William Fitz Ranulf Lord of Blanchminster

   Other names for William were William de Albo Monasterio Lord of Blanchminster and William Fitz Ralph Lord of Whitchurch.

  Information about this person:

• Background Information. ⁸⁰²
The earliest known Lord of Whitchurch was William de Warenne, better known as William Fitz Ranulf. His relationship with Ranulf de Warenne, son of William, the second Earl Warenne is conjecture by Eyton, but Eyton s points out that William de Warenne had a son named Ranulf as well has holding Whitchurch at the time of the Domesday Survey.

The first time William Fitz Ranulf of Whitchurch's name appears is as William fitz Randulf, on the Shropshire Pipe-Roll of 1176, when he was Security for the Fine of his neighbour, the Lord of Ightfield. At the same time he appears as William Fitz Ranulf attesting a certificate of John le Strange, the first. William was skilled in law.

William made a grant to Combermere Abbey for the health of himself, his wife, his children and of Reinald de Warren, and for the souls of his father, mother, and all his ancestors. This grant was attested by Adam Fitz Roger, William de Sithcheshale, Wion Fiz Landef, Philip de Erdenton and William Clerk. In the year ending Michaelmas 1199, Geoffrey fitz Piers, Chief Justice of England, had issued a Writ to the Sheriff of Shropshire, under which the Sheriff was to furnish 10 merks, out of the Crown revenues in his hand, to William Fitz Rannulf, "for the repair and emendation of his Castle of Album Monasterium." William's name also appears in 1219 as William Fitz Radulf of Blancminster.

On 8 Mar 1238, the Lord of Whitchurch was summoned by a Write Close as William de Warenne de Albo Monasterios to attend the King at Oxford of April 20 following, there to confer on the truce with Wales, which would expire in a few months.

On 1 Apr 1240, William Plantagenêt, sixth Earl Warenne was deceased, and his son, John, was a Minor in the custody of the King. About the same time, his Tenant at Witchurch, William de Warren de Albo Monasterio, died leaving a son and heir, William, of full age. William, son and heir, paid a fine of twenty merks to secure the King's Writ to the Sheriff of Shropshire ordering his investiture in his late Father's estates, but the Sheriff was to retain the Castle of Album Monasterium until further orders.

~Eyton's Antiquities of Shropshire, Vol. X, pp. 16-20