Richard Scrob facts for kids

Richard Scrob was a French nobleman who lived in England before the Normans took over. He was active between the years 1051 and 1066. He is sometimes called "fitzScrob," but this was not his family name.

Who Was Richard Scrob?

Richard Scrob was from France. It is not fully clear if he was from Normandy, a region in France. The name "Scrob" was a nickname, not a family name passed down from his father. A writer named John of Worcester later thought it was a family name. This is why Richard is sometimes known as "Richard fitzScrob."

Arriving in England

Richard came to England during the time of Edward the Confessor, who was King of England. He likely arrived early in Edward's reign. In 1052, many non-English landowners were forced to leave England. This happened when a powerful English earl, Godwin of Wessex, returned to power. Richard Scrob was not expelled, which shows he was trusted by the king.

Richard's Important Roles

Richard Scrob was a trusted person for King Edward. He might have been the Sheriff of Worcester. A sheriff was a very important official who managed the king's business in a county. Richard was also known as a housecarl of the king. A housecarl was a special soldier or bodyguard who served the king directly.

Building a Castle

Richard owned a lot of land in a place called Auretone in Herefordshire. He built a special type of castle there called an earthwork castle. This castle is known as Richard's Castle. It is one of the very few castles in England that were built before the Norman Conquest in 1066. Besides Auretone, he also owned land in nearby Worcestershire and Shropshire.

Richard and the Norman Conquest

In 1066, William the Conqueror invaded England from Normandy. Richard Scrob chose to support William. He joined the Norman forces and helped them fight against an English rebel named Eadric the Wild. This fighting took place in Herefordshire.

Richard's Family

Richard Scrob married the daughter of a man named Robert the Deacon. This Robert might have been the same person as Robert FitzWimarc. Richard had two sons. His main heir was his son, Osbern fitzRichard. Osbern took over Richard's Castle after his father. This was recorded in the Domesday Book, which was a great survey of England made in 1086. Richard also had another son named William.

When Did Richard Scrob Die?

We do not know the exact date Richard Scrob died. However, we know that his son, Osbern, was in charge of his lands by the year 1086. This means Richard must have passed away before that time.