Striguil
Encyclopedia
Striguil or Strigoil is the name which was used from the 11th century until the late 14th century, for the port and Norman
castle
of Chepstow
, on the Welsh
side of the River Wye
which forms the boundary with England. The name was also applied to the Marcher lordship which controlled the area in the period between the Norman conquest and the formation of Monmouthshire
under the Laws in Wales Acts 1535–1542.
—probably derives from the Welsh
word ystraigyl meaning 'a bend in the river'. In the medieval period the town which grew up between the port, the castle
, and the priory church
became known as Chepstow, from the old English or Saxon ceap / chepe stowe meaning market place. The castle and lordship retained the name Striguil until about the 14th century, when they adopted the English name of the town. The lordship was also known, in some medieval documents, as Netherwent, that is the lower (southern) part of the former Welsh Kingdom of Gwent.
The Marcher lordship of Striguil was established by William fitz Osbern
, who started the building of the castle at Chepstow. On his death in 1071 the lordship passed to his son, Roger de Breteuil, but he plotted against King William
, was captured and imprisoned, and had his estates forfeited. The lordship then reverted to the English crown until about 1115, when it was granted to Walter fitz Richard de Clare, the son of Richard fitz Gilbert
. It remained with the de Clare family, including Richard de Clare
known as "Strongbow", before passing to William Marshal on his marriage to Richard's daughter Isabel in 1189. It then passed in turn to Marshal's sons, the last of whom, Anselm, died without issue in 1245. The Lordship of Striguil was then divided into several parts, with Chepstow and Netherwent being allotted to Marshal's grandson, Roger Bigod, 5th Earl of Norfolk
, and the castles at Trellech and Usk, and their surrounding areas, forming new lordships under other members of the family. The area of the lordship extended east of the River Wye
to take in the manors of Tidenham
, Woolaston
, Beachley
and Lancaut
, which became part of Gloucestershire
in 1535 under the Laws in Wales Act.
's Britannia, some early maps, such as those by Morden
, wrongly used the name Striguil, or similar names such as Strogli, to refer to the small castle known as Cas Troggy in the parish of Newchurch
. This was built by Roger Bigod, Earl of Norfolk
around 1303 but was abandoned a few years later. It is located on the northern slopes of Wentwood
some 12 km west of Chepstow at Pen y cae-mawr, beside the old road between Chepstow and Usk
.
Normans
The Normans were the people who gave their name to Normandy, a region in northern France. They were descended from Norse Viking conquerors of the territory and the native population of Frankish and Gallo-Roman stock...
castle
Chepstow Castle
Chepstow Castle , located in Chepstow, Monmouthshire in Wales, on top of cliffs overlooking the River Wye, is the oldest surviving post-Roman stone fortification in Britain...
of Chepstow
Chepstow
Chepstow is a town in Monmouthshire, Wales, adjoining the border with Gloucestershire, England. It is located on the River Wye, close to its confluence with the River Severn, and close to the western end of the Severn Bridge on the M48 motorway...
, on the Welsh
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
side of the River Wye
River Wye
The River Wye is the fifth-longest river in the UK and for parts of its length forms part of the border between England and Wales. It is important for nature conservation and recreation.-Description:...
which forms the boundary with England. The name was also applied to the Marcher lordship which controlled the area in the period between the Norman conquest and the formation of Monmouthshire
Monmouthshire (historic)
Monmouthshire , also known as the County of Monmouth , is one of thirteen ancient counties of Wales and a former administrative county....
under the Laws in Wales Acts 1535–1542.
Origins of the name
The name—which was spelled in various alternative forms, including Estrighoiel and Strigoiel in the Domesday BookDomesday Book
Domesday Book , now held at The National Archives, Kew, Richmond upon Thames in South West London, is the record of the great survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086...
—probably derives from the Welsh
Welsh language
Welsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages spoken natively in Wales, by some along the Welsh border in England, and in Y Wladfa...
word ystraigyl meaning 'a bend in the river'. In the medieval period the town which grew up between the port, the castle
Castle
A castle is a type of fortified structure built in Europe and the Middle East during the Middle Ages by European nobility. Scholars debate the scope of the word castle, but usually consider it to be the private fortified residence of a lord or noble...
, and the priory church
St. Mary's Church, Chepstow
The Priory and Parish Church of St. Mary is located in Chepstow, Monmouthshire, south east Wales. Parts of the building, including its ornate west doorway, date from the late 11th century and are contemporary with the nearby Norman castle....
became known as Chepstow, from the old English or Saxon ceap / chepe stowe meaning market place. The castle and lordship retained the name Striguil until about the 14th century, when they adopted the English name of the town. The lordship was also known, in some medieval documents, as Netherwent, that is the lower (southern) part of the former Welsh Kingdom of Gwent.
The Lordship of Striguil
-
- See also ChepstowChepstowChepstow is a town in Monmouthshire, Wales, adjoining the border with Gloucestershire, England. It is located on the River Wye, close to its confluence with the River Severn, and close to the western end of the Severn Bridge on the M48 motorway...
and Chepstow CastleChepstow CastleChepstow Castle , located in Chepstow, Monmouthshire in Wales, on top of cliffs overlooking the River Wye, is the oldest surviving post-Roman stone fortification in Britain...
