its ‘Double Gloucester’ cheese. Berkeley has a nuclear power station, which began production in 1962. Berkeley Castle, in which Edward II was murdered in 1327, is regarded as one of the finest castles in England.

The castle was completed in 1153 by Lord Maurice Berkeley. The Norman keep can still be seen within the great courtyard of the castle. It is still occupied, after 800 years, by the Berkeley family. Dr Edward Jenner, who discovered vaccination, was born and buried in Berkeley.

The parish church of Berkeley is Early English. Berkeley was a borough in the 13th century, but the corporation was dissolved in 1885.