94 
PROCEEDINGS COTTESWOLD CLUB 
1916 
been beside one ancient high road, along whose sides were constructed the 
prehistoric tumuli in which the locality was so rich, and Brimpsfield was 
situated between this and the Ermine Way, which linked Gloucester to 
Cirencester, i.e., within a great angle formed by both of these. The great 
barons at the Castle could exercise control over this road, and no one could 
pass without paying toll if the Giffards were so disposed. To illustrate 
this, Mr Baddeley mentioned that in the reign of Edward II. one of these 
bold barons stopped the royal baggage-train as it was conveying hams and 
other articles of food for the king’s use to Gloucester, and brought the 
booty into his Castle. This was followed by his being captured and taken 
to Gloucester, where he was hanged and quartered, and his remains were 
exhibited on the four gates of Gloucester. 
The first of the Giffards to hold the Castle was Walter, a great baron 
like De Lacy, who owned Painswick and Duntisbourne, and who lived in 
Normandy before coming to fight at Hastings. Walter Giffard (of Longue- 
ville), the first lord, was the father of the man who was there in 1086, 
whose name occurred in Domesday. Osberne Giffard was the son of 
Walter de Longueville, who was rewarded with the Manor of Brimpsfield 
for fighting at Hastings. When Edward the Confessor reigned, the Manor 
belonged to a Saxon named Dunne, who was dispossessed by the Conqueror. 
The little village of Stoke Gifford obtained its name from the same family, 
which owned another property at Oldbury-on-Severn. Probably in the 
reign of Henry I., between 1103 and 1121, the Castle was built by a second 
Walter Giffard. The barons living here occupied a powerful position, and 
might be said to have resembled the Roman barons of a.d. 1300, who 
dominated the Appian Way at Cecilia Metella’s tomb, which they had con- 
verted into a castle. The speaker related the quarrel between the Sheriff 
of Gloucester and Sir John Giffard, ending as it did in the sheriff being 
brought captive to Brimpsfield Castle. Then he led his hearers onward to 
the Barons’ War, when Simon de Montfort was in rebellion against Henry 
III., and Giffard was on the side of the king. Giffard surprised the 
then Lord of the Manor, Sir William de Monchensi, at Painswick, and 
Sir Baldwin Wake, and brought them to Brimpsfield. These were 
stirring times, but violence led to violence, and produced its own ruin. 
In 1280 a complaint was made at the King’s Bench at Westminster by the 
Earl of Salisbury that his son’s widow, Maud de Longespee, had been 
abducted from her manor by Sir John Giffard and taken to Brimpsfield, 
and the Earl pressed for her release. In reply. Sir John said the lady 
was doing very well and was content with her present position. The lady 
was allowed to remain, and she appeared to have been well-treated, although 
she only lived three years after her abduction. He was fined 300 mark^s. 
Then came the trouble with King Edward II. and his favourites the 
Despensers, during which time the Giffard who stole the King’s provisions 
came to grief. A Despenser became Lord of the Manor, but only held his 
position for three years. Reference was made to Margaret de Syde and 
her connection with Brimpsfield, and to John Maltravcrs, of Woodchester, 
(both of them kinsfolk of the Giffards), whose name is also associated with 
the Manor, as with the murder of Edward II. Mr Baddeley said he did not 
think he murdered the king, because he was allowed to come back to 
England by Edward III. and to I'esume possession of his estates, including 
Brimpsfield. 
Proceeding to the Church, the President said it was of quite unique 
interest. 
It was a Parish Church in Norman times, and then became a small 
Priory or sub-Priory connected with the Benedictine Abbey of St. Etienne, 
near Caen. A few monks were attached to it, and it had its 
dormitory, refectory, and kitchen. Probably novices were there and were 
