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Ilbert de Laci, to whom the Conqueror gave the vast estates which were afterwards called "The Honour of Pontefract," built the Castle of Pontefract for his residence. It was completed after twelve years in 1080, and he is said to have called the name of his castle Pontfrete, when he laid its foundation, because its situation reminded him of his birthplace of that name in Normandy. On his death, in 1090, he was succeeded by his son Robert, who was the founder of the Cluniac Priory of St. John at Pontefract, which was founded in the year of his father's death, and consecrated by Roger, Archbishop of York, in 1159.

Two charters of this Robert de Laci are given in the Monasticon Anglicanum as from the Chartulary of Pontefract then in the possession of Thomas Widrington (Ex cartulario de Pontefracto, fol. 1., penes Thomam Widrington militem an. 1652). This Thomas was prohablyprobably [sic] the son of the Roger Widrington who married a Rosamond Wentworth, of Woolley, in that century; hence the present possession of this Chartulary—the parchment Book of the Religious Foundation's Charters—by Godfrey Wentworth, Esq., of Woolley.

In the first charter, Robert de Laci gives to this Religious House he has built on his manor of Kyrkebi (i.e. Pontefract) the whole of his estate at Dodworth (Doddewrthe), along with many other estates; also, "the Church of Silkeston, of the gift of Swein the son of Ailric, with the chapels and all things belonging thereto" ("eccelsiam de Sylkeston ex dono Suani filii Aldrici, cum capellis et omnibus ad eandem pertinentibus.")

In the second charter, Robert confirms his former grant, and enlarges and explains it. He describes his gift of his estate at Dodworth as being made for the maintenance of the monks' borses and those of their friends. "Ad prebendandos equos suos et hospitum suorum quoddam dominium meum scilicet Doddewrthe, quod