After the Normans had successfully taken control of Northumbria they secured the Scottish border with the Treaty of Abernethy in 1072. At the same time, the conqueror was intent on doing the same in Wales. After Hastings, the Normans had made their way across the Welsh border and began building fortifications in the south-east of the region. William the Conqueror himself travelled there in 1081 establishing a foothold, but it was Robert FitzHamon who can be credited with kick-starting the conquest of south-east Wales which began after the Conqueror’s death in 1086.
Looking north down the Scotland England border. Image Credit: Hill Walker
In ancient Wales there were four major territories under the control of the warrior elite, history calls these men the Welsh Princes. Rhodri Mawr, Gruffudd ap Llywelyn and Hywel Dda wielded power over most of the country - in later centuries it was Llywelyn ap Iorwerth and Llywelyn ap Gruffudd. Of the four regions, Morgannwg (now Glamorgan) was one, it was the first to fall under Norman control. Robert FitzHamon, who had land holdings in Gloucester, is said to have been invited to Wales to assist Einion, a close relative of legendary leader Credifor ap Gollwyn to aid him in the many squabbles with lestyn ap Gwrgant, the last ruler of Morgannwg. FitzHamon arrived via the Bristol Channel, their initial invasion was successful, but soon after leaving he returned. There have been two reasons given for this, firstly Einion had failed to secure the hand of Iestyn’s daughter in marriage and secondly, FitzHamon was not rewarded for services rendered. Whatever the reason for their return the Normans soon began to take Welsh lands for themselves. Robert FitzHamon was loyal to William Rufus, he was with him when he met his death in the New Forest in Hampshire, and then to his brother Henry I. Fitzhamon built Cardiff Castle, and he is also associated with the castles at Newport and Kenfig. Others who aided in the conquest of Glamorgan were also rewarded with land on which they built castles.
Legend tells us Fitzhamon was accompanied by twelve knights, one of whom was Gilbert Umfreville. Gilbert was granted the Lordship of Penmark.
Penmark was a tiny settlement originating from the discovery of a human skull that monks claimed to be that of St Mark, it lies on the banks of the River Kenson, a tributary of the River Thaw. Gilbert’s castle at Penmark is first mentioned in a document of 1104. 'To Sir Gilbert Humphreville he gave the Castle and mannor of Penmark with the Mannor of Coomb Cidi for his Granary and provision. This Sir Gilbert built a fair Church and village by his Castle and settled peace in the Country about. But he and his heirs lived more in a house* of theirs in Cardiff Castle than they did at Penmark which was more of a stronghold than of a homestead.
Legend tells us Fitzhamon was accompanied by twelve knights, one of whom was Gilbert Umfreville. Gilbert was granted the Lordship of Penmark.
Penmark was a tiny settlement originating from the discovery of a human skull that monks claimed to be that of St Mark, it lies on the banks of the River Kenson, a tributary of the River Thaw. Gilbert’s castle at Penmark is first mentioned in a document of 1104. 'To Sir Gilbert Humphreville he gave the Castle and mannor of Penmark with the Mannor of Coomb Cidi for his Granary and provision. This Sir Gilbert built a fair Church and village by his Castle and settled peace in the Country about. But he and his heirs lived more in a house* of theirs in Cardiff Castle than they did at Penmark which was more of a stronghold than of a homestead.
Chronicle of the Norman Conquest from the Roman de Rou by Wace
The tale of these twelve knights is a semi-fictional account of the arrival in Wales of Norman forces under the leadership of Robert Fitzhamon and was written in the 16th century by Edward Stradling, a Welsh antiquarian. Stradling names the men who accompanied Fitzhamon into Wales in 1093, and their lineages appear correct. Stradling claims that his ancestor was one of the twelve, however, this has proved not to be the case as it has been established that the Stradling’s arrived from Switzerland after the initial conquest of Wales. Edward Stradling's tale confuses as much as it enlightens and leads to an overly romantic idea of twelve heroic knights dashing into the fray! Be that as it may, this list enables several connections to be made between the Penmark Umfrevilles and other members of the ‘twelve’ namely, Reginald Sully, who was granted the lordship of Sully, Oliver St John, was granted the lordship of Fonmon and Richard Granville the lordship of Neath. Richard Granville was Robert of Gloucester’s Constable in Glamorgan, he built a castle on the bank of the River Neath. He also established an abbey at Neath and in 1130 he granted 8000 acres of his land to the Savigny Abbey in France. The abbey’s foundation charter states that the monks of Savigny Abbey pray for the souls of Robert of Gloucester, his wife Maud, and their son William. Within the year Granville had retired to his Devon landholdings with Constance his second wife and his castle passed to the Earls of Gloucester. Richard Granville’s charter is the first documented evidence of a Robert Umfreville who historians believe was the first of the Glamorgan Umfrevilles in Devon.
