William Fitz-Ansculf was a Norman-French landowner who succeeded his father, Ansculf de Picquigny.
Birth and early life
Amongst other possessions, William Fitz-Ansculf was listed as holding the castle and manor of Dudley in the Domesday Book
William's date of birth is not known, though it was likely in Picquigny, Picardy, now in the Sommedepartment, France, in the mid 11th Century. William inherited many lands in central England that had been granted to his father, Ansculf de Picquigny by William the Conqueror after the Norman conquest in 1066. William made his base at the castle built by his father in Dudley, Worcestershire.[1] He and his successors were overlords of the manors of Selly Oak and Birmingham both of which had previously been owned by Wulfwin. His ownership of Selly Oak was challenged by the Bishop of Lichfield using a nuncupative (oral) will made by Wulfwin as evidence. It would appear that William Fitz-Ansculf died during the First Crusade. Henry of Huntingdon in his ‘History of the English People’ writes that: “Then from the middle of February they besieged the castle of ‘Arqah, for almost three months. Easter was celebrated there (10 April). But Anselm of Ribemont, a very brave knight, died there, struck by a stone, and William of Picardy, and many others.”.[2]
Lands held
The Domesday Book of 1086 shows William holding from the Crown around one-hundred estates in twelve counties. Many of these were estates formerly held by King Harold Godwinsson, Lady Godiva, Earl Algar and Ulwin, a thegn based in the Midlands.[3] William was either Lord, or tenant-in-chief.
List of land held by William Fitz Ansculf in 1086:
Aelfeva, wife of Harold; Estan of Farningham, Godric, Godwin the priest, Harold of Tyringham
Ticheforde
Tickford, Buckinghamshire
Ulf Fenman
Tornelle
Thornhill, Wiltshire
Aelfric, Burghelm and Godiva
Wandesorde
Wandsworth, London
King Edward and six free men
Wamburne
Wombourne, Staffordshire
Thorsten
Wavre
Churchover, Warwickshire
Vagn of Wootton
Willingeuuie
Willingwick, Bromsgrove
Earl Edwin, Alwin, Alwold son of Erngeat, Brictred, Earl Edwin's thane, Erngeat son of Grim, Frani son of Erngeat
Wlsiestone
Little Woolstone, Milton Keynes
King Edward and Edward the noble
References
^Hemingway, John (2006). An Illustrated Chronicle of the Castle and Barony of Dudley 1070-1757. Dudley: The Friends of Dudley Castle. pp. 11–20. ISBN9780955343803.
^Greenway, Diane (Translated by) Henry of Huntingdon: The History of the English People 1000-1154 (OUP 2002) P46
^Carter, W.F. Additions to Grazebrook's 'The Barons of Dudley'. Chetwynd Papers.
^Morris, John (1976). Domesday Book - Staffordshire Edition. Phillimore, Chichester.
