1272
DEATH OF HENRY III – Edward I, the hammer of the Scots, came to the throne of England.
DEATH OF PETER DE BRUS III – of Skelton Castle.
For nearly two hundred years six generations of the De Brus family of Skelton Castle had had male heirs and their possessions had grown through marriage as the Law was that on marriage the property of the wife becomes the husband’s.
Peter de Brus III’s elder sister had pre-deceased him and both were childless.
The de Brus Estates were therefore divided between his four remaining sisters.
Showing the male line at Skelton Castle ending in only females
and the Annandale line connection to the present Royal family
The Will reads:-
FAUCONBERGS AT SKELTON CASTLE.
1. To the daughter, Agnes and her husband Walter de Fauconberg:-
The castle of Skelton with the Park around the castle. The profits of the boats at Coatham and Redcar.
Rights and royalties appertaining to the village of Skelton.
The manor of Marske, Redcar, Upleatham, Stanghow and Gerrick.
The forest of Skelton with Haia and great park. Aysdale and the Chase of Westwith.
Areas of forest towards Danby and Commondale and hunting rights. A quarter part of the ‘wreck of the sea’ between Yarm and Runswick.
Walter de Fauconberg became Lord Fauconberg of Skelton and ‘ballive de Langberewe’, sheriff of Langbaurgh.
2. To Lucia, who was married to Marmaduke de Thweng:-
Danby, Lealholm, Yarm, Brotton, Skinningrove, Brotton and forest to the South of Skelton.
3. To Margaret, who was married to Robert de Ros:-
The barony of Kendal
4. To Ladereyne who was married to John de Bella Aqua:-
Carlton, Thorpe Arches and other Yorkshire Manors.
[From Luttrell Psalter written about this time]
FISH POND – There is a record of a fish pond east of Skelton castle, which still exists, and a corn mill.
A Lords Court in Skelton is first mentioned in this year.
1275
SEA WRECKS – Walter de Fauconberg, the new Lord of Skelton Castle was accused of abusing the right to sea wrecks.
The Prior of Guisborough was granted exemption from tolls at Skelton market.
1280
PEASANTS TO BE POACHERS – Right of ‘free warren’ was granted by the Crown to Walter de Fauconberg.
“25th May, 8th Edward I. 1280 No 54.
For Walter de Fauconberg. The King to Archbishops, greeting.
Know ye that we have granted, and by this our Charter confirmed to our beloved and faithful Walter de Faucunberge, that he and his heirs for ever have free warren in all his demesne lands of Skelton, Stanghow and Mersk, Uplithum, Redker, Grenrig and Estbrune in the County of York.
Provided that those lands be not within the bounds of our forest, so that no one enter those lands to hunt in them, or to take anything, which may belong to the warren, without the licence and will of him the said Walter, or his heirs, upon forfeiture to us of £10; wherefore he will….”
1285
PRIORY LAND – Guisborough priory was given a grant of land in ‘Market Street’ in Skelton.
1289
PRIORY FIRE – A large part of Guisborough Priory was destroyed by fire said to have been started by workmen repairing roof.
1291
HUNTING DISPUTE – A dispute arose between Skelton Castle and Guisborough Priory over an area of land around what is now Skelton Ellers, called ‘Swarthy Head’ and then called ‘Swetingheved’.
This was on the edge of the Skelton hunting park which stretched east to the the Castle and South over Airy Hill to Margrove Park.
Walter de Fauconberg agreed to maintain the hedges and ditches to prevent the deer straying onto the prior’s meadows and arable land and to pay tithes on the deer themselves.
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