CENOTAPH
1st Earl of Surrey
William was a younger son of Ranulf I de Warenne and his first wife, Beatrice. William was from Varenne, Seine Martime, Bellecombre, France, where the name Warenne originated. The dates of his birth vary from 1035 to 1055, but since he was one of the few documented companions to William at the Battle of Hastings 14 October 1066, his birth is more likely to have been closer to 1035.
William married Gundred, the sister of Gerbod the Fleming, 1st Earl of Chester. They had the following children:
* William de Warenne, 2nd Earl of Surrey, married Elizabeth de Vermandois
* Edith de Warenne, wife of Gerard de Gournay & Drew de Monchy
* Reynold de Warenne, died c 1106
* unknown daughter, wife of Ernise de Coulonces
Gundred died in childbirth in 1085, and William married a sister of Richard Gouet
William was loyal to Duke William and was at the Battle of Mortemer in 1054, after which he was rewarded with lands and the Mortimer Castle confiscated from William's uncle, Roger of Mortemer. He had lands at Bellencombe which became the center of his holdings in Normandy.
After the conquest of England, the Domesday records his extensive holdings in thirteen counties including the barony of Lewes, East Sussex, England, and the manors of Carletune and Beningtun, Coinsborough in Yorkshire and Castle Acre in Norfolk.
He was appointed joint justice-general with Richard de Benefactis. He raised an army and defeated the rebels at the battle of Fagadune and reportedly had the right foot of each prisoner cut off. He built the castle of Holt, Wrexham, Wales.
On a journey to Rome, William and his wife were stopped at Burgundy, unable to proceed due to a war between Emperor Henry IV and Pope Gregory VII, They visited Cluny Abbey, and so impressed with the monks and their dedication they decided to found a Cluniac priory on their lands in England, which became Lewes Priory, dedicated to St Pancras.
Warenne was loyal to King William II, and became the Earl of Surrey during that time. He was mortally wounded at the siege of Pevensey Castle, and died 24 June 1088 at Lewes, buried next to Gundred at the Chapterhouse. At his death, he was worth what would be the equivalent of $143 billion today.
His death was described by Dugdale: "It is reported that this Earl William did violently detain certain lands from the monks of Ely; for which, being often admonished by the abbot, and not making restitution, he died miserably. And, though his death happened very far off the isle of Ely, the same night he died, the abbot lying quietly in his bed, and meditating on heavenly things, heard the soul of this earl, in its carriage away by the devil, cry out loudly, and with a known and distinct voice, 'Lord have mercy on me, Lord have mercy on me'. And, moreover, that the next day after, the abbot acquainted all the monks in the chapter therewith. And likewise that about four days after, there came a messenger to them from the wife of this earl, with 100 shillings for the good of his soul, who told them that he died the very hour that the abbot had heard the outcry. But that neither the abbot nor any of the monks would receive it; not thinking it safe for them to take the money of a damned person'. 'If this part of the story', adds Dugdale, 'as to the abbot's hearing the noise, be no truer than the last, viz., that his lady sent him 100 shillings, I shall deem it to be a mere fiction, in regard the lady was certainly dead about three years before."
---------
William de Warenne is buried in Southover Parish chruch of St. John the Baptist. Please see this memorial for family links.
1st Earl of Surrey
William was a younger son of Ranulf I de Warenne and his first wife, Beatrice. William was from Varenne, Seine Martime, Bellecombre, France, where the name Warenne originated. The dates of his birth vary from 1035 to 1055, but since he was one of the few documented companions to William at the Battle of Hastings 14 October 1066, his birth is more likely to have been closer to 1035.
William married Gundred, the sister of Gerbod the Fleming, 1st Earl of Chester. They had the following children:
* William de Warenne, 2nd Earl of Surrey, married Elizabeth de Vermandois
* Edith de Warenne, wife of Gerard de Gournay & Drew de Monchy
* Reynold de Warenne, died c 1106
* unknown daughter, wife of Ernise de Coulonces
Gundred died in childbirth in 1085, and William married a sister of Richard Gouet
William was loyal to Duke William and was at the Battle of Mortemer in 1054, after which he was rewarded with lands and the Mortimer Castle confiscated from William's uncle, Roger of Mortemer. He had lands at Bellencombe which became the center of his holdings in Normandy.
