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1st Dec 2025: Baron John de Lacy

1/12/2025

John de Lacy, born 1192, seventh Baron of Pontefract, Lord of Halton Castle and hereditary constable of Chester, was one of the earliest Barons to take up arms at the time of Magna Carta. He was also appointed to see that the new statutes were carried correctly into effect and observed in the counties of York and Nottingham. King John complained to the Vatican, and the Pope excommunicated John de Lacy. Upon the accession of King Henry III, John joined a party of noblemen and made a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, rendering valuable service at the Siege of Damietta. For this service, his excommunication was repealed. In 1232, John de Lacy inherited the title of Earl of Lincoln, which had been held by his wife, Margaret, following her father's death in 1240. He became governor of Chester and Beeston Castles.
He died on 22 July 1240 and was buried in the Cistercian Abbey of Stanlaw near Chester. The monk, Matthew Paris, records: "On the 22d day of July, in this year (1240), which was St. Magdalen's Day, John, Earl of Lincoln, after suffering from a long illness, went the way of all flesh". They buried John de Lacy next to his father, Roger de Lacy, at Stanlaw Abbey on the family's Halton estates, according to his wishes. Following flooding, the bodies of John, his father Roger and John's son Edmund were moved to a new Abbey on de Lacy land at Whalley near Clitheroe when the Stanlaw monks transferred there.

26th Nov 2025: Hugh de Lacy, Earl of Ulster

26/11/2025

In 1207, war broke out between Hugh de Lacy, Earl of Ulster and the new justiciar (the King’s Regent). King John was forced to make his second journey to Ireland. He expelled the Earl’s brother, Walter de Lacy, from Meath, Hugh, fearing for his life, and fled to Scotland. Later, Hugh de Lacy took part in the French wars, only to return to Ireland in 1221, when he allied himself with the O’Neill family, who were past Kings of Northern Ireland and still antagonists of the English. Nothing stays the same for the de Lacy family in Ireland for long. With the backing of his Irish friends, the O’Neills, and the knights and foot soldiers who had joined him from his brother's Meath Estates, Hugh de Lacy had raised an army. They were marching in 1223 on a frail Dublin City. King John was unable to come to Dublin's aid. He called upon Hugh to abandon his campaign. In return, King John restored to Hugh de Lacy the Title of Earl of Ulster and all the lands and estates that went with it.
In the following year, Hugh reverted to serving the king loyally.

22nd November 2025: Rev Beverly Tucker Lacy

22/11/2025

During the 1863 Battle of Chancellorsville. Gen. Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson rode out to plan for the next day. A shot came from the 18th North Carolina Regiment, who mistook the general and his party for Union cavalry. A musket ball had broken two bones in his right hand; the third bullet had struck him about three inches below the left shoulder, severing the artery and breaking the bone. Having applied a tourniquet to stop the bleeding. McGuire, his doctor, administered whiskey and morphine; the anaesthetic took effect. Jackson’s chaplain, the Rev. Beverly Tucker Lacy, arrived the next day. He held a bedside prayer service; Lacy later took Jackson’s amputated arm to James Horace Lacy’s nearby Ellwood plantation and buried it in the Lacy family cemetery.

17th Nov 2025 St Mary's Church Kempley

17/11/2025

Here is a de Lacy or Wikipedia link: https://w.wiki/93DZ
St Mary's Church at Kempley. The smallest de Lacy site to which we will pay tribute, but possibly the most atmospheric stop on any de Lacy tour. Built in the very early 12th century by Hugh de Lacy, the 3rd Baron of Weobley, in memory of his father, Baron Walter. For those who can make a personal visit, or if not possible, the YouTube video below will take you back to quiet contemplation of the Norman world, featuring still-visible wall paintings commissioned by Hugh de Lacy.

Nov 10th 2025: Ballingarry Castle, home of the de Lacy Family

13/11/2025

Ballingarry Castle, at that time, was a Geraldine stronghold held by the prominent de Lacy family. Long before the de Lacys rebuilt Ballingarry, the village had been home to the Knights Templar prior to their departure for their crusades in Palestine. In 1569, the castle was captured for Queen Elizabeth I by Captain John Ward and the garrison of 40 Irish soldiers was slaughtered. The castle then changed ownership several times over the ensuing years. Most of the de Lacy family, including John de Lacy, settled elsewhere around Ballingarry on other de Lacy estates within County Limerick. The locals still refer to Ballingarry Castle as “the Lacy castle”.

Nov 4th 2025: King Richard, viewed the de Lacy de Braose relationship with suspicion

4/11/2025

Nov 4 In November 1195. Baron Walter de Lacy, Lord of Meath, married Margaret de Braose, the daughter of William de Braose of Brecknock, the 4th Lord of Bramber. The de Braose family seat was situated in the Horsham area of West Sussex. Like the de Lacy’s, they had their largest estates and most powerful influence on the Welsh-English border, and in Ireland, they included the city and county of Limerick. Walter de Lacy held the kingdom of Meath and Trim Castle, and on the Welsh border, the all-powerful Ludlow Castle. Prince John, acting for King Richard, viewed the de Lacy de Braose relationship with suspicion, as one who might feel capable of forming a powerful Marcher Lords alliance. Both have extensive holdings in Ireland, in addition to their firm grip on most of the Welsh-English border. The King's suspicions of losing control in these areas were reinforced by the two families now merging some of their interests. Trouble was brewing! Prince John, acting for King Richard, viewed the de Lacy de Braose relationship with suspicion, as one who might feel capable of forming a powerful Marcher Lords alliance.

