King William entrusted Walter de Lacy with a crucial role on the Welsh Marcher borders of Wales, a responsibility of immense importance. Meanwhile, he appointed Lord FitzOsborne as the earl of Wessex, overseeing the anglo saxon kingdom of Wessex.
King William strategically elevated Walter de Lacy to the title of Marcher Lord, Baron of Weobely, a key border area situated at Hereford. This move was part of his meticulous planning to secure the borders.
The de Lacy brothers, Walter and Illbert, were now serving King William in different capacities. Walter was stationed in the Welsh Marcher borders, while Illbert was tasked with building defences in the North. King William had ordered Illbert de Lacy to stay in the North and build defences to prevent further rebellion from invading the South.
The North of England had seen the area dominated by Anglo-Saxons or Danes and were not prepared to submit to the Normans as new rulers. Having failed once, they rebelled again in 1070, only to be forcibly put down by a Norman army recognised today as the Harrying of the North.
William the Conqueror chose Ilbert de Lacy to safeguard the rest of England from Northern aggression. He awarded him fifty knights, and his orders were to:
"stay in the North and defend the South".
Iberts plan was to lock his attackers within Northumbria and hold them there.
He would need advance warning and bring them on to his prepared defences. Later to be called:
The Key to the North!
With mountains and thick forest to the West.
Treacherous marches & rivers leading to the Humber estuary to the East
Castleford was the best position to make a stand.
Ilbert de Lacy prepared his defences at the nearby ford across the river Aire.
Building his castle on nearby high ground at Pontefract.
St Clements was the personal place of worship for the de Lacy family its construction was about 1080, while Pontefract Castle was still a Motte & Bailey castle. The inset picture shows how the original chapel would have appeared to the de Lacy family.
Tap or click map for fu;; details
King William 1st, elevated Baron Ilbert De Lacy
to Lord of the Honour of Pontefract
Pontefract Castle
the "Key to the North"
West Yorkshire England
Robert de Lacy:
1070 to 1129
Lord of the Honours of
Pontefract and Clitheroe
Baron Robert de Lacy succeeded his father, becoming the 2nd Lord of Pontefract. King William II, William Rufus granted other estates and manors in the North West of England. Robert de Lacy set about restoring Clitheroe Castle as his administrative centre for the Honour of Clitheroe as part of the de Lacy estates.
Clitheroe Castle
North West England
Robert became one of the most powerful Barons in the North of England. He had remained loyal to the throne and twice refused to join his cousin, the Marcher Lord Roger de Lacy, in the rebellions against King Rufus.
In 1100, King Henry granted Robert de Lacy the Honour of Clitheroe,all of which can be found in today's Northern Lancashire.
Robert de Lacy had increased to almost double the landholding of the Yorkshire de Lacy family. Pontefract Castle remains the principal seat of power and home to Robert de Lacy and his family. Robert had no intention to become an absentee Lord, leaving either Honour in the hands of a Chief Steward. The second principle de Lacy Castle was now built at Clitheroe.
Robert de Lacy had grown powerful undertaking the maintenance of King Henry's royal authority throughout the North of England. His position was not to last and by 1114, King Henry was fearful that Robert de Lacy was conspiring with his elder brother Robert, the dispossessed Duke of Normandy. The fickleness of absolute Kings had a habit of quickly reversing events. In 1114, Baron Robert de Lacy was dispossessed of all his estates and found himself living in exile, probably in Normandy.
Robert de Lacy’s wife was named Matilda. They had three sons and one daughter. Their eldest son was Ilbert, after Robert's father, and a second son, also called Robert, was killed at the Battle of the Standard on 22nd August 1138. Their third son was Henry de Lacy, who would eventually inherit from his elder brother, Ilbert (II). Their daughter was called Albreda.
Ilbert de Lacy, (II) 3rd Baron of Pontefract, 3rd Lord of Bowland, the eldest son of Robert de Lacy. He was captured with King Stephen during the Battle of Lincoln (1141), possibly dying in captivity.
Henry de Lacy,, 4th Baron of Pontefract, 4th Lord of Bowland, the second son of Robert de Lacy. He built Kirkstall Abbey. Creator of the six day Pontefract Fair.
Robert de Lacy (II), 5th Baron of Pontefract, 5th Lord of Bowland, son of Henry. Although he married, he had no children, and he was buried at Kirkstall. By agreement, he left all the de Lacy estates and titles to his cousin, Lady Albredda Lisores. Albreda, the daughter of Ilbert (II)
Halton Castle
Runcorn. Cheshire England
Runcorn. Cheshire England
Albreda's grandson Richard died in the Crusades, so her younger grandson Roger FitzEustace inherited the estates and titles of the de Lacy family from his Grandmother, on the understanding that first, he changed his name to Roger de Lacy and secured the continuation of the de Lacy name. Thus creating the maternal de Lacy name.
Roger (Hell) de Lacy, 6th Baron of Pontefract and Clitheroe, adding Baron of Halton. Soldier and trusted military leader to King Richard the Lionheart.
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Denbigh Castle
Denbigh, Denbighshire. North Wales
Roger was succeeded by his son John de Lacy, 7th Baron of Pontefract, 8th Baron of Halton, the 8th Lord of Bowland, and 2nd Earl of Lincoln (from 1232). King John had put his seal on the Magna Carta, as did twenty-five barons, including John de Lacy, who had demanded the King's agreement.
Edmund de Lacy, 8th Baron of Pontefract, 9th Baron of Halton, 9th Lord of Bowland, to young to inherit the title Earl of Lincoln. Constable of Chester 1230-1258 Edmund became a ward of the court and was brought up at the royal court of King Henry III and Queen Eleanor. As an adult, he preferred living at Pontefract Castle.
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Henry de Lacy: 3rd Earl of Lincoln, From (1266 ) 8th Baron of Pontefract, 9th Baron of Halton, 9th Lord of Bowland, 1st Lord of Denbigh (from 1282) Henry de Lacy Died in February 1311 (aged around 60) at his London mansion. The building is still in daily use and stands in memory of Henry's skill as an advocate as one of the four Inns of Court supporting London's Law Courts.
Bringing to an end the turbulent era of the Pontefract de Lacy Barons. Their stories are told in the de Lacy Chronicles book by R A Lacy The Lacy family lives on through former de Lacy Knights and kinfolk
The Religious Houses of the Ilbert de Lacy Family. Tap or click the image to open the page.