William de Londres

William de Londres
Known forone of the twelve knights of Glamorgan
Born1070 (1070)
Died1126 (aged 55–56) or 1131 (aged 60–61)
ResidenceOgmore Castle
Heir
Maurice de Londres
Occupationknight

William de Londres (c. 1070–1126 or 1131) was an Anglo-Norman knight, castellan of Ogmore (Welsh: Aberogwr), under the reign of William II. He was one of the twelve knights of Glamorgan who helped Robert FitzHamon conquer the Welsh Kingdom of Morgannwg at the end of the 11th century during the Norman conquest of Wales.

Lifetime

The ruins of Ogmore Castle founded by William de Londres

William de Londres was a Norman lord,[1] and a knight. In 1091, he assisted Robert FitzHamon in the conquest of the Kingdom of Morgannwg,[2] who gave him the lordship of Ogmore.[3][4] De Londres built Ogmore Castle in c. 1100;[5] it was constructed by 1116 and probably before FitzHamon's death in 1107.[6] De Londres also founded Kidwelly Castle.[2]

After 1106, he supported Henry de Beaumont in the conquest of Gower, where he built Oystermouth Castle,[7][8] after being assigned the fief of Oystermouth.[9]

By 1114, de Londres was serving at Kidwelly.[6]

During Gruffydd ap Rhys's rebellion in 1116, William de Londres was forced to abandon Ogmore Castle, fleeing with his cattle and belongings. The Welsh ravaged the Gower,[6] and had burned Kidwelly Castle,[2] but Ogmore Castle survived. William de Londres' butler, Arnold, is credited with protecting it. In 1128, he was knighted Sir Arnold Butler and given the castle and Dunraven Manor.[10]

William de Londres founded a church in Ewenny near Bridgend, which was built between 1116 and 1126.[3][11] The church became Ewenny Priory under his son, Maurice de Londres.[12]

William de Londres may have died in 1126, as his son had taken over his duties as lord and castellan of Kidwelly by then,[6] but he may have survived until 1131.[3]

References

  1. ↑ "Oystermouth Castle's History". Oystermouth Castle. Retrieved 20 August 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 Clark, George Thomas. "History". Mediæval Military Architecture in England, Vol. II. p. 62.
  3. 1 2 3 Royal Commission on Ancient and Historical Monuments in Wales (1976). "LM5 Ewenny Priory". An Inventory of the Ancient Monuments in Glamorgan: Volume III - Part 1b, Medieval Secular Monuments; the Later Castles from 1217 to the present. p. 125.
  4. ↑ "Ogmore Castle: A Norman Stronghold in Wales". Ancient History Sites. 6 September 2025. Retrieved 25 June 2026.
  5. ↑ "Ogmore - Historic Landscape Character Area". Heneb. Retrieved 20 August 2026.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Royal Commission on Ancient and Historical Monuments in Wales (1976). An Inventory of the Ancient Monuments in Glamorgan: Volume III - Part 1a, Medieval Secular Monuments; the Later Castles from 1217 to the present. p. 274-276.
  7. ↑ Davies, John Reuben (30 October 2003). The Book of Llandaf and the Norman Church in Wales. Boydell Press. p. 24. ISBN 9781843830245.
  8. ↑ "The Glamorgan-Gwen Archaeological Trust: Oystermouth Castle Community Excavation". Retrieved 16 April 2014.
  9. ↑ Royal Commission on Ancient and Historical Monuments in Wales (1976). "LM12 Oystermouth Castle". An Inventory of the Ancient Monuments in Glamorgan: Volume III - Part 1b, Medieval Secular Monuments; the Later Castles from 1217 to the present. p. 245-246.
  10. ↑ Roberts, Edward; Pertwee, H. A. (1898). "Heraldic Carvings". St. Illtyd's Church, Pembrey: Its History and Its Architecture, with Illustrations. C. E. Willing. p. 28.
  11. ↑ Davies, John, ed. (2008). The Welsh academy encyclopaedia of Wales. Cardiff: University of Wales press. p. 274. ISBN 978-0-7083-1953-6.
  12. ↑ "Ewenny - St Michael". St Illtud's Church. Retrieved 20 August 2026.


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