William Peverel the Younger (c1080–1155)

William Peverel was the first Norman lord of the manors of Langar and Barnstone which were given to him by King William the Conqueror. William Peverel married Adeline of Lancaster and they had four children.

Their eldest son, William Peverel the Younger, born in 1080, became lord of the manor after his father. 

During William the Younger's time, there was civil war in England - a period called The Anarchy. Two cousins claimed the throne: Matilda and Stephen, both grandchildren of King William the Conqueror, fought each others armies to win the crown of England. William Peverel the Younger supported Stephen as king.

This was not a good move as it turned out.

In 1138 William Peverel the Younger was fighting against the Scots on behalf of Stephen (The Scottish king was Matilda's uncle). At the Battle of Lincoln three years later, Matilda's army captured King Stephen and William Peverel the Younger and other barons.

The King and William were later swapped for enemy prisoners - luckily for William!

However, after King Stephen died, Matilda's son, Henry became king in 1154. To punish him for his 'wickedness and treason', he took all the manors off William Peverel the Younger and kept them for himself. 

Henry II later gave Langar and Barnstone to Gerbod de Escalt, lord of the manor of Horncastle in Lincolnshire.

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