​​Pontefract Castle

The principle home of  the nine de Lacy Barons       Lords of the Honour of Pontefract  

​Pontefract and Politics

The sons of minor lord Hugh de Lacy of Lassy both played significant roles at the 1066 battle of Hastings. Ilbert de Lacy led cavalry charges for his Overlord Bishop Odo, and Walter de Lacy fought in the thick of the fight alongside his Overlord FitzOsborn, cousin of the King. Both brothers took part in the putting down of Saxon rebellions in the Southwest, distinguishing themselves at the siege of Exeter. Then sent north with Wiliams army to put down the second Rebellion in the north, followed by the Harrowing of the North. Lord FitzOsborn, now in charge of the whole of the southwest of England, had an essential role for Walter on the Welsh Marcher borders of  Wales. The two brothers were now serving King William in two different parts of England

Pontefract Castle. 'The key to the North'

​" Stay here and
​defend the south"

With mountains and thick forest to the West and the Humber estuary to the East Castleford was the best position to make a stand.

Use Fire arrow to defend against Viking longships.
​ The river bogs and marches make Castleford the only way South. 

The first Pontefract Castle would have looked like this example

Ilbert de Lacy prepared his defences at the nearby ford across the river Ayre.
​Then built his castle on nearby high ground at Pontefract,

​King William 1st was delighted and
created the Honour of Pontefract
for his new Baron
​Ilbert De Lacy
Lord of Pontefract 

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The Castles of the Pontefract de Lacy family

Pontefract Castle
West Yorkshire England

Clitheroe Castle
North West England

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 and part of the de Lacy estates.

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 days 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) de Lacy, was a passionate de Lacy, and she had plans for her inheritance.

Halton Castle
Runcorn. Cheshire England

Albredas grandson Richard died in the crusades, so her younger grandson Roger FitzEustace  inherited from his Grandmother the estates and titles of the de Lacy family. 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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Roger was succeeded by his son John de Lacy 7th Baron of Pontefract, 8th Baron of Halton, 8th Lord of Bowland, 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 prefered living at Pontefract Castle.

Denbigh Castle 
Denbigh, Denbighshire. North Wales

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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.

Henry de Lacy Died in February 1311 (aged around 60) at his London mansion. Together with his tomb and the monument celebrating his life were destroyed with St Paul's Cathedral in the Great Fire of London in 1666. The titles of Lord of Halton, Barons of Bowland and Pontefract, Earl of Lincoln all passed in 1310 as agreed, through his daughter Alice de Lacy to Henry’s son in law. Thomas Earl of Lancaster. Having opposed King Edward II, Thomas Earl of Lancaster was beheaded for treason in 1322, and his estates seized, including those inherited from the de Lacys, all became Crown property.

​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.

The Monasteries, Abbeys and Churches often
more well known than de Lacy ​castles!