# William Fitz-Ansculf

William Fitz-Ansculf was a Norman-French landowner who succeeded his father, Ansculf de Picquigny.

## Birth and early life

William's date of birth is not known, though the place was likely in Picquigny, Picardy, now in the Somme department, France, in the mid 11th Century. William inherited many lands in central England that had been granted to his father, Ansculf de Picquigny by William the Conqueror after the Norman conquest in 1066. William made his base at the castle built by his father in Dudley, Worcestershire. He and his successors were overlords of the manors of Selly Oak and Birmingham both of which had previously been owned by Wulfwin. His ownership of Selly Oak was challenged by the Bishop of Lichfield using a nuncupative (oral) will made by Wulfwin as evidence. It would appear that William Fitz-Ansculf died during the First Crusade. Henry of Huntingdon in his ‘History of the English People’ writes that: “Then from the middle of February they besieged the castle of ‘Arqah, for almost three months. Easter was celebrated there (10 April). But Anselm of Ribemont, a very brave knight, died there, struck by a stone, and William of Picardy, and many others.”.

## Lands held

The Domesday Book of 1086 shows William holding from the Crown around one-hundred estates in twelve counties. Many of these were estates formerly held by King Harold Godwinsson, Lady Godiva, Earl Algar and Ulwin, a thegn based in the Midlands. William was either Lord, or tenant-in-chief.
List of land held by William Fitz Ansculf in 1086:
| Domesday place name | Modern place name | Owner in 1066 |
| Abinceborne | Abinger, Surrey | King Edward and a huscarl |
| Belintones | Bellington, Worcestershire | Alric and Holland |
| Berchelai | Bartley Green, Birmingham | Wulfwin |
| Bradefelt | Bradfield, Reading | King Edward and Horling |
| Bradewelle | Bradwell, Milton Keynes | Alric son of Goding, Godwin and Sibbi |
| Bremingeham | Birmingham | Wulfwin |
| Caldecote | Caldecote, Buckinghamshire | Four thegns |
| Catspelle | Chasepool, Staffordshire | |
| Clive | Clyffe Pypard, Wiltshire | Aelfric, Burghelm, and Godiva |
| Contone | Compton Beauchamp, Berkshire | King Edward and Almer |
| Dudelei | Dudley | Earl Edwin |
| Elesberie | Ellesborough, Buckinghamshire | King Edward and Leofnoth, son of Osmund |
| Escelie | Selly Oak, Birmingham | Wulfwin |
| Franchelie | Frankley, Worcestershire | Wulfwin |
| Hadena | Great Hampden and Little Hampden, Buckinghamshire | Archbishop Stigand and Baldwin, son of Herlewin |
| Honesworde | Handsworth, Birmingham | Alfrith and Alwin |
| Hingepene | Inkpen, Berkshire | King Edward |
| Michelham | Mitcham, Surrey | King Edward, Brictric and two men |
| Mildetone | Milton, Surrey | King Edward and Wulfric |
| Moleslei | Moseley, Wolverhampton | Countess Godiva |
| Morve | Morfe and Little Morfe, Staffordshire | Three free men |
| Nevport | Newport Pagnell, Buckinghamshire | King Edward and Ulf Fenman |
| Nordfeld | Northfield, Birmingham | Alwold son of Erngeat |
| Padendene | Paddington, Surrey | King Edward and a huscarl |
| Pendeford | Pendeford, Wolverhampton | Ulstan and Godwin |
| Segleslei | Sedgley, Dudley | Earl Algar |
| Stoche | Bradenstoke, Wiltshire | Strami |
| Stoches | Stoke Poges, Buckinghamshire | Earl Harold, Tubbi and Sired |
| Telingham | Tyringham, Buckinghamshire | Aelfeva, wife of Harold; Estan of Farningham, Godric, Godwin the priest, Harold of Tyringham |
| Ticheforde | Tickford, Buckinghamshire | Ulf Fenman |
| Tornelle | Thornhill, Wiltshire | Aelfric, Burghelm and Godiva |
| Wandesorde | Wandsworth, London | King Edward and six free men |
| Wamburne | Wombourne, Staffordshire | Thorsten |
| Wavre | Churchover, Warwickshire | Vagn of Wootton |
| Willingeuuie | Willingwick, Bromsgrove | Earl Edwin, Alwin, Alwold son of Erngeat, Brictred, Earl Edwin's thane, Erngeat son of Grim, Frani son of Erngeat |
| Wlsiestone | Little Woolstone, Milton Keynes | King Edward and Edward the noble |