Penmark lays West of Cardiff and just above the coastal town of Barry.
Gilbert Umfreville was one step behind his Northumbrian kinsmen when establishing himself in Wales. Because the ‘first’ Umfreville had ‘come over with the Conqueror’ they had established themselves on the Scottish border by the end of the 11th century and had built two stone castles by the middle of the following century. Gilbert’s timber-framed castle in Penmark was built about the same time as the Northumbrian Unfrevilles had completed Habottle and Prudoe Castles. A question asked by historians (but not answered) is ‘Was Gilbert Umfreville a member of Northumbrian Umfrevilles or did he arrive from Normandy a century later'? An article in the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography states the date of the initial arrival of FitzHamon and his entourage in Wales cannot be established precisely. William Rufus’s preoccupation with the baronial revolt meant that FitzHamon’s interventions in Glamorgan did not occur until 1093 when a more general Norman advance into Wales took place after the death of Rhys ap Tewdar of Deheubarth. It would seem then that there is no connection between Gilbert and the Anglo-Norman Umfrevilles, however, naming patterns suggest otherwise.
Gilbert Umfreville died a few years into the 12th century, and his lands at Penmark descended through his son Robert to his grandson Gilbert who died in 1189.
Gilbert Umfreville's son was Henry, and in c1196 he is recorded issuing a grant of land to the monks at Magham. Witnessing this charter is William St John who appears to be a tenant at the neighbouring manor in Fonmon which was, at the time, held by the Umfrevilles. Other than this grant, Henry's story goes unrecorded, he died in 1205 having fathered two sons - Henry born around 1184 and Richard about two years later. Henry died in 1229, and with no son to inherit, the castle and the lordship of Penmark passed to Richard who resided in Devon. He had married Sybil de Torrington, one of five co-heiresses to the Devon barony of Torrington. Richard Umfreville died in 1233 leaving a son Gilbert as his heir. It is not clear if Gilbert took up residence at Penmark, but he is known to have refortified the castle by replacing the wooden one with stone. In November of 1233, he sided with Richard Marshall, a leading English baron who had objected to Henry III’s increasing power. Gilbert may have been alongside Marshall at the Battle of Monmouth - Richard Marshall was killed but Gilbert survived. In 1262 he is recorded as having four fees worth £60 in Penmark. Gilbert died that year and was succeeded by his son Henry Umfraville, who died just nine years later without issue. His heir was his brother John, who received the Umfreville holdings in Glamorgan and Devon ten months before the coronation of Edward, the twenty-three-year-old son of Henry III, a man the country hoped would bring peace to the realm.
Both Henry and John Umfreville were born at the time Dafydd ap Llywelyn, the elder of the aforementioned sons of Llywelyn the Great, was defeated in a military campaign, he was forced by King Henry III to submit to him and confer all his Welsh territories. Daffydd also had to hand over his half-brother Gruffudd, Henry promptly had him imprisoned in the Tower of London where he fell to his death trying to escape. Gruffudd left four sons, and following the death of their uncle in 1246, a period of internal conflict between the four brothers ended in the rise to power of Gruffud’s second son Llywelyn.
