Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Lacy, Walter de (d.1085)
LACY, WALTER de, first Baron Lacy by tenure (d. 1085), was sprung from a family settled at Lassy in the arrondissement of Vire in Normandy, and was a relative, perhaps a brother, of Ilbert de Lacy, ancestor of Roger de Lacy [q. v.] He is mentioned by Wace as fighting for the conqueror at Hastings (Roman de Rou, p. 220, ed. Taylor), and afterwards obtained a grant of lands in the Welsh marches. The principal estates of the Lacy family were at Ewyas Lacy, Stanton Lacy, and Weobley, and also included Ludlow Castle. Walter certainly held some land at Ewyas (Domesday Book, i. 184–5), and also at Stanton, but other lands were due to grants to his sons, and it is impossible to say what proportion was Walter's. In 1071 Walter de Lacy was fighting against the Welsh (Ordericus Vitalis, ii. 218, Société de l'Hist. de France), and took part against the rebel earls three years later (Flor. Wig. ii. 11). He was a benefactor of St. Peter's, Gloucester, and founder of St. Peter's, Hereford. He died 27 March 1085, having fallen from a ladder while superintending the building of the latter church. He was buried in the chapter-house at Gloucester. By his wife, Ermeline, he left three sons, Roger, Hugh, and Walter, and two daughters, Ermeline and Emma. Roger de Lacy appears in ‘Domesday’ as holding lands in Berkshire, Gloucestershire, Worcestershire, Herefordshire, and Shropshire (i. 62 b, 167 b, 176 b, 184–5, 260 b.) He took part in the rebellions against William Rufus in 1088 and 1094, and for this was banished and his lands given to his brother Hugh. Hugh was founder of Lanthony Abbey, and died in Wales before 1121, without offspring; he was buried at Weobley ({sc|Leland}}, Itin. viii. 89 a). Walter de Lacy (1073–1139) entered St. Peter's, Gloucester, in 1080, became abbot in 1130, and died in 1139 (Chron. St. Peter, Gloucester, i. 15–17, 92). Henry I seems to have taken the Lacy estates into his own hands, but Gilbert, son of Hugh's sister, Emma, assumed the name of Lacy, and claimed to represent the family [see under Lacy, Hugh de, d. 1186)].
[Florence of Worcester (Engl. Hist. Soc.); Chron. St. Peter, Gloucester (Rolls Ser.); Dugdale's Baronage, i. 97; Burke's Extinct Peerage, p. 310; Eyton's Shropshire, v. 5–7, 238–41.]