Sir William Norris

Knighted after the Battle of Stoke in 1487.

Was 28 in 1487.

The Norris family is first mentioned at Speke in 1314, but ownership of the manor was then divided between different families. By the late 14th century the Manor of Speke had passed to the Norris family, who were to own Speke until the mid-18th century. Most of the building of the present house was the work of three members of the family: William 1 (d. 1506), who was knighted after the Battle of Stoke in 1487, William II (d. 1568) and his son Edward (d. 1606). Like many such families in the northwest, the Norrises were Catholics and the numerous priest's holes at Speke bear witness to their continued loyalty to the old faith.

Speke Hall is now owned by the N Trust.

Notes

From http://www.hauntedrooms.co.uk/speke-hall-liverpool-merseyside

Speke Hall Ghosts

There is said to be several ghosts that refuse to leave this stunning Tudor mansion. Dark shadows are often seen floating around the Great Hall, and the overwhelming sense of oppression is often felt by both staff and guests alike. The sudden feeling of nauseousness is also a frequent report by people entering this room.

Sources

1. 'Townships: Speke', A History of the County of Lancaster: Volume 3 (1907), pp. 131-140. URL: http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=41310&strquery=... Date accessed: 07 December 2013. "Sir William Norris, the successor, must therefore have been born about 1459. His knighthood appears to date from 1487, after the battle of Stoke, in which case he must have fought there on the Lancastrian side. (fn. 47) He was contracted in marriage as early as 1468 to Katherine, daughter of Sir Henry Bold. (fn. 48) Sir William died 1 September, 1506, seised of the manor of Speke, and lands there and in Siche, as also in West Derby, Formby, and Oglet. His son and heir, Henry Norris, was then aged twenty-eight and more. (fn. 49)"

Links

• http://histfam.familysearch.org/getperson.php?personID=I96540&tree=...
• http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=ancestors...
• http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/speke-hall/