At the Conquest, Whittington became the property of Pain Peverel, who
having no issue, on his decease it was seized by Roger earl of
Shrewsbury. This place was called in Doomsday Book, Wititone; and
consisted at that time of eight corn farms, twelve ox-stalls, and a very
extensive wood; the cows yielded five shillings per annum, and all Welsh
residents were obliged to pay twenty shillings rent among them.
The castle and lordship of Whittington next passed into the hands of
Hugh, and afterwards of his brother Robert, sons of the late earl of
Shrewsbury. Upon the defeat and forfeiture of Robert by Henry I. it was
restored to the Peverels in the person of Sir William, a sister’s son of
Pain Peverel.—This Sir William is famed in history for his noble and
valiant enterprizes, in one of which it is stated that he was mortally
wounded, but was miraculously recovered by eating the shield of a wild
boar; and that to testify his gratitude to Heaven for his preservation he
built three churches.