Le Sire d'Aubigny

This family derived its name from Aubigny, near Periers, in the Cotentin. The pedigree commences with Grimoult du Plessis, the traitor of Valognes and Val-Des-Dunes, who died in a dungeon in 1047. William d'Aubigny, first of the name, married the sister of Grimoult and had issue Roger, who married Amicia, sister of Geoffry, bishop of Coutances, and of Roger de Montbray (i.e. Mowbray). The latter had issue, William d'Aubigny II, pincerna to Henry I, who married Maud Bigot, daughter of Roger Bigot, and died 1139; 2, Richard, abbot of St-Albans; 3, Nigel, whose son took the name of Mowbray on inheriting the estates of that family; 4, Humphrey, and finally, Ralph. William d'Aubigny II had issue William III, who married Adeliza, widow of king Henry I of England, in whose right he became the first earl of Arundel of this family, which died out in the male line with Hugh d'Aubigny, the fourth earl, in 1243, when the earldom passed to his sister, Isabel Fitz Alan.

Castle Rising Castle - Photo © Andy Peacock, Oct 2005

Nigel d'Aubigny, the third son of Roger, became one of the greatest landowners in England and is the only member of the family recorded in Domesday, having received grants of several lordships in Buckingham, Leicester, Bedford and Warwick, as he succeeded to the estates of his father and grandfather. He is reputed to have possessed 120 manors in Normandy and as many in England, including the great domain of the earl of Mowbray, which came to him through his wife, confiscated from his cousin, Robert de Mowbray, earl of Northumberland, given by Henry I, on the condition that their eldest son would take the name of Mowbray. He lived to a very great age, and died in 1138. Roger made a donation to the abbey of Lessay in 1084 and died about this time, for he is not entered in Domesday. --(This name appears on the Falaise Roll)

Castle Rising Castle is a ruined castle situated in the village of Castle Rising in the English county of Norfolk . It was built in about 1150 by William d'Aubigny, 1st Earl of Arundel , who also owned Arundel Castle. Much of its square keep, surrounded by a defensive mount, is intact, and it is now in the care of English Heritage. During the Anarchy the castle was the site of a mint producing pennies for King Stephen . Between 1330 and 1358 , it was the residence of the disgraced former queen, Isabella of France , who may have died here. The castle is in remarkably good condition despite being over 850 years old. One of the most striking features is the earthwork surrounding the moat. The built up soil is now covered in grass for aesthetic reasons, but the grass features many delicate wild flowers and butterflies in spring or summer. There is a gravel path at the top of the built-up area, which enables the visitor to walk right round the building, getting not only a good view of the castle, but also of the town of Castle Rising and its neighbours.