• General Notes

  TONBRIDGE CASTLE--BIRTH PLACE OF RICHARD FITZ GILBERT
  
  Following the Norman Conquest, Richard Fitz Gilbert was granted land in Kent to guard the crossing of the River Medway. He erected a simple Motte-and-bailey castle on the site. To dig the moat and erect the motte 50,000 tonnes of earth were moved. In 1088 the de Clare family (descendents of Fitz Gilbert) rebelled against King William II. His army besieged the castle. After holding for two days the castle fell and as punishment the king had both the castle and the town of Tonbridge burnt to the ground. Before 1100, the de Clares replaced the wooden castle with a stone shell keep. This was reinforced during the thirteenth century, and in 1295 a stone wall was built around the town.[1] The twin towered gatehouse was built by Richard de Clare, sixth Earl of Hertford or his son Gilbert around the middle of the thirteenth century. The gatehouse shares many similarities with the ones at Caerphilly Castle built by Gilbert in 1268-1271. The great seal of England was temporarily kept here during one of Edwards visits to France.[2] The mansion was added in 1793.
  
  ROGER DE CLARE, 3RD EARL OF HERTFORD
  From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
  
  Roger De Clare was a son of Richard Fitz Gilbert de Clare and Alice de Gernon. He succeeded to the earldom when his brother Gilbert died without issue. In 1164 he assisted with the Constitutions of Clarendon. From his munificence to the Church and his numerous acts of piety, Roger was called the "Good Earl of Hertford". He married (c. 1150) Maud de St. Hilary (1132-24 December 1193), daughter of James de St. Hilary and Aveline. Together they had seven children.

Details of Roger's family with Maud SaintHilary