From Normans to Elizabeth 1
About 1130 King Stephen built a castle at Almondbury (on Castle
Hill) which was surrounded by a triple fortification; this castle
was afterwards (c 1137) granted and confirmed to Henri de Laci.
In 1272 Edward I granted to his successor Henry de Laci, the privilege
of holding a market at Almondbury every Monday.
Mention of the market was made in 1294.
There was also a court held there around this time, but bribery
and corruption were rife leading to very little justice being dispensed.
In the reign of Edward II the deterioration of the West Riding
had reached its demise with pestilence and famine aggravated by
the miseries of feudal oppression and the calamities of war.
In the first year of Edward II a certain foreigner (not named)
was murdered in the castle at Almondbury and then thrown out for
the animals to feast upon his body. This is but one of the many
deeds of darkness which were committed here.
In 1307 the castle was strictly examined by a jury and it is probable
that after this examination the castle was demolished.
In the "ABBREVIATIO ROTULORUM ORIGINALIUM" of this reign
occurs the following entry, relating to Kings Mill at Huddersfield.
"Edward II
Extracte claus 8c
DE MOLENDINIS R de Huddersfield 8c de Leodes repond 8c
Ebor R 24"
This is the sole information contained in the entry and it is thought
that it refers to taxes or rights connected with the Kings Mill.
About this time parts of the rents of the mill on the River Colne
in Huddersfield was given to the Monks of Whalley and about AD 1200,
Roger de Laci presented to William Bellomonte, ancestor of the Beaumonts
of Whitely, 24 bovates of land in Huddersfield, half meadow and
half wood and four marks rent on the mill in the same place.
The same Roger de Laci also granted 24 bovates of land in Huddersfield,
and all his lordship(dominium) there to Colin de Damville.
In the 10th year of Edward II AD 1317, a charter was granted by
the king, at the request of John de Warren, Earl of Warren and Surrey,
to John de Eland (afterwards Sir John) to hold a free market on
Tuesdays on his manor of Elland, and also two fairs there.
Another deed of this century introduces the name of one John de
Gledholt as one of the witnesses.
In the 9th Edward II, (1315) Thomas, Earl of Lancaster was Lord
of Huddersfield; but soon after his execution it must have been
granted out, for, by deed dated Huddersfield, 1333, Sir Richard
de Birton, Knt., gave to his son, John de Birton, all his manor
of Hodresfield.
How long it continued in the Birton family is not known, but by
indenture bearing the date June, 1537, John Byram Esq., sold the
manor of Huddersfield to Sir Gilbert Gerrard.
When the Ramsden family became seized of the manor has not been
documented, though the manor of Almondbury was purchased by Sir
John Ramsden, Knt., in AD 1627.
In the reign of Richard II., free warren of Huddersfield was granted
to the prior and canons of Nostell Priory.
During the civil wars between the houses of York and Lancaster
the whole of the district became the scene of rapine and bloodshed
although little or no mention is made of Huddersfield and its localities
in the records of battles.
In a 1584 survey of Almondbury in the reign of Elizabeth I the
following people are mentioned:-
John Kaye of Woodsome
Wm Beaumont
John Cudworth
Nicholas Fenay
John Hirste
John Appleyard
John Beaumont of Wellhead
Wm. Kaye
John Kay of Thorpe
John North
Humphrey Beaumont
John Beaumont of Netherthwonge
John Armitage of the Armitage
Edward Cowper
John Kay of the Cross
Richard Blackburn younger
Thos. Brook
John Lockwood
John Armitage.
The report also mentions Edgerton, Huddersfield, Honley, Meltham,
South Crosland, Slaithwaite and Quick and Warmcliffe.
SOURCE - HUDDERSFIELD, ITS HISTORY
AND NATURAL HISTORY,
CHAS P. HOBKIRK, 1868
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