Barony of Halton: Difference between revisions

The '''barony of Halton''', in [[Cheshire]], England, comprised a succession of 15 [[baron]]s who held under the overlordship of the [[County palatine|County Palatine of Chester]] ruled by the [[Earl of Chester]]. It was not therefore an [[English feudal barony]] which was under full royal jurisdiction, which is the usual sense of the term,{{efn|This source (Sanders, I. J. (1960), p.138, note 4), English Baronies) does not list the barony of Halton as a feudal barony but refers to the "Lord of Halton, hereditary constable of the County Palatine" (i.e. of Chester).{{sfnp|Sanders|1960|p=138|ps=}}}} but a separate class of barony within a [[county palatine|palatinate]]. After the [[Norman conquest of England|Norman conquest]], [[William I of England|William the Conqueror]] created three [[earl]]doms to protect his border with [[Wales]], namely [[Earl of Shrewsbury|Shrewsbury]], [[Earl of Hereford|Hereford]] and [[Earl of Chester|Chester]]. [[Hugh d'Avranches, 1st Earl of Chester|Hugh Lupus]] was appointed [[Earl of Chester]] and he appointed his cousin, Nigel of [[Cotentin]], as the first baron of Halton.{{sfnp|Starkey|1990|p=8|ps=}} [[Halton, Cheshire|Halton]] was a village in [[Cheshire]] which is now part of the town of [[Runcorn]]. At its centre is a rocky prominence on which was built [[Halton Castle]], the seat of the barons of Halton; the castle is now a ruin.