Dunham-on-the-Hill

(a paramount lordship held in-chief of the Crown)

THE SITUATION of this Lordship accords precisely with its Saxon name, dun a hill, and ham a dwelling place. The FitzAlans, afterwards Earls of Arundel, who were connected by marriage with the Earls of Chester, were the first grantees of this Manor. As a result Dunham became the head of an extensive seigniory comprising the Manors of Alvanley, Helsby, Mickle Trafford, Wimbolds Trafford, Hoole, and Hapsford.

In the reign of Edward II, Edmund FitzAlan, Earl of Arundel forfeited his estates and was beheaded at Hereford. However, his son Richard, was subsequently restored to his father's estates by Edward III, but his son and namesake was beheaded for treason in 1397. Thomas, the 11th Earl of Arundel died without issue in 1415 and his estates, but not his title, passed to his sisters and coheirs. Elizabeth married four times: William Montacute, Earl of Salisbury (1378); Thomas Lord Mowbray, Earl of Nottingham and Duke of Norfolk: best remembers in the opening scene of Shakespeare's Richard II when he challenges Henry, Earl of Hereford and Derby (later Henry IV) to a duel (1389); Sir Robert Gonshill (1401); Sir Gerrard Ufflete (1416). The second sister, Joan, married William Beauchamp, Baron Abergavenny; and the third, Margaret, was the wife of Sir Rowland Lenthall. Under these sisters, William Troutbeck held a lease of part of the Lordship in the reign of Henry V.

In Lord Shrewsbury's archives is a letter from Elizabeth, the eldest sister, confirming Mr Troutbeck holding:

“The Duchesse of Norff; Right dere well belovet, we grete you well, and for alsmycull (forasmuch) as we have given under our greate seale of our armes, unto our servant Norman Baynton, and Margaret his wife, and unto the heirs of Norman, the third part of the manors of Staune Dunham ... with the app’tenuz (appurtenances), of which, William Troutbeck hold of us the thrid part t’me (for the term) of his life yealding to us yerely a certayne rent, as the said William Troutbeck and declare you more pleyneley, we pray you with all oure hart, that ye make fine to be reud before you of thri part of the s’d manoirs, and also of the thrid part of the ferme (farm ie lease) of which the s’d Troutbeck yealds to us and to our sisters, unto the said Norman and Margaret and to the heirs of Norman, and with warrantie written under our great seale at Annesley XX May”.

Over a period of time all of the coheirs sold their moities to William Troutbeck who by 1444 became vested with the whole of the Manor. William's son, Sir William, claimed many rights in a writ of quo warranto in 1466: that part of the Forest of Delamere which lay within the Paramountcy with free warren of rabbits and power to fell and sell the trees, together with free pannage, the right to paster his and his tenants' pigs. Effectively, he became the sole forester for that part of Delamere that lay within his Manorial jurisdiction. The area contained in this “liberty” is specified in the charter: extending “from Stamford Bridge along the King's highway to Northwich, and from Northwich to Darleigh Brook, following the course of Darleigh Brook to the bounds between Rushden and Otton to Yanelegh Mill, and following thence the bounds between Ayton and Alpram to the town of Torpley, and from thence the bounds of the forest to Stamford Bridge”.

Sir William had within this bailiwick criminal jurisdiction and the right to take two bucks in summer and two does in winter with the right to keep greyhounds and hunting dogs for hares, rabbits, and foxes. He had the view of frankpledge in the Manor at Easter and Michaelmas, and a Court Baron every three weeks. He also asserted the right of free fishery in the River Dee, and the office of keeper of Bridge Gate at Chester. The Troutbecks held the Manor for several more generations until it passed to the Earls of Shrewsbury by the marriage of Margaret Troutbeck to Sir John Talbot of Grafton.

Rights, customs and incidents

“The Duchesse of Norff; Right dere well belovet, we grete you well, and for alsmycull (forasmuch) as we have given under our greate seale of our armes, unto our servant Norman Baynton, and Margaret his wife, and unto the heirs of Norman, the third part of the manors of Staune Dunham ... with the app’tenuz (appurtenances), of which, William Troutbeck hold of us the thrid part t’me (for the term) of his life yealding to us yerely a certayne rent, as the said William Troutbeck and declare you more pleyneley, we pray you with all oure hart, that ye make fine to be reud before you of thri part of the s’d manoirs, and also of the thrid part of the ferme (farm ie lease) of which the s’d Troutbeck yealds to us and to our sisters, unto the said Norman and Margaret and to the heirs of Norman, and with warrantie written under our great seale at Annesley XX May”.
William's son, Sir William, claimed many rights in a writ of quo warranto in 1466: that part of the Forest of Delamere which lay within the Paramountcy with free warren of rabbits and power to fell and sell the trees, together with free pannage, the right to paster his and his tenants' pigs.
Sir William had within this bailiwick criminal jurisdiction and the right to take two bucks in summer and two does in winter with the right to keep greyhounds and hunting dogs for hares, rabbits, and foxes.
He had the view of frankpledge in the Manor at Easter and Michaelmas, and a Court Baron every three weeks.
He also asserted the right of free fishery in the River Dee, and the office of keeper of Bridge Gate at Chester.

Historical holder / succession information

1. Earls of Shrewsbury by the marriage of Margaret Troutbeck to Sir John Talbot of Grafton [source claim requiring identity review]
   passed_to · historical_holder_or_transferee
   Source wording: The Troutbecks held the Manor for several more generations until it passed to the Earls of Shrewsbury by the marriage of Margaret Troutbeck to Sir John Talbot of Grafton.
2. Troutbecks
   held_manor · historical_holder_or_transferee
   Source wording: The Troutbecks held the Manor for several more generations until it passed to the Earls of Shrewsbury by the marriage of Margaret Troutbeck to Sir John Talbot of Grafton.