William Fitz-Ansculf

William Fitz-Ansculf was a Norman-French landowner who succeeded his father, Ansculf de Picquigny.

Birth and early life

William's date of birth is not known, though the place was likely in Picquigny, Picardy, now in the Somme department, France, in the mid 11th Century. William inherited many lands in central England that had been granted to his father, Ansculf de Picquigny by William the Conqueror after the Norman conquest in 1066. William made his base at the castle built by his father in Dudley, Worcestershire. He and his successors were overlords of the manors of Selly Oak and Birmingham both of which had previously been owned by Wulfwin. His ownership of Selly Oak was challenged by the Bishop of Lichfield using a nuncupative (oral) will made by Wulfwin as evidence. It would appear that William Fitz-Ansculf died during the First Crusade. Henry of Huntingdon in his ‘History of the English People’ writes that: “Then from the middle of February they besieged the castle of ‘Arqah, for almost three months. Easter was celebrated there (10 April). But Anselm of Ribemont, a very brave knight, died there, struck by a stone, and William of Picardy, and many others.”.

Lands held The Domesday Book of 1086 shows William holding from the Crown around one-hundred estates in twelve counties. Many of these were estates formerly held by King Harold Godwinsson, Lady Godiva, Earl Algar and Ulwin, a thegn based in the Midlands. William was either Lord, or tenant-in-chief.

Also domesday folio 250:staffordshire describes Walbert holding of William of Bradley [Bradley and Lower Bradley in Bilston] in Offlow hundred

List of land held by William Fitz Ansculf in 1086: Domesday place name Modern place name Owner in 1066 Abinceborne Abinger, Surrey King Edward and a huscarl Belintones Bellington, Worcestershire Alric and Holland Berchelai Bartley Green, Birmingham Wulfwin Bradefelt Bradfield, Reading King Edward and Horling Bradewelle Bradwell, Milton Keynes Alric son of Goding, Godwin and Sibbi Bremingeham Birmingham Wulfwin Caldecote Caldecote, Buckinghamshire Four thegns Catspelle Chasepool, Staffordshire Clive Clyffe Pypard, Wiltshire Aelfric, Burghelm, and Godiva Contone Compton Beauchamp, Berkshire King Edward and Almer Dudelei Dudley Earl Edwin Elesberie Ellesborough, Buckinghamshire King Edward and Leofnoth, son of Osmund Escelie Selly Oak, Birmingham Wulfwin Franchelie Frankley, Worcestershire Wulfwin Hadena Great Hampden and Little Hampden, Buckinghamshire Archbishop Stigand and Baldwin, son of Herlewin Honesworde Handsworth, Birmingham Alfrith and Alwin Hingepene Inkpen, Berkshire King Edward Michelham Mitcham, Surrey King Edward, Brictric and two men Mildetone Milton, Surrey King Edward and Wulfric Moleslei Moseley, Wolverhampton Countess Godiva Morve Morfe and Little Morfe, Staffordshire Three free men Nevport Newport Pagnell, Buckinghamshire King Edward and Ulf Fenman Nordfeld Northfield, Birmingham Alwold son of Erngeat Padendene Paddington, Surrey King Edward and a huscarl Pendeford Pendeford, Wolverhampton Ulstan and Godwin Segleslei Sedgley, Dudley Earl Algar Stoche Bradenstoke, Wiltshire Strami Stoches Stoke Poges, Buckinghamshire Earl Harold, Tubbi and Sired Telingham Tyringham, Buckinghamshire Aelfeva, wife of Harold; Estan of Farningham, Godric, Godwin the priest, Harold of Tyringham Ticheforde Tickford, Buckinghamshire Ulf Fenman Tornelle Thornhill, Wiltshire Aelfric, Burghelm and Godiva Wandesorde Wandsworth, London King Edward and six free men Wamburne Wombourne, Staffordshire Thorsten Wavre Churchover, Warwickshire Vagn of Wootton Willingeuuie Willingwick, Bromsgrove Earl Edwin, Alwin, Alwold son of Erngeat, Brictred, Earl Edwin's thane, Erngeat son of Grim, Frani son of Erngeat Wlsiestone Little Woolstone, Milton Keynes King Edward and Edward the noble