Baron William de Corbet

William - second Baron of Caus, lived in Wattlesborough as the Castle of Cause was destroyed by the Welsh attack on Pagan Fitz John.

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from Caus Castle, Salop, England

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Caus Castle (also known as, or recorded in historical documents as Cause; Caurs; Chaus; Caws; Caurse; Alretone; Auretone; Averetonee), often described as a fortress of uncommon strength and extent, is about 2 miles southwest of Westbury, Shropshire, England and is located along the Welsh Marches. Caux Castle was built by Roger fitz Corbet (1050–1134) a domesday founder for his family, and is named for his homeland in Pays de Caux, Normandy, France, and was the seat of their Marcher Lordships granted under Roger de Montgomery (Roger de Montgomeri), Earl of Shrewsbury (Shropshire) and King William the Conqueror.

Lived in Wattlesborough as the Castle of Caus (Cause) was destroyed by the Welsh attack on Pagan Fitz John.

The early outer earthworks of the site are probably an Iron Age hillfort, while the later motte-and-bailey is of Norman construction.

Roger le Corbet (or Fitz Corbet) was granted several manors in Shropshire in 1069 by William the Conqueror as the Barony of Caus for his role in the Norman conquest and invasion of England. They were named after his Normandy estate in the Pays de Caux. The Corbets owed fealty to Roger de Montgomery, Earl of Shrewsbury to help control Welsh Marches with absolute control over their demesne. Caus Castle was built by Roger le Corbet in the late 11th century as a high motte with a very small summit on which stood a tower and a strongly defended inner bailey.

The castle was sufficiently important that the Crown took an interest in its maintenance. Henry II of England had it garrisoned in 1165. In 1198 Roger Corbet re-built the tower, keep and curtain wall in stone. During the late 12th century a town or borough was founded in the large outer Bailey. A royal grant of 50 marks was made in 1263 towards further building work, when D-shape towers were added to the curtain wall. On the death of Beatrice Corbet in 1347 Caus passed to the Earl of Stafford.

Caus was garrisoned by the Seneschal Griffith ap Ieuan ap Madoc ap Gwenwys against the rebellion of Owain Glyndŵr in the 15th century, but following calls from Welsh graduates in law and students in the University of Oxford he changed sides and supported Glyndŵr. As a result his family lands and role at Caus Castle were forfeited in 1404, only to be restored by Henry V of England in 1419 after his sons Ieuan ap Griffith and Sir Gruffudd Vychan captured John Oldcastle for Lord Charlton of Powys.

On 10 Aug. 1443, at Caus Castle Sir Gruffudd Vychan pierced with a lance the heart of his master, Sir Christopher Talbot (1419–1443), son of John Talbot, 1st Earl of Shrewsbury, and the champion tilter of England. He was outlawed, a reward of 500 marks (£166 6s 8d) offered for his capture, and his lands were passed to John Sutton, 1st Baron Dudley, as the death of the young knight was not regarded as an accident. The Earl of Stafford rarely used the castle in the 15th and 16th centuries so that it decayed, and was finally deserted after it was destroyed in 1645.

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William Corbet of Wettlesborough was born circa 1101?. He was the son of Roger Corbet of Shropshire

  Name: William Corbet

Born: ABT 1089 at: Of Caus Castle, Shropshire, England
Married: ABT 1109 at: Of, Wattlesborough, Shropshire, England

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caus_Castle

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William is stated to have made Wattlesborough his residence.

"William had three sons—Thomas Corbet of Wattlesborough (the pilgrim), Robert of Caus, and Philip.

We descend from both Thomas and Robert of Caus.

As a rule, the Shropshire Corbets at this time had their hands quite full keeping the border in these troublous times against the Welsh."

[Antiquary: a magazine devoted to the study of the past, Volume 8, compiled by Edward Walford, John Charles Cox, George Latimer Apperson, pp. 125-6.]

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second Baron of Caus, lived in Wattlesborough as the Castle of Caus was destroyed by the Welsh attack on Pagan Fitz John

Please see Darrell Wolcott: The Pedigree of Cynddelw Gam of Ystrad Alun; http://www.ancientwalesstudies.org/id94.html; [#67] (Steven Ferry, November 19, 2017.)

Please see Darrell Wolcott: The Shropshire Walcot Family - Chart VIII: The Corbet Family; http://www.ancientwalesstudies.org/id102.html. (Steven Ferry, May 5, 2020.)

Please see Darrell Wolcott: The Other Gwenwynwyn; http://www.ancientwalesstudies.org/id167.html. (Steven Ferry, July 30, 2020.)