- See also Chepstow
The Marcher lordship of Striguil was established by William fitz Osbern
William Fitz Osbern
William Fitz Osbern may refer to:* William Fitzosbern, 1st Earl of Hereford , Norman magnate and friend of William the Conqueror* William Fitz Osbern , leader of popular revolt in London 1196...
, who started the building of the castle at Chepstow. On his death in 1071 the lordship passed to his son, Roger de Breteuil, but he plotted against King William
William I of England
William I , also known as William the Conqueror , was the first Norman King of England from Christmas 1066 until his death. He was also Duke of Normandy from 3 July 1035 until his death, under the name William II...
, was captured and imprisoned, and had his estates forfeited. The lordship then reverted to the English crown until about 1115, when it was granted to Walter fitz Richard de Clare, the son of Richard fitz Gilbert
Richard Fitz Gilbert
Richard fitz Gilbert , was a Norman lord who participated in the Norman conquest of England in 1066. He was also known as "de Bienfaite", "de Clare", and "de Tonbridge".-Biography:...
. It remained with the de Clare family, including Richard de Clare
Richard de Clare, 2nd Earl of Pembroke
Richard de Clare, 2nd Earl of Pembroke , Lord of Leinster, Justiciar of Ireland . Like his father, he was also commonly known as Strongbow...
known as "Strongbow", before passing to William Marshal on his marriage to Richard's daughter Isabel in 1189. It then passed in turn to Marshal's sons, the last of whom, Anselm, died without issue in 1245. The Lordship of Striguil was then divided into several parts, with Chepstow and Netherwent being allotted to Marshal's grandson, Roger Bigod, 5th Earl of Norfolk
Roger Bigod, 5th Earl of Norfolk
Roger Bigod was 5th Earl of Norfolk.He was the son of Hugh Bigod , and succeeded his uncle, Roger Bigod, 4th Earl of Norfolk as earl in 1270....
, and the castles at Trellech and Usk, and their surrounding areas, forming new lordships under other members of the family. The area of the lordship extended east of the River Wye
River Wye
The River Wye is the fifth-longest river in the UK and for parts of its length forms part of the border between England and Wales. It is important for nature conservation and recreation.-Description:...
to take in the manors of Tidenham
Tidenham
Tidenham is a village and civil parish in the Forest of Dean of west Gloucestershire, England, adjoining the Welsh border.The parish includes the villages of Tidenham, Beachley, Boughspring, Sedbury, Tutshill and Woodcroft, and according to the United Kingdom Census 2001 had a population of 5,316...
, Woolaston
Woolaston
Woolaston is a village and civil parish in the Forest of Dean district of Gloucestershire in South West England. It lies on the north side of the Severn Estuary approximately 5 miles from the Welsh border at Chepstow and is surrounded by woodland and agricultural land.-The Village and its...
, Beachley
Beachley
Beachley is a village in Gloucestershire, England, near the border with Wales. It is located on a peninsula at the junction between the Rivers Wye and Severn, where the Severn Bridge ends and the smaller secondary bridge for the River Wye begins. The tidal drop here is one of the highest in the UK...
and Lancaut
Lancaut
Lancaut is a deserted village in Gloucestershire, England, located alongside the River Wye, around two miles north of Chepstow. It occupies a narrow-necked promontory formed by a curve of the river, which acts as the border between England and Wales. Little remains of the village today, except...
, which became part of Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire is a county in South West England. The county comprises part of the Cotswold Hills, part of the flat fertile valley of the River Severn, and the entire Forest of Dean....
in 1535 under the Laws in Wales Act.
Cas Troggy
As a result of confusion over references in CamdenWilliam Camden
William Camden was an English antiquarian, historian, topographer, and officer of arms. He wrote the first chorographical survey of the islands of Great Britain and Ireland and the first detailed historical account of the reign of Elizabeth I of England.- Early years :Camden was born in London...
's Britannia, some early maps, such as those by Morden
Robert Morden
Robert Morden was a British bookseller, publisher, and maker of maps and globes.He was among the first successful commercial map makers....
, wrongly used the name Striguil, or similar names such as Strogli, to refer to the small castle known as Cas Troggy in the parish of Newchurch
Newchurch, Monmouthshire
Newchurch is an extensive rural parish and small hamlet in Monmouthshire, south east Wales, United Kingdom. It is located 6 miles south east of Usk and 6 miles north west of Chepstow, between the B4235 and B4293 roads.- History and amenities:...
. This was built by Roger Bigod, Earl of Norfolk
Roger Bigod, 5th Earl of Norfolk
Roger Bigod was 5th Earl of Norfolk.He was the son of Hugh Bigod , and succeeded his uncle, Roger Bigod, 4th Earl of Norfolk as earl in 1270....
around 1303 but was abandoned a few years later. It is located on the northern slopes of Wentwood
Wentwood
Wentwood is a forested area of hills, rising to 309 metres , in Monmouthshire, South Wales. It is located to the north east of, and partly within the boundaries of, the city of Newport.- Geology :...
some 12 km west of Chepstow at Pen y cae-mawr, beside the old road between Chepstow and Usk
Usk
Usk is a small town in Monmouthshire, Wales, situated 10 miles northeast of Newport.The River Usk flows through the town and is spanned by an ancient, arched stone bridge at the western entrance to the town. A castle above the town overlooks the ancient Anglo-Welsh border crossing - the river can...
.