140 EPONYMOtiS FAMILIES OP DORSET. 



named Lucy was married to Sir Richard Acton, of Haselbury, 

 but, dying childless and a widow, was able to leave her late 

 husband's estate to her sister Alice, wife of Guy de Bryan, and 

 thus the Bryans step into the possessions held for several 

 generations by the Acton family at Haselbury. 



This Guy de Bryan became a baron by writ of summons in 

 1350, and died in 1390, leaving his granddaughters his co-heirs; 

 and in 1456, on the decease of the last known descendant, this 

 barony is believed to have become extinct. 



The Bryans were already a family of distinction before their 

 connection with Dorset began and before the creation of their 

 barony, which may, indeed, have been given them in tardy 

 recognition of the valuable services of this family for many 

 generations against the Welsh. 



On the estuary of the River Taf there still stand the massive 

 ruins of the castle of Tal Llacharn, now Laugharne, which a 

 Guido de Bryan re-built after its destruction by Llewellyn ap 

 lorwerth in 1215, and in the church is a set of priest's robes 

 given by one of that name, said to be the same person. Many 

 successive Guides de Bryan held this mediaeval " blockhouse," 

 holding back the turbulent Welsh and guarding the river and the 

 port against piratical invaders ; and many were the letters of advice 

 from head-quarters cautioning them not to allow their depen- 

 dants to become too friendly with plausible and designing natives. 



The particular Guy de Bryan to whom Haselbury owes its 

 distinctive name was well worthy of his soldierly ancestry, and 

 became one of the most distinguished among the warriors and 

 diplomatists of his day. He served in three campaigns in France 

 and one in Ireland, and twice went as envoy to the Papal Court. 

 For these eminent services he was made a Knight of the Garter, 

 having already been dubbed a Knight Banneret, and was 

 appointed Admiral of the King's fleet ; in addition to his creation 

 of Baron by writ of summons already mentioned. A strong man 

 in a strenuous age, he commended himself specially to his king 

 by his gallantry at Calais, and in Dorset he is notable as the 

 builder of Woodsford Castle. 



