The history of the Spoffords ownership of this castle was during the Medieval Anglo-Saxon period for over 300 years. The original owners of the Castle were the Barons of Spofford, they were Saxon Thane’s in Anglo- Saxon  England. Orm born 965, married Etheldritha daughter of Earl Aldred, he was Lord of Thorparch on the river Thorpe in Yorkshire, a Northumbrain Thane died 1042. His son Gamel born 990 - a Northumbrain nobleman killed by Earl Tosi in 1064.

 

Gamelbar/Gamelbecra Lord of Spofforth

owning the following lands, Nissfield, Plumpton, Rougharlington, Bramer Bilton, Rossetti, Beck and other manors in the forest district of Knaresborugh, all confiscated in 1068.

William de Spofforth 1040, joined Aldred, Archbishop of York in resisting the Normans.

 

The large-scale destruction of the English aristocracy and Norman reording of society along feudal lines starts. The Doomsday Book is associated with the day of judgement which there is no appeal. The reason was to find out how much England was worth to King William First. England was a wealthy prize in Europe, their wealth was from the wool trade.

 

William of Spofford/Spoffoth property taxes increased from twenty to sixty shillings, this is 1086. He refused to pay an obnoxious tax. Spofford’s estates were confiscated by King William First and given to William de Percy along with 86 Lordships in Yorkshire. Notably Gamelbar held extensive possessions in the Forest Knaresborough, these were forfeited and a number of his manors were granted to Giselebert Gilbert Tyson because they were followers of King William First.

 

However the Spoffords didn’t totally loose everything because they were part of the Catholic Church as Vicars and Bishops. However in this time frame they also married had children and owned land.

 

Now we come to Thomas Spofforth of Hereford June 8, 1405 he becomes Abbot of St. Mary’s in York from Henry IV. Henry V in 1414, asked Thomas to be Ambassador to celebrate the Council of Constance and settle disturbances between the Popes. The new council elected Thomas to Bishop of Rochester  and the new pope appointed him to See of Hereford 1420 and Thomas retired in 1448. Died 1456. He has 2 sisters, Agn Spoffoth and Matil Spofforth 1417-1418. The Plumpton’s had the Spofforth’s in their will giving land and monies.

 

However there is a delightful story during the 1400’s about Thomas the Bishop and Robin Hood. According to Cannon Rine of the Cathedral of York gives his opinion that the Bishop Spofforth was the hero of one of the Robin Hood ballads about robbing the Bishop of Hereford. On his many visits to his relatives fell into the hands of Barnsdale Rovers and lost his money.

 

“Some will talk of bold Robin Hood,

And some of Barons hold,

But I’ll tell you how he served the

Bishop of Hereford,

When he robbed him of his gold”

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In the Church of Ludlow is a magnificent stained glass window shows the Bishop praying to his patron saint Saint Anne. In the Church at Catterick in Yorkshire the east window are 3 figures ST. Anne prays that eternal manna may be given to Spofforth along with the inscription “Pray for the soul of Lord Thomas Spofford, Abbot of the Monastery of the blessed Maria of York, and Rector of this (Catterick) parish”. Attached to this story he gave a very valuable shrine to the Guild of Corpus Christi to help celebrate a pageant of the annual Festival of Corpus Christi in 1449, its value was 256 pounds. Made of silver and gold with mother of pearls, three emeralds, large image of our Lady and smaller images surrounding her. Size approximate 27” x 45”.

 

Thomas had two sons and a daughter, Nichol’s of Leicestershine, and John Spofforth of Newsam, married Maria Meynel, they had a son, Robert member of the Corpus Christi Guild of York 1431. The daughter Elizabeth Spofforth also a member of the Guild. Robert married Bryna Roncliffe of Cowthorpe, they had a son, Bryan Spofforth in 1530 married Alice Fawkes of Leeds, a priest Rector of Barton in Ryedale, Yorkshire. The priest married contrary to the edicts of the Catholic Church, as did Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury. Bryan refused to give up his wife and he lost his benefits per Queen Mary 1554.

 

From this date the family became Protestants, one of Bryan’s grandson was John Spofforth born 1588, Vicar of Silkstone Parish in Yorkshire. His son John Spofforth became part of the families to go to the Colonies because of the civil wars between Henry VII and Edward IV by the Earl of Warwick in England.