Robert de Gresle (1174–1230) was a Lord of the manor of

Manchester Manchester () is a city in Greater Manchester, England. It had a population of 552,000 in 2021. It is bordered by the Cheshire Plain to the south, the Pennines to the north and east, and the neighbouring city of Salford to the west. The t ...

, the first of his family to take up residence in Manchester. Initially the Gresle family, were absentee landlords, living elsewhere, with Stewards to represent them locally. Whilst Robert de Gresle took up residence his leadership led to an influx of

skilled worker A skilled worker is any worker who has special skill, training, knowledge which they can then apply to their work. A skilled worker may have attended a college, university or technical school. Alternatively, a skilled worker may have learned thei ...

s. In the early 13th century. Gresle was one of the landowners who made King John sign '' Magna Carta''. Gresle was excommunicated for his role in the rebellion, and when King John later ignored the terms of ''Magna Carta'', Gresle forfeited his lands. King John died in 1216 and the land was returned to Robert Gresle on behalf of King Henry III. In this period medieval Manchester was centered on the manor house and the church of St Mary mentioned in the

Domesday Book Domesday Book () – the Middle English spelling of "Doomsday Book" – is a manuscript record of the "Great Survey" of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086 by order of King William I, known as William the Conqueror. The manus ...

. The castle in Manchester overlooked the rivers Irk and Irwell where the Chethams School of Music stands today. The Gresle family directly leased land to tenants and created burgage tenements for indirect rent.

Career

In June 1215, Robert de Gresle was amongst the landowners who demanded King John sign the '' Magna Carta'' in

Runnymede Runnymede is a water-meadow alongside the River Thames in the English county of Surrey, and just over west of central London. It is notable for its association with the sealing of Magna Carta, and as a consequence is, with its adjoining ...

. Gresle was amongst the barons who eventually rose against the king during the First Barons War, resulting in his castle estates being seized by the King. The same year,

Pope Innocent III Pope Innocent III ( la, Innocentius III; 1160 or 1161 – 16 July 1216), born Lotario dei Conti di Segni (anglicized as Lothar of Segni), was the head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 8 January 1198 to his death in 16 ...

excommunicated Gresle due to his role in the rebellion. Following the death of King John, Gresle's lands were eventually returned on behalf of King Henry III. He would go on to witness the confirmation of the charter by Henry III in 1225. In 1222, Gresle received a charter to hold a yearly fair in Manchester to be held on the eve and feast day of

Saint Matthew Matthew the Apostle,, shortened to ''Matti'' (whence ar, مَتَّى, Mattā), meaning "Gift of YHWH"; arc, , Mattai; grc-koi, Μαθθαῖος, ''Maththaîos'' or , ''Matthaîos''; cop, ⲙⲁⲧⲑⲉⲟⲥ, Mattheos; la, Matthaeus a ...

, which was renewed when the King came of age in 1227. This was held in Acres Fields (now St Ann's Square), and continued to be held there until it was moved to Knot Mill in 1823.

Marriage and issue

Robert married Margaret, daughter and heir of

Henry de Longchamp Henry de Longchamp or Henry de Longo Campo (c1150–1212) was an Anglo-Norman administrator. He was born in Wilton Castle, near Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire, the son of Hugh de Longchamp. One of his brothers, William, was to become Chancellor of Eng ...

. They had a son, who would go on to inherit the barony. *Thomas de Gresle (died 1262)

References

Bibliography

* * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Robert de Gresle Lords of the manor of Manchester 1174 births 1230 deaths