Feudal barony of Clifford

The feudal barony of Clifford (or Honour of Clifford) was a feudal barony with its caput at Clifford Castle in Herefordshire, England.

The Domesday Book of 1086 records that Clifford Castle was then held by Ralph de Tony (d.1102) (alias de Tosny, Tosni, etc.), feudal baron of Flamstead in Hertfordshire. It had been built by his brother-in-law William FitzOsbern, 1st Earl of Hereford (d.1071). William FitzOsbern was the husband of Adeliza de Tosny, daughter of Roger I of Tosny and sister of Ralph de Tony (d.1102).

At some time before 1127 the barony passed by means unexplained to Richard FitzPons (died 1138). Richard was the brother and heir of Drogo FitzPons, a tenant of estates in Herefordshire listed in the Domesday Book. Richard married Maud de Gloucester, daughter of Walter of Gloucester (died c. 1129) and sister of Miles of Gloucester, 1st Earl of Hereford. The son and heir of Richard FitzPons took the surname de Clifford after his father's barony (or due to his possible place of birth at Clifford Castle), as Walter de Clifford (died 1190).

He was succeeded by Richard de Clifford (died 1199), who died childless, and was succeeded by Walter de Clifford (died 1221), probably his brother. His eldest son Walter de Clifford (died 1263) succeeded to the barony, but leaving no male children the barony descended via his daughter, see below. Walter's younger son however was Roger de Clifford (died 1231) of Tenbury, who founded his own long-lived line of the Clifford family, later feudal barons of Appleby and feudal barons of Skipton, Baron de Clifford (1299), Earl of Cumberland (1525), Baron Clifford (1628) and Baron Clifford of Chudleigh (1672), which last title survives in 2015, borne by his direct male descendant, seated at Ugbrooke Park in Devon.

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