550 



Notice of Screnwood. By James Haedy. 



ScRENwooD or Scranwood is first mentioned in the Testa de 

 Nevill (pp. 383-4), when it belonged to William de Vescy, the 

 second. As he died in 1252, this is an early document of the 

 reign of Henry III, For a lengthened period it was combined 

 in feudal ownership with Burneton (now Brunton) in Embleton 

 parish, and Preston in EUingham parish. The f eodatary of 

 William de Yescy, Walter Bataill, held Burneton and Preston 

 by one knight's fee of the ancient infeftment of the reign of 

 Henry I. There had probably been a sub-division of the 

 Burneton property, for the estate held under the De Yescies was 

 called Burneton Batayll from its occupants, apparently to dis- 

 tinguish it from another place of the same name. The same 

 Walter Bataill along with Thomas Bunte, was co-occupant of 

 Sc'venwood, under the obligation of rendering feudal service 

 equivalent to the third part of a knight's fee, of the same ancient 

 infeftment (Ibid, p. 384). Contemporaneously, as the same 

 document indicates, Walter Bataill held from Gilbert de Umfram- 

 ville, the moiety of Linesl' (Linnshiels) by the tenth part of the 

 service of one knight (1. c. p. 393). But previous to this there 

 is mention of the Batailes or Bataills. William de Vescy, the 

 first, who died in the year 1184, had under him in 1168, a 

 Walter Bataile, holding from him [the extent of the fee omitted], 

 on the day when King Henry II. was dead and alive (Liber 

 Niger Scaccarii de Northumberland, 1168, Hodgson's Hist. 

 Part III. vol. III. p. 306) ; and he might then be part possessor 

 of Screnwood ; and we have in 1182, a Walter Bataill e, possibly 

 the same, occupying a position of high trust over the Umf raville 

 property. — Ann. 1182, 28 Hen. II. The land of Odinell de 

 Unfranville. Walter Bataille, and William, son of Walter, 

 render account of £29 Ts. 4d. from the proceeds of the land of 

 Odinell de Humfranville in Northumberland for a half year. In 

 the treasury £22 7s. 4d. ; and to Eobert de Umfranvile, heir of 

 Odinell, 100 shillings to maintain him in the service of the king 

 by the king's writ, and in clothing of the children of Odinell 40s. 

 by the same writ ; and is quit (Pipe Rolls, Hodgson, Part in. 

 vol. III. p. 35). Odinell was incompetent to manage, and Walter 

 Bataille appears to have had the lands and family under his 

 guardianship. 