Gilbert Umfreville's son was Henry, and in c1196 he is recorded issuing a grant of land to the monks at Magham. Witnessing this charter is William St John who appears to be a tenant at the neighbouring manor in Fonmon which was, at the time, held by the Umfrevilles. Other than this grant, Henry's story goes unrecorded, he died in 1205 having fathered two sons - Henry born around 1184 and Richard about two years later. Henry died in 1229, and with no son to inherit, the castle and the lordship of Penmark passed to Richard who resided in Devon. He had married Sybil de Torrington, one of five co-heiresses to the Devon barony of Torrington. Richard Umfreville died in 1233 leaving a son Gilbert as his heir. It is not clear if Gilbert took up residence at Penmark, but he is known to have refortified the castle by replacing the wooden one with stone. In November of 1233, he sided with Richard Marshall, a leading English baron who had objected to Henry III’s increasing power. Gilbert may have been alongside Marshall at the Battle of Monmouth - Richard Marshall was killed but Gilbert survived. In 1262 he is recorded as having four fees worth £60 in Penmark. Gilbert died that year and was succeeded by his son Henry Umfraville, who died just nine years later without issue. His heir was his brother John, who received the Umfreville holdings in Glamorgan and Devon ten months before the coronation of Edward, the twenty-three-year-old son of Henry III, a man the country hoped would bring peace to the realm.
Both Henry and John Umfreville were born at the time Dafydd ap Llywelyn, the elder of the aforementioned sons of Llywelyn the Great, was defeated in a military campaign, he was forced by King Henry III to submit to him and confer all his Welsh territories. Daffydd also had to hand over his half-brother Gruffudd, Henry promptly had him imprisoned in the Tower of London where he fell to his death trying to escape. Gruffudd left four sons, and following the death of their uncle in 1246, a period of internal conflict between the four brothers ended in the rise to power of Gruffud’s second son Llywelyn.
Death of Gruffudd ap Llywelyn on 1st March 1244 at the Tower of London
Edward I's dislike for the aforementioned Llywelyn ap Gruffudd resulted in another war with Wales that covered the first years of John Umfreville's tenure.
Early in 1277, the king deployed his forces in the south and mid-Wales, these armies included the marcher lords' retainers - John Umfreville being one of them. These lords met with considerable success as many of the native Welsh rulers, resentful of Llywelyn's overlordship, surrendered and joined the English. Eventually, at the end of that year Edward I and Llywelyn settled for peace with the Treaty of Aberconway, this peace however, did not last and by 1282 war had broken out again when LLywelyn joined his brother Daffyd in rebellion. By the end of the following year Edward’s defeat and the conquest of Wales brought the country under an English legal and administrative framework, these new laws however did not apply to all Welsh territories. The Marcher Lords, being the king's closest allies, could not be deprived of their power, and therefore were seen as independent, effectively their holdings were the private property of these elite English families.
Early in 1277, the king deployed his forces in the south and mid-Wales, these armies included the marcher lords' retainers - John Umfreville being one of them. These lords met with considerable success as many of the native Welsh rulers, resentful of Llywelyn's overlordship, surrendered and joined the English. Eventually, at the end of that year Edward I and Llywelyn settled for peace with the Treaty of Aberconway, this peace however, did not last and by 1282 war had broken out again when LLywelyn joined his brother Daffyd in rebellion. By the end of the following year Edward’s defeat and the conquest of Wales brought the country under an English legal and administrative framework, these new laws however did not apply to all Welsh territories. The Marcher Lords, being the king's closest allies, could not be deprived of their power, and therefore were seen as independent, effectively their holdings were the private property of these elite English families.
Caerphilly Castle
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Cardiff Castle
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These English families already held castles, they were improved using money from the king, and newer ones were also built such as the de Clare’s castle at Caerphilly. With the Welsh now ‘conquered’, smaller castles, like Umfreville’s at Penmark and Fonmon Castle held by the descendants of William St John, were not as strategically important as they once were and it is entirely possible that it was at this time that the Umfrevilles decided to concentrate on their more prosperous holdings in Devon and by 1285 John Umfreville had made an advantageous marriage to a wealthy Cornish widow. John Umfreville died in 1314, however, his family connection to Penmark continued with his eldest son Henry, who held Penmark and was the last of the male line of the Glamorgan Umfrevilles. The death of Henry Umfreville saw the end of the Umfrevilles in Glamorgan, they had held the manor and the castle at Penmark for over three hundred years
Henry's heir's were his two daughters were Elizabeth and Alice, they received Penmark on Henry's death in 1329. Elizabeth had married Alexander St John of Fonmon Castle, and Alice had married Simon le Furnaux of the manor of Kilve in Somerset,.
