18 Mar Lordship Title of Wantage ID14348
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The 'town' of WANTAGE was a royal possession in the time of Alfred, who left it in his will to his wife Ealswith. It probably reverted to the Crown on her death, and in 1086 was a Crown 'manor.' The assessment was at 4 hides, but the land had never paid geld. Wantage remained in the possession of the Crown till Richard I granted it, with extensive privileges, to Baldwin de Béthune Earl of Aumale. The gift was confirmed by King John in 1199. Four years later Alice daughter of Baldwin was married to William Marshal, afterwards Earl of Pembroke and Marshal of England and of the Household, and received as dowry this manor among others. Before 1224 the Earl of Pembroke enfeoffed in it the third Fulk Fitz Warin of Whittington in Shropshire, who became a hero of romantic legend within a generation after his death. The overlordship belonged to the Earls Marshal of England till their office became vested in the Crown in 1306. From that date it properly belonged to the Crown, which claimed custody during the minority of heirs. The manor is nevertheless said on more than one occasion to be held of the Earls of Pembroke. In 1431 it was held of Joan Queen of England as of her manor of Hampstead Marshall.
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Listed in the Domesday Book:
Yes