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Vieuxpont is the name of a significant family in the history of Westmorland. According to Thomas ^[1] the name originated in France on or about 1066 as Vieuxpont - alternative spellings include Vieuxpont, Veteripont Vezpont, Veepon, Vexpont, Vipont, Vypont, Vispont, Vypunt, Vespont, Vipond, Vypond, Voypond, Veepond, Vippond, Vipon, Vipan, Vipen.

[edit] Notable family members

Maud, daughter of Richard de Morville (1189-?), married William de Vieuxpont, Lord of Westmorland. She died in 1210. he died in 1203. Sibyl, sister of William de Ferrers, 5th Earl of Derby (1193-1254), married John de Vipont of Appleby. Appleby Castle, Brough Castle and Whinfell Forest were granted to Robert de Vieuxpont by King John in 1203. He also built Brougham Castle. He married Idonea de Busli, a descendant of Roger de Busli, in 1213. Incumbents of the post of High Sheriff of Westmorland include John Vipont in 1235 and John de Veteriponte from 1241-1243. Thomas Vipont was a medieval Bishop of Carlisle from 1254 to 1256. Robert de Clifford, 1st Baron de Clifford (1274-1314) inherited extensive land from the Viponts. In the 14th Century, Lady Idonea de Veteripont - owner of Pendragon Castle - founded St Mary's Outhgill in Mallerstang. Elfrida Vipont was the pen name of Elfrida Vipont Foulds (née Brown) (1902-1992)

[edit] Robert de Vieuxpont

Robert's biography is given in Summerson ^[2]. He was the younger son of William de Vieuxpont and Maud de Morville (daughter of Hugh de Morville, Lord of Westmorland). He served King Richard I, King John and King Henry III. In the early 1200s he was Sherriff of Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire, and had custody of the Sees of York and Durham. Later he moved on to other duties. In 1216, he took responsibility for Cumberland and Carlisle Castle. He died in 1227, leaving his body and Wycombe estates to the Knights Templar.

His children were son John (died 1241) and daughter Christian, who married Thomas of Greystoke. When John's son Robert died in 1264, his possessions passed to his daughters and eventually to Robert de Clifford, 1st Baron de Clifford.

[edit] References