General Notes

BIOGRAPHY: Abt 1138 Arrived in Scotland, made Grand Steward & Chancellor of Treasury to King David I.

BIOGRAPHY: Benefactor of the Knights Templar.  Founded Paisley Priory for Cluniac monks

BIOGRAPHY: a lay brother of the Benedictine order

BIOGRAPHY: 1164 repelled invasion of Renfrew by the Islemen

BIOGRAPHY: Walter Fitz Alan was the First Great Steward of Scotland. In thereign of Kind David I of Scotland (1124-1153), he fled fromShropshire, England, during the the conflicts of Maud and Stephen in their competition for the crown of England. Walter desired to settle in Scotland, and probably by the influence of the Earl of Gloucester, King David, made him his steward, and gave him vast lands to support the dignity of his office. The king granted to Walter the burgh and territory of Renfrew, the lands of Passeleth, Polloc, Talahec, Kethkert, le Drep, le Mutrene, Eglisham, Louchwinoch and Inverwick, with their pertinents. The estates were confirmed by a charter of King Malcolm IV in 1157, whereby he made the office of steward hereditary. Malcolm, in addition, granted to Walter part of the lands of Perthec, the whole lands of Inchinan, Steintoun, Halestanesdene, Legardswode, and Birchinside; he also granted to the steward in each of the king's burghs and in each of his domains a full toft, and with every toft, 20 acres of land to build a lodging or inn for himself, the whole of these possessions to be held by the king, "in capite,"for five knights' service. Of these estates, Inverwick and Steintounlay in East Lothian; Legardswode and Birchinside in Berwickshire; Halestaneden in Roxburgshire; all the others lay in Renfrewshire. Besides these possessions, Walter acquired the whole district of Strathgryfe in Renfrewshire, and the western half of Kyle in Ayrshire, both of which Walter held in 1164.

BIOGRAPHY: Many people followed Walter from Shropshire, England, and obtainedfrom his liberality lands within his territories, which seem to havebeen located within the finest country. Among the people who sharedthe lands given by Walter was Fulbert, the progenitor of the Pollokfamily, and his sons, Peter, Helias, and Robert. The lands which weregranted to Walter were inhabited by Gaelic people, who scarcely knewthe name of charters; and living on the land without valid title meant(to King David) that he was free to do with the land what he wanted.There appears to have been no uprising of the general population tothese newcomers and so the establishment of feudalism in Scotland wentsmoothly.

BIOGRAPHY: Walter founded Paisley Prior for Cluniac monks (from Wenlock inShropshire) about 1163 and was made a lay brother of the BenedictineOrder. The Paisley Prior was made Abbey of Paisley about 1219. Themonastery of Paisley was generously endowed by Walter Fitz Alan. Hegranted it no fewer than thirteen churches, with various lands, mills,fishings, tithes, and other property and revenue. When he died in1177, Walter was buried in the Paisley Monastery, which continued tothe the burying-place of the Stewarts until they ascended the throne of Scotland.