Geoffrey de Luterel

Who was Geoffrey de Luterel?

Sir Geoffrey de Luterel I, was a courtier and confidante of King John, whom he served as a minister.

He was born in 1158 in Gamsten, Nottinghamshire, England to Alfred de Luterel.

He married Frethesant Paynel on February 26, 1190 and had 3 children together, Margeret, Andrew & Robert. And by that marriage acquired estates at Irnham, Lincolnshire; at East Quantockshead, Somerset; and in Yorkshire.

He travelled with the King on missions to Ireland and Italy and in about 1210 was granted lands near Dublin, Ireland where he established the township of Luttrellstown, near Clonsilla. In 1215 he was also granted the townland of Cratloe in County Clare, including the Cratloe Oak Woods.

He was head of the three main branches of the Luttrell family. The Irnham branch became extinct in about 1418 but Luttrellstown and Luttrellstown Castle were held by his descendants for almost 600 years. The East Quantockshead family went on to acquire Dunster Castle in 1376 and held it until it became a National Trust property in 1976.

In 1216 he was declared non compos mentis and was placed in the custody of his brother.

He died in 1218.