of the foundation-charter of the monastery states that Geoffrey, the sheriff, having heard of the liberal grants of Roger de Poictou, also bestowed upon it—"the tithes of Biscopham, whatever he had in Lancaster, some houses, and an orchard." It is difficult to determine whether a church existed in the township of Bispham at that date or not, but as no such edifice is included in the above list of benefactions, we are inclined to believe that it was not erected until later. The earliest mention of it occurs in the reign of Richard I., 1189 to 1199, when Theobald Walter quitclaimed to the abbot of Sees "all his right in the advowson of Pulton, with the church of Biscopham."[1]
The rebellious and ungrateful conduct of Roger de Poictou ultimately led to his banishment out of the country, and the forfeiture of the whole of his extensive possessions to the crown. The Hundred of Amounderness was conveyed by the King on the 22nd of April, 1194, being the fifth year of his reign, to Theobald Walter, the son of Hervens, a Norman who had accompanied the Conqueror. "Be it known," says the document, "that we give and confirm to Theobald Walter the whole of Amounderness with its appurtenances by the service of three Knights' fees, namely, all the domain thereto belonging, all the services of the Knights who hold of the fee of Amounderness by Knight's service, all the service of the Free-tenants of Amounderness, all the Forest of Amounderness, with all the Venison, and all the Pleas of the Forest." His rights "are to be freely and quietly allowed," continues the deed, "in wood and plain, in meadows and pastures, in highways and footpaths, in waters and mills, in mill-ponds, in fish-ponds and fishings, in peat-lands, moors and marshes, in wreck of the sea, in fairs and markets, in advowsons and chapelries, and in all liberties and free customs." Amongst the barons of Lancashire given in the MSS. of Percival is—"Theobald Walter, baron of Weeton and Amounderness," but, as Weeton never existed as a barony, it is clear that the former title is an error. The "Black Book of the Exchequer," the oldest record after the "Domesday Book," has entered in it the tenants and fees de veteri feoffamento[2] and de novo feoffamento,[3] and amongst others is a statement that Theobald Walter held
