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Title: High Sheriff of Lancaster

Name: Sir Bertram de Bulmer of Brancepeth and Sheriff Hutton Castles

Herald date: 1162

Gules, billette Or a lion rampant of the last

Unusually, the de Bulmer family were Saxon rather than Norman in origin. The family seems to have thrown in its lot with the Normans fairly early and as a result enjoyed considerable political advancement.

Bertram, as Sheriff of York, was also given responsibility for the area between the Ribble and the Mersey and it appears that these duties remained with the family for many years.

The family’s powerbase remained in Yorkshire and County Durham, with the family seat being Malton. They were responsible for the construction of two castles; Brancepeth and Sheriff Hutton. The name Bertram was passed down through several generations.

A bertram de Bulmer is listed as being present at the signing of the Magna Carta at Runnymede in 1215. When the male line of descent died out soon after this date the family lands passed, through marriage, to the powerful Nevilles of Raby.

Title: High Sheriff of Lancaster

Name: Ranulf de Glanville, The Justiciar

Herald date: 1173-1174

Argent, a chief indented Azure

Undoubtedly one of the most important barons of the 12thC his long career saw Ranulf achieve the heights of both Treasurer and Justiciar of England. Ranulf was responsible for formulating the first book on English laws and customs ( De Legibus et Consteutudinibus Angliae) and he acted as tutor to both King Richard I and King John. As well as being High Sheriff of Lancashire he also held the same post in both Westmorland and Northumberland. He was instrumental in the success of the campaigns against King William (The Lion) of Scotland, actually capturing William at Alnwick.

Ranulf was married to a daughter of Theobald de Valoines, a relative of Geoffrey, and their great granddaughter married Robert Neville, a direct descendant of Bertrand de Bulmer.

Ranulf died in 1194 while on Crusade, at Acre.

Title: High Sheriff of Lancaster

Name: Sir Geoffrey de Valoines of Farleton and Cantsfield

Herald date: 1160-1166

Or, a cross Gules within a border Azure billette of the first

The lands of this family lay fairly locally, at Cantsfield and Farleton, although they also appear to have held extensive estates in Norfolk and Leicestershire. The accounts for this period continued to be dealt with by the de Bulmer family as Sheriffs of York.

The name suggests a Norman family. A Robert de Valoines was present at Magna Carta, in opposition to King John.
This family seems to have formed alliances with a number of key families, including the Percys.
Geoffrey died in 1190

Title: High Sheriff of Lancaster

Name: Benedict Garnet the King's Forester

Herald date: 1194-1196

Gules, a lion rampant Argent within a bordure engrailed Or

From Caton, Benedict was Master Serjeant of the Forest of Lancaster.

Title: High Sheriff of Lancaster

Name: Nicholas le Botelier, Earl of Chester's man

Herald date: 1197-1199

Azure, a bend between six garbs Or

Title: High Sheriff of Lancaster

Name: Stephen de Turneham, the King's Marshal

Herald date: 1199

Gules, a lion passant Or between two Mascles Argent

From Artington, Surrey, Stephen was a very important minister, judge and soldier, being appointed Governor of Cyprus during the Crusades. At the death of Richard I he took charge of Lancaster Castle, garrisoning it in order to keep watch on the surrounding area.

Title: High Sherrif of lancaster

Name: Robert de Tateshale, of Tateshale, near Pontefract

Herald date: 1199-1200

Chequy Or and Gules a chief Ermine

The son of Phillip de Tatteshall, Robert was first appointed High Sheriff of Cumberland before holding the same office for Lancashire in 1199. He is thought to have been the builder of Middleham Castle, the favourite residence of Richard III.

During Robert’s tenure the castle was visited by King John and the Court in 1200. John was a benefactor of the town in many ways, and granted it’s first charter, as well as constructing severeal new additions to the castle itself, including the Inner Gateway and Hadrian’s Tower.

Title: High Sheriff of lancaster

Name: Gilbert Fitzreinfrid, Baron of Kendal

Herald date: 1205-1215

Argent two bars Gules on a canton Gules a lion passant guardant Or

Baron of Kendal, Warton and Nether Wyresdale: Sheriff of Yorksire 1209-1212.

Gilbert was the son of Roger Fitzreinfrid and Rohasie, a neice of the Earl of Chester. He married the heriess of William of Lancaster II and was father to William of Lancaster III.

He served several monachs in turn, and was Steward to both Henry II and Richard I. He opposed King John over Magna Carta, as a result of which he lost his lands. He died in 1220.

Title: High Sheriff of Lancaster

Name: Randulph de Blundevill, Earl of Chester

Herald date: 1216-1222

Azure, three garbs Or

Appointed Lord of the County by John following the rebellion of his kinsman Gilbert Fitzreinfrid in 1215. Through marriage to Constance de Bretagne in 1188 he became Duke of Brittany and Earl of Richmond. John raised him to the earldom of Lincoln in 1216.

Earlier in his career he had taken part in the Fifth Crusade, and his name is mentioned in Piers Plowman with reference to Robin Hood. He died without issue.

Title: High Sheriff of Lancaster

Name: William de Ferrers, Earl of Derby

Herald date: 1223-1227

Vairy Or and Gules on a border Azure an orle of horseshoes Argent

Earl of Derby, son of the Earl of Gloucester. William’s sister Isabella was the first wife of King John, while he was also related to the Mortimer’s via the marriage of his other sister, Millicent, and the powerful William Marshall, Earl of Pembroke through his daughter-in-law, Sybil.
William died on September 22nd 1247.