Countess Judith

Countess Judith held land in many places after the Norman Conquest, given to her by her uncle, William the Conqueror and around the time of her death in 1086 when the Domesday Book was written she held land locally in Conington, Stukeley, Kimbolton, Toseland, Molesworth amongst others and of course, Sawtry which was thought to be her favourite place and lived here after she married Waltheof, Earl of Huntingdon and Northampton, a wealthy Saxon Earl who was captured after the Battle of Hastings in 1066. Instead of executing him when he was captured as was the fate of many other Saxon soldiers, because of his wealth and title, King William gave his niece in marriage to Waltheof with the view to bringing that wealth into the family and the Throne.  History records show that Matilda her first child, was born in Huntingdonshire and it is believed that it was at Sawtry. Waltheof was later arrested for treason against the throne when he was accused of a Saxon uprising against William and was executed at Winchester in 1076 for a crime which only normally carried a sentence of inprisonment, presumably so William could secure the lands and titles into his family. Waltheof was buried at Crowland Abbey, believed to have been founded by Waltheof’s family, on the other side of Peterborough.  

            William then arranged a marriage between Judith and a Norman knight who fought with William at the Battle of Hastings named Simon De Senlis. Judith refused the King which angered him and he arranged the marriage of Simon De Senlis to Matilda, her daughter. As a result, the lands and titles that Judith inherited on Waltheof’s death were taken away from her and given to Matilda, the child of Waltheof.  Matilda’s husband Simon De Senlis became the Earl of Huntingdon, the title that Matilda’s father Waltheof had held.  On the death of Simon De Senlis, Matilda then married for a 2nd time to David Canmore, Prince of Scotland, arranged by Henry 1st of England, David’s brother in law. David also became The Earl of Huntingdon upon his marriage to Matilda. After David’s brother King Alexander 1st of Scotland’s death, he became King of Scotland and Matilda his Queen. They went on to become one of the most well loved and successful King & Queen of Scotland.  As a result the lands and titles held in Sawtry and Conington were passed down through the generations of Scottish kings right up until the Stuarts. Conington was later inherited by Robert De Bruix or Brus and the family became known as Bruce.  Judith settled to a quiet life at Sawtry Manor until her death, and spent much of her time caring for the sick and the poor of the Sawtry.  As a result she earned herself the name “Saint” Judith from where St Judith’s Lane got its name.