After 1066 Conisbrough Castle [Map] was founded by William Warenne 1st Earl Surrey after he had been awarded estates in Yorkshire, Norfolk and Sussex by King William "Conqueror" I of England (age 38) for his role in the Battle of Hastings.

Flowers of History. 1078. A violent quarrel arose between pope Gregory and the emperor Henry. At last the emperor was excommunicated¹. After that, he ravaged the province of Swabia. King William (age 50) held his court at Gloucester, Gloucestershire [Map], and conferred bishoprics on those of his chaplains, giving the diocese of London to Maurice, of Norwich to William, and of Chichester to Robert. The same year, Guiscard, tiie noble dake of Apolia, died, and was succeeded by his two sons, Roger and Beaumont. This year also, a naval war of deadly animosity broke out between the states of Venice and Baris, for the sake of the body of Saint Nicholas. The same year, count William de Warenne, who had come into England with William the Bastard (age 50), founded the abbey of Saint Pancras of Lewes [Map].

Note 1. This was the origin of the wars between the Guelfs and Ghibelins.

Around 1080 William Warenne 1st Earl Surrey commissioned the building of Castle Acre Castle [Map].

Domesday Conisbrough. Conisbrough. Land of William Warenne 1st Earl Surrey.

Households: 21 villagers. 11 smallholders. 1 priest. Ploughland: 59 ploughlands. 5 lord's plough teams. 11 men's plough teams.

Other resources: Woodland 1 * 1 leagues. 2 mills, value 1 pound 12 shillings. 1 church.

Valuation: Annual value to lord: 30 pounds in 1086; 18 pounds in 1066.

Owners: Tenant-in-chief in 1086: William of Warenne. Lord in 1086: William of Warenne. Lord in 1066: Earl Harold.

Phillimore reference: Yorkshire 12W1.