By the Eev. G. S. Master. 



253 



Grimstead is one of considerable interest, if it be only for the curious 

 circumstance of the re-union, after a separation of three centuries 

 and a half, of the representatives of the co-heiresses between whom 

 at an early period they were divided. Both of them, as we have 

 seen, were the property of Waleran, the favored English huntsman 

 of the Conqueror, and the ranger of his New Forest. 1 This fortunate 

 man was possessed of large estates and numerous manors in Dorset, 

 Hants, and Wilts, which, together with his rangership, he trans- 

 mitted to his descendants. William Waleran, presumed to have 

 been his son, had a son named Waleran Fitz-William, who rendered 

 account to the Crown in 1130-1 of the taxation of the New Forest 

 and other matters. 2 His son, Walter Waleran, had a son of the 

 same name, who, makiDg a return of his knight's fees in 1165, 

 showed that he was entitled to the service of twenty knights, who 

 are mentioned by name, and amongst whom I notice William de 

 Livierez, 3 or Loveraz (from loitp, fern, louve, a wolf), no doubt from 

 a place still known as " The Liveries," in the parish of West Dean. 

 By his wife, Isabel, grand-daughter of William Longspee, Earl of 

 Salisbury, 4 this second Walter had three daughters and coheirs, who 

 shared his manors of West Dean and East Grimstead among them. 

 He died in 1200, 5 his widow obtaining licence to re-marry two years 

 afterwards. The rangership of the New Forest probably devolved 

 upon heirs male, and became vested in a collateral branch of the 

 family, for in 1267-8 Robert de Walerond 6 gave in fee farm to Alan 

 de Plugenet, his nephew, son of Alice, his sister, several manors in 

 Dorset, Somerset, and Wilts, and the " Forestership of the New 

 Forest." 



1 See vol. x. of this journal, p. 168. 

 2 " Pipe Boll," 31 Henry I. 

 3 A family of this name was also seated at Cowesfield-Loveraz, in the adjoining 

 parish of Whiteparish. 



4 Jones's "Wilts Domesday," p, 104, note. 

 5 His obit was kept on January 5th. He gave land at Est Deona to the 

 Cathedral Church of Salisbury (alienated, in 1880, to Mr. Levi Jerrett, by the 

 Ecclesiastical Commissioners) . 



6 Arms of Walerond, " Argent a bend engrailed gules." 