November 04th, 2025

4/11/2025

Nov 4 In November 1195. Baron Walter de Lacy, Lord of Meath, married Margaret de Braose, the daughter of William de Braose of Brecknock, the 4th Lord of Bramber. The de Braose family seat was situated in the Horsham area of West Sussex. Like the de Lacy’s, they had their largest estates and most powerful influence on the Welsh-English border, and in Ireland, they included the city and county of Limerick. Walter de Lacy held the kingdom of Meath and Trim Castle, and on the Welsh border, the all-powerful Ludlow Castle. Prince John, acting for King Richard, viewed the de Lacy de Braose relationship with suspicion, as one who might feel capable of forming a powerful Marcher Lords alliance. Both have extensive holdings in Ireland, in addition to their firm grip on most of the Welsh-English border. The King's suspicions of losing control in these areas were reinforced by the two families now merging some of their interests. Trouble was brewing! Prince John, acting for King Richard, viewed the de Lacy de Braose relationship with suspicion, as one who might feel capable of forming a powerful Marcher Lords alliance.

Oct 29th Oct: Ginger Lacey Battle of Britain Ace

29/10/2025

James Harry Lacey (GINGER LACEY) was born in February 1917 in Wetherby, Yorkshire, and died in 1989 (aged 72) in Bridlington, Yorkshire, England. Ginger Lacey, DFM & Bar, was one of the top-scoring Royal Air Force fighter pilots of the Second World War and the second-highest-scoring RAF fighter pilot of the Battle of Britain. Lacey was credited with 28 enemy aircraft destroyed, five probables, and nine damaged. Second World War Battle of France On 10 May 1940, the Squadron moved to Bétheniville in France. On 9 June, his aircraft was damaged in combat, and he crash-landed and almost drowned in a swamp. Before the squadron was withdrawn to England on 19 June, Ginger Lacey claimed nearly 60 kills. He was awarded the French Croix de Guerre during his operational duties in France with No. 501 based at RAF Gravesend or RAF Croydon. Lacey became one of the highest-scoring pilots of the battle. Ginger Lacey was one of the few RAF pilots who performed operational duties on both the opening and closing days of the war.

October 28th, 2025

28/10/2025

James Harry Lacey (GINGER LACEY) was born in February 1917 in Wetherby, Yorkshire, and died in 1989 (aged 72) in Bridlington, Yorkshire, England. Ginger Lacey, DFM & Bar, was one of the top-scoring Royal Air Force fighter pilots of the Second World War and the second-highest-scoring RAF fighter pilot of the Battle of Britain. Lacey was credited with 28 enemy aircraft destroyed, five probables, and nine damaged. Second World War Battle of France On 10 May 1940, the Squadron moved to Bétheniville in France. On 9 June, his aircraft was damaged in combat, and he crash-landed and almost drowned in a swamp. Before the squadron was withdrawn to England on 19 June, Ginger Lacey claimed nearly 60 kills. He was awarded the French Croix de Guerre during his operational duties in France with No. 501 based at RAF Gravesend or RAF Croydon. Lacey became one of the highest-scoring pilots of the battle. Ginger Lacey was one of the few RAF pilots who performed operational duties on both the opening and closing days of the war.

Oct 24th 2025: 1135, Gilbert de Lacy fighting for King Stephen to hold the English throne

24/10/2025

By late 1135, Gilbert de Lacy was fighting to maintain King Stephen as the rightful holder of the English throne against the claims of Empress Matilda. Gilbert had reclaimed some of his father's estates, including Weobley Castle, but still did not hold the Barony of Lord of Weobley and Ludlow, as he failed to secure King Stephen's backing for his claim to the de Lacy titles, along with that of his cousin Geoffrey Talbot. Gilbert changed sides and championed Empress Matilda in her attempt to take the English throne; Gilbert led his forces to Hereford in 1138, and there, following a short battle with the supporters of King Stephen, he took control of the town in the name of Empress Matilda. King Stephen retaliated and sent a superior force to reclaim it. Only by besieging Hereford for several months was the army of King Stephen eventually able to take Hereford Castle. Geoffrey Talbot and Gilbert de Lacy escaped and made their way to safety at Weobley Castle. The forces of King Stephen were soon in hot pursuit. Gilbert de Lacy and Geoffrey Talbot were again under siege at Weobley. Once more, they made good their escape and headed to Bristol. They were now in an area under Matilda's forces' control. By the late 1140s, Gilbert de Lacy had recovered most of the remaining de Lacy Estates, which had been passed from his father, Roger, to his Uncle, Hugh de Lacy. But despite carrying the title of Baron, he had yet to regain the full title he coveted of Lord of Weobley. Wikipedia link to the Anarchy https://w.wiki/FF$p

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de Lacy Origins - Marcher to Ireland Lords - de Lacys of Limerick

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