Paisley part 2

Part 1 - Scotland Historical: December 2020

Among those whom David I. of Scotland met at the Court of Matilda, when he went to her assistance against Stephen, the English King, were the two brothers, William and Walter Fitz Alan. Along with David and others, they were witnesses to Matilda's charter to Haughmond priory. They were with David at the rout of Winchester, December, 1141, five months after the signing of the Haughmond charter and when David was obliged to retrace his steps to the North, he appears to have invited Walter, the second of the three brothers, to settle in Scotland. Walter accepted the invitation. Among those who accompanied him to Scotland were Simon, his brother -  Robert Montgomery -  son or nephew of the great Earl Roger who built the abbeys of Shrewbury and Wenlock ; the Costentins, who, like himself, were of Breton extraction ; Alexander de Hesting, probably a relative on his mother's side -  Richard Wallace, ancestor of Sir William Wallace - Robert Croc, afterwards of Crookston and Roger Ness,  who became Croc's neighbour at Levernside.

In Scotland, Walter had a successful career. He was appointed Hereditary High Steward of the Kingdom, and, among other lands, David bestowed upon him those of Renfrew, Paisley, Pollok, Talahec, Cathcart, the Drep, the Mutrene, Eaglesham, and Lochwinnoch. The charter conferring these gifts does not exist, but in a charter dated at Roxburgh, June 24, 1158, they are not only enumerated and confirmed, but also considerably increased, by David's successor, Malcolm IV., who, in the same charter, acknowledges the services which Walter had rendered to himself and to his grandfather and predecessor, David I. The reddendo, or return, which Walter had to make for the gifts he received at the hands of his patrons, was the service of five knights.  Walter was also enriched by his wife, Eschina de Loudinis, a Saxon lady, who during her lifetime did much for the abbeys of Melrose and Kelso, as well as for the monastery of Paisley. As her marriage portion, she brought the lands of Molla and Huntlaw in Roxburghshire.

Walter's chief residence was the castle of Dundonald, in Ayrshire, which he is said to have built in the year 1130, a mistake, probably, for the year 1150.  He is said to have built a castle at Renfrew ; but, as there was already a castle there, built by David I., the statement may be doubted.

 At Blackball, not far from the south bank of the White Cart, and opposite to the (then) village of Paisley, he built the castle or manor-house of Blackball, which afterwards served the Stewards as a hunting lodge. Near to it, as early, at least, as the year 1272, was a chapel, which was served by a priest known as the chaplain of Blackball and probably stood on what is now called Chapel Hill. This, also, may have owed its origin to Walter? 

A castle at Neilston is also ascribed to him. Portions of his estates in Renfrewshire Walter parcelled out among his followers, who built castles for themselves and had the lands around them cultivated by their serfs. 

end of part 2