A HISTORY OF LANCASHIRE 



An amphora of Samian ware was found here in 

 1712.' 



Two thegns held six oxgangs of land 

 MANORS for two manors in Holland, and Teos 

 held Barton as one plough-land, at the 

 death of Edward the Confessor, the values being 21. 

 and 32</. All were in the privileged three-hide 

 district. 8 After the Conquest, HOLLAND and half of 

 Barton were granted in thegnage together with Ain- 

 tree and Ribbleton, while the other half of Barton 

 was annexed to the Warrington fee, together with 

 Halsall and Lydiate. 



In 1212 it was found that Henry de Holland held 

 the thegnage portion three plough-lands and two 

 oxgangs in all by an annual service of z6/., an 

 average of u. an oxgang. He had granted out Rib- 

 bleton, most of Aintree, and his half of Barton to 

 undertenants, but retained all or most of Down- 

 holland, and from it the family took their surname. 3 

 Henry was the son of Alan de Holland, who had held 

 these manors in the time of Henry II.* He had a 

 brother Adam, and probably a sister or daughter who 

 married Robert son of Wronou. 4 



Roger son of Henry de Holland gave Haskayne to 

 the Hospitallers. 6 On the other hand his cousin 

 William son of Adam de Holland resigned to ' his 

 lord ' Roger, all claim he might have to lands in Old 

 Holland and Barton Wood, and 20 acres in Mur- 

 scough/ Roger was followed by his son Henry, who 

 gave to Robert son of Roger de Eggergarth land in 

 Downholland by Oldfield. 8 



In 12V7 the heirs of Roger were found to be 

 holding Downholland and its appurtenances by the 

 service of 1 8/. 9 Roger de Downholland was in 1324 

 lord of the place. 10 At Michaelmas 1323 the abbot 

 of Merivale as lord of Altcar and Richard de Down- 

 holland had a dispute as to a messuage, mill, land, and 

 wood in Downholland." Richard de Holland is 

 named in the subsidy rolls of 1327 and 1332, and he 

 is called 'lord of Downholland' in 1337, retaining 



possession in 1 346 and 1 348." The assessment is 

 now stated at 2 .V plough-lands (for two and a quarter) 

 in Downholland, Aintree, and half Barton, and the 

 service as the fourth part of a knight's fee, with the 

 ancient l8.r. rent. By a charter made in June, 1341, 

 Richard de Holland granted to Alan his son and 

 Alan's wife, Katherine daughter of Robert de 

 Cowdray, various lands. 13 The fruit of the marriage 

 was a daughter, and Alan dying a short time after- 

 wards, the father in 1 345 granted Downholland to 

 his eldest surviving son, Roger, with remainders to 

 Henry and Charles." 



Roger succeeded his father about I349- 15 In 

 1356 he acquired from Emma, daughter of Henry 

 son of Alan de Holland, and wife of Simon son of 

 Robert de Wolvesegh of Litherland in Sefton, the 

 oxgang in Holland formerly held by Alan's son 

 Robert. Next year Roger Ford of Litherland quit- 

 claimed to him all right in land he had held in Down- 

 holland, and in this he was joined by his wife Alice, 

 daughter of William son of Thomas de Downlither- 

 land. 16 



His son Thomas, contracted in 1363 to marry 

 Joan daughter of Richard de Scarisbrick, 17 did not 

 possess the manor more than a few years, dying on 

 20 May, 1387, when his son William was only ten 

 years of age. He was found to have held two-thirds 

 of Downholland his father's widow no doubt having 

 the other third by knight's service. The manor of 

 Aintree was dependent on it, and held by the 

 daughter of Thomas de Nevill ; and the whole paid 

 annually to the duke 1 8;. The wardship and mar- 

 riage of William de Holland were granted to Richard 

 de Crooke of Whittle. 18 William did not prove his 

 age until the spring of 1403, when his lands were 

 restored to him. 19 



William had a son Roger, to whom he made 

 grant of land in 14.23-4, and who in time succeeded 

 to the manor. 81 To William Holland and Isabel his 

 wife,' 8 Thurstan Holland in 1430-1 transferred all 



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