​​Pontefract Castle

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

​Pontefract and Politics

The two sons of under lord Hugh de Lacy of Lassy both played significant roles in the preparations and at the 1066 battle of Hastings. Ilbert de Lacy led cavalry charges onto the flanks of the battle supporting his Overlord Bishop Odo the half brother to Duke William. Walter de Lacy fought in the thick of the fight alongside his Overlord FitzOsborn, cousin of the King. 
Later, following their victory at Hasting,s both brothers took part in putting down Saxon rebellions in the Southwest, distinguishing themselves at the siege of of Exeter. They were then sent north with Wiliam's army to put down the second Rebellion in Northumbria, followed shortly 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 different parts of England.
King William ordered Illbert de Lacy to stay in the North and build defences to ensure any further rebellion could not invade the South.

Pontefract Castle. “The key to the North”

"Your orders are"
​" Stay here and ​ defend the south"

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

Use Fire arrows to defend against Viking longships sailing inland from the Humber estuary. ​ The many river bogs made Castleford the only suitable way South for an army on the march.

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

The first Pontefract Castle would have looked like this example
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King William 1st was delighted and created the Honour of Pontefract for his new Baron
​ Baron ​Ilbert De Lacy Lord of the Honour of Pontefract

Lords of the Honour of Pontefract
Ilbert de Lacy,  
(1045, Lassy – 1093, Pontefract), 1st Baron of Pontefract, 
Robert de Lacy, 
(probably died before 1130) 2nd Baron of Pontefract, 2nd Lord of Bowland, the son of Ilbert He founded Pontefract Priory about 1090 and built Clitheroe castle.
Ilbert de Lacy, (II) 
(died c.1141), 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, 
(died 1177), 4th Baron of Pontefract, 4th Lord of Bowland, the second son of Robert de Lacy. He built Kirkstall Abbey. Creator of the 6-day Pontefract Fair.
Robert de Lacy (II), 
(died 1193),  5th Baron of Pontefract, 5th Lord of Bowland, son of Henry. Although he married, he had no children. Buried at Kirkstall.
Albreda de Lissours, N’ee de Lacy, 
Daughter of Robert de Lacy (I), Inheritor of the de Lacy estates on the death of her cousin Robert de Lacy (II), who insisted her grandson Roger must adopt her birth name of de Lacy to inherit the de Lacy Titles & Estates.
Maternal direct decent inheritors 
Roger de Lacy, 
(1170–1211), 6th Baron of Pontefract, 7th Baron of Halton, 7th Lord of Bowland, was The son of John FitzRichard and the grandson of Albreda de Lissours. Roger also inherited his father's hereditary title of Constable of Chester and the Barony of Halton with Halton Castle and the lordship of Donington in Leicestershire.
John de Lacy, 
(c. 1192 – 22 July 1240), 2nd Earl of Lincoln (from 1232), 7th Baron of Pontefract, 8th Baron of Halton, 8th Lord of Bowland, son of Roger. John de Lacy chosen to enforce King John's adherence to Magna Carta
Edmund de Lacy, 
(c.1230-1258), 8th Baron of Pontefract, 9th Lord of Bowland, son of John. , He inherited his father's titles, but as he predeceased his mother (Margaret de Quincy), he never became the Earl of Lincoln.
Henry de Lacy, 
(c.1251–1311) 3rd Earl of Lincoln, 9th Baron of Pontefract, 10th Lord of Bowland, son of Edmund. In 1282, he was granted the Lordship of Denbigh and built Denbigh Castle. He transferred Stanlow Abbey to Whalley near Clitheroe in 1296. With no heir, an arrangement was made for Alice with King Edward (II)
Alice de Lacy,
4th Countess of Lincoln, 5th Countess of Salisbury (daughter of Henry de Lacy 3rd Earl). In 1294, Alice was married to Thomas Earl of Lancaster, nephew of King Edward I of England. Thomas hanged for treason. The de Lacy estates reverted to the crown.

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The Castles of the Pontefract de Lacy family
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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 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)
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Halton Castle

​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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Tap or click for Information about Halton Castle

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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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Tap or click for Information about Denbigh Castle

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    
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The Religious Houses of the Ilbert de Lacy Family. Tap or click the image to open the page.

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