Conisborough Castle as Prison – Hundred Courts of Medieval England.

July 1926

Mexborough and Swinton Times July 9, 1926

Conisborough Castle as Prison

The destructive hand of Time is responsible for the gradual disappearance of many items of historical interest which were recorded in the written account of the proceedings of the Hundred Courts of medieval England.

These parchment records have not always been wisely stored and much authentic history of the past had been obliterated by damp and rot. Occasionally, however local historians of olden times have extracted some interesting facts which have come down to us, and which serve to remind us that if the Hundred Court Rolls had been more carefully preserved we could very largely reconstruct the former life of the people of almost anyplace therefrom.

The Hundred Courts jurisdiction in this locality would extend over the area now known as the Wapentake of Strafforth, and it was before this court in the year 1385 (?) that complaint was made of the arbitrary conduct of no less a person than the seneschal of Conisborough Castle.

In the neighbourhood of Armthorpe the monks of Roche Abbey possessed considerable lands, both farm and woodland; and here they established a grange with the staff of servants including a Forester under the direction of a brother. Adjoining the lands belonging to the Abbey the Lord of Conisborough possessed a good deal of land also. One day John the Forester, in the Abbot’s woodland, shot an arrow at a wild doe, which struck the animal but did not prevent it making off at a good speed, followed by the Forester, who eventually came up with it, dispatched it, and removed the carcase.

Unfortunately, however, John followed the deer and slew it on the estate of the Lord of Conisborough, and news of the trespass speedily found its way to Conisborough Castle. Richard de Heydon, the Seneschal, at once sent off a party of his retainers under one William de Coneshal, with orders to arrest, and convey to Conisborough Castle the good brother, Richard the granger and John the Forester. This order was carried out and the two men were speedily lodged in the dungeon of the castle.

One may easily conjecture the consternation of the Abbot and monks of Roche Abbey when news of this high-handed action was brought by one of the farm servants of the granger. Without loss of time, the Abbot, attended by a couple of monks, set out for Conisborough are sought an interview with the choleric de Heydon.

Long and acrimonious was a discussion, but nothing would appease the offended dignity of the seneschal with regard to the offence of John the Forester; he must remain his prisoner; but as to brother Richard, he would release him in consideration of the payment of a fine of £40 which the unwilling Abbot paid, and departed with the granger a sadder and a poorer man.

As for the Forester, for a whole year he was kept a prisoner, and was then released, whether as a result of the intervention of the Hundred Court is not recorded.