After the conquest of England, the Domesday records his extensive holdings in thirteen counties including the barony of Lewes, East Sussex, England, and the manors of Carletune and Beningtun, Coinsborough in Yorkshire and Castle Acre in Norfolk.
He was appointed joint justice-general with Richard de Benefactis. He raised an army and defeated the rebels at the battle of Fagadune and reportedly had the right foot of each prisoner cut off. He built the castle of Holt, Wrexham, Wales.
On a journey to Rome, William and his wife were stopped at Burgundy, unable to proceed due to a war between Emperor Henry IV and Pope Gregory VII, They visited Cluny Abbey, and so impressed with the monks and their dedication they decided to found a Cluniac priory on their lands in England, which became Lewes Priory, dedicated to St Pancras.
Warenne was loyal to King William II, and became the Earl of Surrey during that time. He was mortally wounded at the siege of Pevensey Castle, and died 24 June 1088 at Lewes, buried next to Gundred at the Chapterhouse. At his death, he was worth what would be the equivalent of $143 billion today.
His death was described by Dugdale: "It is reported that this Earl William did violently detain certain lands from the monks of Ely; for which, being often admonished by the abbot, and not making restitution, he died miserably. And, though his death happened very far off the isle of Ely, the same night he died, the abbot lying quietly in his bed, and meditating on heavenly things, heard the soul of this earl, in its carriage away by the devil, cry out loudly, and with a known and distinct voice, 'Lord have mercy on me, Lord have mercy on me'. And, moreover, that the next day after, the abbot acquainted all the monks in the chapter therewith. And likewise that about four days after, there came a messenger to them from the wife of this earl, with 100 shillings for the good of his soul, who told them that he died the very hour that the abbot had heard the outcry. But that neither the abbot nor any of the monks would receive it; not thinking it safe for them to take the money of a damned person'. 'If this part of the story', adds Dugdale, 'as to the abbot's hearing the noise, be no truer than the last, viz., that his lady sent him 100 shillings, I shall deem it to be a mere fiction, in regard the lady was certainly dead about three years before."
---------
William de Warenne is buried in Southover Parish chruch of St. John the Baptist. Please see this memorial for family links.
CENOTAPH
1st Earl of Surrey
William was a younger son of Ranulf I de Warenne and his first wife, Beatrice. William was from Varenne, Seine Martime, Bellecombre, France, where the name Warenne originated. The dates of his birth vary from 1035 to 1055, but since he was one of the few documented companions to William at the Battle of Hastings 14 October 1066, his birth is more likely to have been closer to 1035.
William married Gundred, the sister of Gerbod the Fleming, 1st Earl of Chester. They had the following children:
* William de Warenne, 2nd Earl of Surrey, married Elizabeth de Vermandois
* Edith de Warenne, wife of Gerard de Gournay & Drew de Monchy
* Reynold de Warenne, died c 1106
* unknown daughter, wife of Ernise de Coulonces
Gundred died in childbirth in 1085, and William married a sister of Richard Gouet
William was loyal to Duke William and was at the Battle of Mortemer in 1054, after which he was rewarded with lands and the Mortimer Castle confiscated from William's uncle, Roger of Mortemer. He had lands at Bellencombe which became the center of his holdings in Normandy.
After the conquest of England, the Domesday records his extensive holdings in thirteen counties including the barony of Lewes, East Sussex, England, and the manors of Carletune and Beningtun, Coinsborough in Yorkshire and Castle Acre in Norfolk.
He was appointed joint justice-general with Richard de Benefactis. He raised an army and defeated the rebels at the battle of Fagadune and reportedly had the right foot of each prisoner cut off. He built the castle of Holt, Wrexham, Wales.
On a journey to Rome, William and his wife were stopped at Burgundy, unable to proceed due to a war between Emperor Henry IV and Pope Gregory VII, They visited Cluny Abbey, and so impressed with the monks and their dedication they decided to found a Cluniac priory on their lands in England, which became Lewes Priory, dedicated to St Pancras.
Warenne was loyal to King William II, and became the Earl of Surrey during that time. He was mortally wounded at the siege of Pevensey Castle, and died 24 June 1088 at Lewes, buried next to Gundred at the Chapterhouse. At his death, he was worth what would be the equivalent of $143 billion today.
