Walter of Douai (Old Norman:Wautier de Douai) (born c.1046, died: c.1107) was aNorman knight, probably at theBattle of Hastings, and a major landowner inSouth West England after theNorman Conquest,[1] beingfeudal baron of Bampton in Devon and ofCastle Cary in Somerset. He is given various names and titles in different sources including: Walter (or Walschin or Walscin) de Douai. Douai is sometimes written as Dowai. He has also been called Gautier de Douai and later Walter the Fleming.
Walter was the son of Urso ofDouai, that was then a fiefdom of the counts of Flanders and now is acommune in theNord département in northern France. Located on the riverScarpe some 40 km fromLille and 25 km fromArras.
He married Emma (or Eddeva)[2] ofDevon, and may have had two children: Richilde de Douai and Ralph (ofTintinhull) Lovel. He also had a second wife.[3] His son Robert builtBampton Castle in Devon.[4]
Walter likely fought at theBattle of Hastings in 1066,[5][6][7] though he is not among those for whom proof of participation has been found.
In the aftermath of the victory,William the Conqueror entrusted the conquest of the south-west of England to his half-brotherRobert of Mortain.[8] Expecting stiff resistance, Robert marched west intoSomerset, supported by forces under Walter of Douai, who entered from the north; a third force, under the command ofWilliam de Moyon, landed by sea along the Somerset coast.[9]
Following the defeat of theSaxons by theNormans in 1066, variouscastles were set up in Somerset by the new lords such as that atDunster, and themanors were awarded to followers ofWilliam the Conqueror such asWilliam de Moyon and Walter of Douai.[10]
Walter of Douai wasfeudal baron of Bampton in Devon and ofCastle Cary in Somerset.[11]
After the Norman invasion the land on whichBridgwater stands was given to Walter of Douai,[10] hence becoming known variously as Burgh-Walter, Brugg-Walter and Brigg-Walter, eventually corrupted to Bridgwater. An alternative version is that it derives from "Bridge of Walter" (i.e. Walter's Bridge).[12][13]
In theDomesday Book of 1086 Walter was described as holding land inWorle, Somerset,[14]Weare,Sparkford andBratton Seymour.[15][16]
Others holdings in Somerset and Devon included:Allerton,Alstone,Alston Sutton,Ansford,Badgworth,Bathealton,Bawdrip,Bradney,Bratton Seymour,Brean,Burnham on Sea,Chilcompton, Crook,Dunwear,Horsey,Huntspill,Pawlett,Sparkford,Stretcholt,Tarnock,Walpole,Watchet,WembdonWincanton,Berrynarbor, Coleridge (Stokenham),Combe Raleigh,Dipford,Dunsford,Goodrington, Greenway, Kerswell (Hockworthy),Knowstone,Little Rackenford,Luppitt,Mohuns Ottery,Shapcombe,Spurway,Stoke Fleming,Townstal,Uffculme,Woodcombe andHolacombe. Many of these were let to tenants.[17][18][19][20]
Cary Castle, amotte and bailey castle was built either by Walter of Douai or by his son Robert who also builtBampton Castle in Devon.[4] He was also holder of the land on whichCockroad Wood Castle was built.[21]