Hugue de Bolbec

From Bolbec, arrondissement of Havre. He held a barony in Buckingham, etc., in 1086 (Domesday) under Walter Gifford, lord of Bolbec and Longueville, whom he accompanied to England at the conquest, and whose brother he is said to have been. They joined in 1061 in the donation of the church of Bolbec to the abbey of Bernay. He had two sons, Hugh and Walter, and the family also possessed a barony in Northumberland. The printed text of Wace gives "Li Viel Luce de Bolbec" (1. 13665), but the manuscript of Duchesne reads, "le filz Hue de Bolbec," while the British museum manuscript reads "vielz Hue," which may be presumed to be correct. Le Prevost, Taylor, Delisle and Stow all take this view.--(This name appears on the Falaise Roll)

The Square, Blanchland. Blanchland takes its name from its former Premonstratensian abbey the white friars. The square has a fortified character for defence from Border rievers!     Photo © Colin Smith, 5 March, 2006

After the conquest the six townships of Heddon parish, Heddon on the Wall, East Heddon, West Heddon, Houghton, Whitchester and Eachwick were bestowed upon Hugh de Bolbec. The Bolbec family founded a monastry at Blanchland in 1165.