Gervase Paynel

Gervase Paganell inherited the feudal barony of Dudley (which included Dudley Castle) around the year 1150. However, his castle was slighted by order of King Henry II after a rebellion in 1173-1174. Gervase founded the Cluniac Priory of St James in Dudley and probably founded the Church of St Thomas in Dudley. He died in 1194.

The Paganells of Dudley Castle

The first of the family of Paganell to hold Dudley Castle and the barony of Dudley was Fulke Paganell around the year 1100. Dudley Castle was originally a wooden Norman castle, built by Ansculf de Picquigny, a follower of William the Conqueror. At the time of the Domesday survey in 1086, the castle was in the possession of his son William fitz Ansculf together with manors in the Home counties and the English Midlands, which were rewards for services to the Conqueror. Dudley Castle was the caput of the feudal barony.

The Paganell family had origins in Normandy, where Fulke's father William was Lord of Moutiers Hubert. It is not clear how Fulke came into possession of the barony of Dudley. One suggestion is that he married Beatrice ferch William, a daughter of William FitzAnsculf, In the struggle for power between King Stephen and Matilda, a period of history known as The Anarchy, Ralph took the side of Matilda, which led to the castle being besieged by Stephen in 1138. Since the castle survived the siege, it is assumed that it had been rebuilt in stone by that time. Ralph was made Governor of the Castle of Nottingham in 1140. Ralph's successor to the barony was his son, Gervase.

Gervase Paganell

Although the exact date of Gervase becoming Lord of Dudley is not known, he had inherited by 1150. It is not clear how much of the original stone castle was demolished, but it is usually assumed that the site remained an unfortified manor house until the second half of the 13th century.

Gervase founded a Cluniac priory in Dudley dedicated to St James, fulfilling a wish of his father, Ralph. It is also thought that he founded the Church of St Thomas in Dudley. The church was originally dedicated to Thomas Becket, who was killed in 1170 and canonized in 1173.

Gervase attended the coronation of King Richard I in 1189.

When he died in 1194, his heir was his sister Hawise, who had married John de Somery. Their son, Ralph de Somery became the next baron.