The descent of the St John's family at Penmark is complicated and unresolved, they were not, as suggested by the aforementioned Edward Stradling, one of the aforementioned Twelve Knights of Glamorgan. The St John family did not arrive in the country until after 1200. The first of the St Johns at Fonmon (one of four fees of Penmark held from the Umfrevilles) was a William St John, his relationship to other St John families is obscure. It seems that Alexander St John was of the family from Instow in Devon and may have been William’s grandson. Their eldest son and heir was Oliver, he is recorded as marrying twice thus increasing their landholdings. By 1370 Oliver (who died three years later) held Barry and Fonmon. Penmark was then the property of his son John St John, and by 1424 the Umfreville manor of Penmark was added to the growing Beauchamp holdings when John’s son married Margaret Beauchamp - the Beauchamp survey of 1429 states that 'Oliver St John Knight holds the fee of Penmark'.
Alice Umfreville's share of Penmark descended through her daughter Elizabeth to her daughter Alice who died in 1414. She had married Sir John Blount of Belton who was Constable of the Tower of London. Alice died without issue and her portion was granted to John St John, the grandson of her sister Elizabeth and then to Oliver, thus the two portions of Penmark were reunited and descended to Oliver St John.
Henry's heir's were his two daughters were Elizabeth and Alice, they received Penmark on Henry's death in 1329. Elizabeth had married Alexander St John of Fonmon Castle, and Alice had married Simon le Furnaux of the manor of Kilve in Somerset,.
The descent of the St John's family at Penmark is complicated and unresolved, they were not, as suggested by the aforementioned Edward Stradling, one of the aforementioned Twelve Knights of Glamorgan. The St John family did not arrive in the country until after 1200. The first of the St Johns at Fonmon (one of four fees of Penmark held from the Umfrevilles) was a William St John, his relationship to other St John families is obscure. It seems that Alexander St John was of the family from Instow in Devon and may have been William’s grandson. Their eldest son and heir was Oliver, he is recorded as marrying twice thus increasing their landholdings. By 1370 Oliver (who died three years later) held Barry and Fonmon. Penmark was then the property of his son John St John, and by 1424 the Umfreville manor of Penmark was added to the growing Beauchamp holdings when John’s son married Margaret Beauchamp - the Beauchamp survey of 1429 states that 'Oliver St John Knight holds the fee of Penmark'.
Alice Umfreville's share of Penmark descended through her daughter Elizabeth to her daughter Alice who died in 1414. She had married Sir John Blount of Belton who was Constable of the Tower of London. Alice died without issue and her portion was granted to John St John, the grandson of her sister Elizabeth and then to Oliver, thus the two portions of Penmark were reunited and descended to Oliver St John.
During the 15th and 16th century Penmark Castle was leased and gradually declined, being replaced by the St Johns for their castle at Fonmon. It eventually fell into disrepair in the 17th century, its stonework being used as material for nearby farms.
The Glamorgan Umfreville's never achieved success nationally, their claim to fame was the protection of a small area of Wales on which others could build and that is no small feat, after all, what is the use of a large brick wall without decent foundations? Regardless of that, the Umfrevilles and Robert Fitzhamon are all but forgotten, their names replaced by the likes of the Mortimer, de Braose, and de Clare families.
Footnotes*
- * Houses - Knights ‘on duty’ defending the castle were given lodgings in which they could choose to live.
- ** Lapford: The 2000-year story of a mid-Devon village by Noel Parry (1995)
Bibliography
- The Winning of Glamorgan by Edward Stradling - The Winning of Glamorgan: Documents | British History Online
- Roger Turvy - Twenty-One Welsh Princes
- William Pole - Collections Towards a Description of the County of Devon
- Mike Salter - The Castles of Gwent, Glamorgan and Gower
- The Manor and Castle of Fonmon near Barry - Howard J Thomas P64.
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