His death was described by Dugdale: "It is reported that this Earl William did violently detain certain lands from the monks of Ely; for which, being often admonished by the abbot, and not making restitution, he died miserably. And, though his death happened very far off the isle of Ely, the same night he died, the abbot lying quietly in his bed, and meditating on heavenly things, heard the soul of this earl, in its carriage away by the devil, cry out loudly, and with a known and distinct voice, 'Lord have mercy on me, Lord have mercy on me'. And, moreover, that the next day after, the abbot acquainted all the monks in the chapter therewith. And likewise that about four days after, there came a messenger to them from the wife of this earl, with 100 shillings for the good of his soul, who told them that he died the very hour that the abbot had heard the outcry. But that neither the abbot nor any of the monks would receive it; not thinking it safe for them to take the money of a damned person'. 'If this part of the story', adds Dugdale, 'as to the abbot's hearing the noise, be no truer than the last, viz., that his lady sent him 100 shillings, I shall deem it to be a mere fiction, in regard the lady was certainly dead about three years before."
---------
William de Warenne is buried in Southover Parish chruch of St. John the Baptist. Please see this memorial for family links.
1st Earl of Surrey
William was a younger son of Ranulf I de Warenne and his first wife, Beatrice. William was from Varenne, Seine Martime, Bellecombre, France, where the name Warenne originated. The dates of his birth vary from 1035 to 1055, but since he was one of the few documented companions to William at the Battle of Hastings 14 October 1066, his birth is more likely to have been closer to 1035.
William married Gundred, the sister of Gerbod the Fleming, 1st Earl of Chester. They had the following children:
* William de Warenne, 2nd Earl of Surrey, married Elizabeth de Vermandois
* Edith de Warenne, wife of Gerard de Gournay & Drew de Monchy
* Reynold de Warenne, died c 1106
* unknown daughter, wife of Ernise de Coulonces
Gundred died in childbirth in 1085, and William married a sister of Richard Gouet
William was loyal to Duke William and was at the Battle of Mortemer in 1054, after which he was rewarded with lands and the Mortimer Castle confiscated from William's uncle, Roger of Mortemer. He had lands at Bellencombe which became the center of his holdings in Normandy.
After the conquest of England, the Domesday records his extensive holdings in thirteen counties including the barony of Lewes, East Sussex, England, and the manors of Carletune and Beningtun, Coinsborough in Yorkshire and Castle Acre in Norfolk.
He was appointed joint justice-general with Richard de Benefactis. He raised an army and defeated the rebels at the battle of Fagadune and reportedly had the right foot of each prisoner cut off. He built the castle of Holt, Wrexham, Wales.
On a journey to Rome, William and his wife were stopped at Burgundy, unable to proceed due to a war between Emperor Henry IV and Pope Gregory VII, They visited Cluny Abbey, and so impressed with the monks and their dedication they decided to found a Cluniac priory on their lands in England, which became Lewes Priory, dedicated to St Pancras.
Warenne was loyal to King William II, and became the Earl of Surrey during that time. He was mortally wounded at the siege of Pevensey Castle, and died 24 June 1088 at Lewes, buried next to Gundred at the Chapterhouse. At his death, he was worth what would be the equivalent of $143 billion today.
His death was described by Dugdale: "It is reported that this Earl William did violently detain certain lands from the monks of Ely; for which, being often admonished by the abbot, and not making restitution, he died miserably. And, though his death happened very far off the isle of Ely, the same night he died, the abbot lying quietly in his bed, and meditating on heavenly things, heard the soul of this earl, in its carriage away by the devil, cry out loudly, and with a known and distinct voice, 'Lord have mercy on me, Lord have mercy on me'. And, moreover, that the next day after, the abbot acquainted all the monks in the chapter therewith. And likewise that about four days after, there came a messenger to them from the wife of this earl, with 100 shillings for the good of his soul, who told them that he died the very hour that the abbot had heard the outcry. But that neither the abbot nor any of the monks would receive it; not thinking it safe for them to take the money of a damned person'. 'If this part of the story', adds Dugdale, 'as to the abbot's hearing the noise, be no truer than the last, viz., that his lady sent him 100 shillings, I shall deem it to be a mere fiction, in regard the lady was certainly dead about three years before."
---------
William de Warenne is buried in Southover Parish chruch of St. John the Baptist. Please see this memorial for family links.
Family Members
Advertisement
Advertisement
