de Lacy Chronicles The de Lacy Family, A Remarkable History. Norseman To Norman Barons.
  • de Lacy Chronicles
  • de Lacy Origins
    • The History Timeline of the de Lacy Family
    • Detailed The Origins
  • Ilbert de Lacy Family
    • The Key to the North
    • Castles of the Pontefract Barons
    • Religious Houses Pontefract Barons
  • The Marsher War Lords
    • de Lacy Marsher Castles
    • Walter Family Religious Houses
  • Passage to Ireland
    • Walter Irish Religious Houses
    • de Lacy The Grey Years
  • Siege of Limerick 1691
    • Irish Brigade
  • de Lacy Family Tree
    • Your Comments My Reply's
  • Facebook
  • de Lacy Book
    • UK only stock
    • Book Reviews & Comments
  • Blog
  • Early Origins




​Whether defending the English border
or taking Welsh lands




​​Some Say War Lords
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The de Lacy Marcher Lords. Baron's of Weobley. 
In recognition of their major part in the conquest, King William I. awarded Walter de Lacy, and his firstborn son Roger, Manors throughout what is now, Berkshire, Gloucestershire, Worcestershire, Herefordshire, Shropshire and even as far as Chester.

​With many areas of England either reluctant to accept or in open rebellion against  Norman rule. William realised that to contain or even conquer the Welsh he would have to follow the pattern used by the Saxons to keep the Welsh from Marching on Mercia.

The King created three Earldoms, The Earl of Chester Hugh de Avranches. The Earl of Shropshire Roger de Montgomerie and The Earl of Herefordshire his cousin William FitzOsbern. To act of their own accord and rule the English Welsh Border

They became known as the Marcher Lords. They raised their own army’s. Created their own laws and Courts. Levied their own taxes. They held rights to create forests, markets and boroughs. The Castles they built were in their names, not the Kings. In return, they only paid allegiance to the King and the Church. As subjects, to the English King, they were bound to support him in times of war,  No other Norman Lords throughout England had such power. King Williams gain was the Crown was saved the high cost of protecting England from the Welsh.

Earl William FitzOsbern, had become Overlord to Walter and Roger de Lacy and created them as Marcher Lords in their own right without having to be subservient to him. They had already been given many Manors throughout the West by King William who was pleased to create Walter as the 1st Lord of Weobley. Earl William then spent most of his time as Overlord of the Isle of Wight. Walter de Lacy as the first Baron of Weobley had been granted full Marsher Lord status. 

The de Lacy family were truly Marcher Warlords!
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The Castles of the Walter de Lacy family. Tap or click to view the castles

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The Religious Houses of the de Lacy Marcher Lords. Tap or click to view

de Lacy Barons of Weobley,  leading Marsher Lords
​Some may say "War Lords"
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​This picture encompasses very much the 11th century landscape of the area.

Mountains, Thick Forest      and March land.

The Normans had to come to terms with all three. To protect themselves and their men. 

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The Welsh Marches covered both sides of the ever-changing Welsh Border with England

In order to both protect themselves when advancing or defending themselves against the Welsh forces. The Welsh Marcher Norman lords built more Motte & Bailey Castles then anywhere else in the country. Many built by the de Lacy’s Barons of Weobley.



The Normans had added the principle of building Motte & Bailey Castles as the essential part of their plans for conquest.
 Ideally, there was a castle within one day's march of each other offering defended shelter. Once built they only needed a small detachment to protect them. 
Earth, timber and conscripted labour was always readily available Indeed a Motte & Baily was shipped across to Hastings in 1066. Was this the first 'flat pack'?​

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If you would like to add a question or comment, perhaps give your reactions
​to a visit to any of the de Lacy Castles or Churches.
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If you have an interest in the de Lacy family castles we would love to start a photo gallery of your visits to any of the castles
If you wish to include photos* please submit both your text and photos by email to delacychronicles@gmail. 

*Include any permissions if the pictures are not yours. Thank you.
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The de Lacy Chronicles website is a not-for-profit site. Any income over costs from the sales of the “de Lacy Chronicles” book is used to subsidise the website costs.

You can submit comments or ask “de Lacy Family tree” questions or offer answers but please use the comment boxes on the appropriate pages from where I can respond to them. Please remember I am neither a historian nor a genealogist, just very interested in the history of the de Lacy family. 

For your enjoyment in following the de Lacy family history, we have added links to other websites and YouTube videos. While we have approved of the portion we have linked you too, these sights are independent of de Lacy Chronicles. We take no responsibility for their content.

Enjoy your visit Roy A Lacy, Author &  Webmaster


  • de Lacy Chronicles
  • de Lacy Origins
    • The History Timeline of the de Lacy Family
    • Detailed The Origins
  • Ilbert de Lacy Family
    • The Key to the North
    • Castles of the Pontefract Barons
    • Religious Houses Pontefract Barons
  • The Marsher War Lords
    • de Lacy Marsher Castles
    • Walter Family Religious Houses
  • Passage to Ireland
    • Walter Irish Religious Houses
    • de Lacy The Grey Years
  • Siege of Limerick 1691
    • Irish Brigade
  • de Lacy Family Tree
    • Your Comments My Reply's
  • Facebook
  • de Lacy Book
    • UK only stock
    • Book Reviews & Comments
  • Blog
  • Early Origins