Due to essential conservation cleaning work during week commencing 25th November, some rooms will be unavailable to visit during guided tours for the full week
Stephen was born in Sedgrave Leicestershire in 1176 and was retainer of the Earl of Chester, accompanying him on Crusade. Upon their return Stephen was granted several titles and offices, mainly beause of his espousal of the deeply unpopular Poitivin faction of Peter de Roche. Stephen held several shrievalties and was also Constable of the Tower and Justiciar under King John before Henry III made him Regent of England during his visit to France in 1230 and later Chief Justiciar of England. However, Stephen’s power ebded with the fall of the Poitivins in 1234. Henry recalled him five years later and he became the King’s chief advisor until his death in 1241.
Title:High Sheriff of Lancaster
Name: Robert de Mountjoy
Herald date: 1223-1226
Gules, three escutcheons Or.
Title:High Sheriff of Lancaster
Name: Gerald Etwell
Herald date: 1226-1227
From Etwall, Derbyshire. It is likely that the Etwells were retainers of William Ferrars, Earl of Derby who was born close by at Tutbury. This might explain their elevation to office during Ferrers tenure of the Honour of Lancaster.
Title:High Sheriff of Lancaster
Name: Sir Matthew de Redmayne, Lord of Levens
Herald date: 1246-1249
Gules, three cushions Ermine tassled Or.
Matthew was born in 1190 and died 1246. His father Henry was High Sheriff of Yorkshire. Matthew also served as Seneshal of Kendal.
Title:High Sheriff of Lancaster
Name: Geoffrey de Chetham
Herald date: 1259-1261
Argent, a bend between six covered cups Or.
Title:High Sheriff of Lancaster
Name: Adam de Montalt
Herald date: 1261-1264
Argent, three bars gemel Sable over all a lion rampant Gules armed and langued Azure.
Title:High Sheriff of Lancaster
Name: Edmund Plantagenet, First Earl of Lancaster
Herald date: 1267-1295
Gules, three lions passant guardant in pale Or a label of three points Azure semee de lys Or.
Edmund Crouchback (1244-1296) was the younger son of King Henry III. His name derives not from any physical deformity but indicates that he had taken part in the Crusades and worn the cross on his back. As well as the earldom of Lancaster Edmund was also created Earl of Leicester after the execution of the rebel lord, Simon de Montfort, and this vast expanse of land and the wealth that accompanied it was to be increasingly important in the history of England and of the monarchy itself from this time onwards.
Title:High Sheriff of Lancaster
Name: John de Cansfield of Aldingham
Herald date: 1270
Argent, fretty Sable.
Title:High Sheriff of Lancaster
Name: Sir Ranulph de Dacre
Herald date: 1272-1274
Azure, on a cross Or five escallops Gules.
The family, from Dacre in Cumberland, rose to become Lords of the Northern Marches and were the builders of Dacre castle. As well as holding office in Lancashire, Ranulph was also Sheriff of Cumberland (1268-1278) and then of Yorkshire (1278-80). He died on May 3rd 1286.
Title:High Sheriff of Lancaster
Name: Richard le Boteler
Herald date: 1241-1246
Azure, a bend between six covered cups Or.
Perhaps linked to the the house of Bewsey, Warrington, the Botelers were related to the de Thorntons; indeed Richard replaced Simon de Thornton as High Sheriff in 1241. There is evidence to suggest that he owned land close to Lancaster, specifically at Catterall.
