SKELTON - IN - CLEVELAND
IN HISTORY
1272 ~ 1291
De Brus Family - From the Conquest to 1272
Showing the male line at Skelton Castle and the Annandale line to the Royal family
1272 - Henry III died and Edward I, the hammer of the Scots, came to the throne of England.

In the same year Peter de Brus III of Skelton Castle also died.
For nearly two hundred years six generations of the De Brus family of Skelton Castle had had male heirs and their possessions had grown through marriage. Peter de Brus III's elder sister had pre-deceased him and both were childless. The de Brus estates were therefore broken up and divided between his four remaining sisters. The will reads:-
To the daughter, Agnes and her husband Walter de Fauconberg:-
The castle of Skelton with the Park around the castle. The profits of the boats at Coatham and Redcar.
Rights and royalties appertaining to the village of Skelton.
The manor of Marske, Redcar, Upleatham, Stanghow and Gerrick.
The forest of Skelton with Haia and great park. Aysdale and the Chase of Westwith.
Part of the will of Peter de Brus the Third
 Areas of forest towards Danby and Commondale and hunting rights. A quarter part of the 'wreck of the sea' between Yarm and Runswick.

Walter de Fauconberg became Lord Fauconberg of Skelton and 'ballive de Langberewe', sheriff of Langbaurgh.

To Lucia, who was married to Marmaduke de Thweng:-
Danby, Lealholm, Yarm, Brotton, Skinningrove, Brotton and forest to the south of Skelton.

To Margaret, who was married to Robert de Ros:-
The barony of Kendal.

To Ladereyne who was married to John de Bella Aqua:-
Carlton, Thorpe Arches and other Yorkshire manors.

The peasant had to use the Lords corn mill
[From Luttrell Psalter written about this time]
There is a record of a fish pond east of Skelton castle, which still exists, and a corn mill.

A lords court in Skelton is first mentioned in this year.

1275 - Walter de Fauconberg, the new lord of Skelton Castle was accused of abusing the right to sea wrecks.
The Prior of Guisborough was granted exemption from tolls at Skelton market.

1280 - Right of 'free warren' was granted by the Crown to Walter de Fauconberg.
"25th May, 8th Edward I. 1280 No 54.

For Walter de Fauconberg. The King to Archbishops,greeting. Know ye that we have granted, and by this our charter confirmed to our beloved and faithful Walter de Faucunberge, that he and his heirs for ever have free warren in all his demesne lands of Skelton, Stanghow and Mersk, Uplithum, Redker, Grenrig and Estbrune in the County of York. Provided that those lands be not within the bounds of our forest, so that no one enter those lands to hunt in them, or to take anything, which may belong to the warren, without the licence and will of him the said Walter, or his heirs, upon forfeiture to us of £10; wherefore he will...."

1285 - Guisborough priory was given a grant of land in 'Market Street' in Skelton.

1289 - A large part of Guisborough Priory was destroyed by fire said to have been started by workmen repairing roof.
1291 - A dispute arose between Skelton Castle and Guisborough Priory over an area of land around what is now Skelton Ellers, called Swarthy Head and then called Swetingheved. This was on the edge of the Skelton hunting park which stretched east to the the castle and south over Airy Hill to Margrove Park. Walter de Fauconberg agreed to maintain the hedges and ditches to prevent the deer straying onto the prior's meadows and arable land and to pay tithes on the deer themselves.

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