Early Origins of The Gilpins

The origin of the Gilpin name fades into obssecurity in 1205 with predating rumours that the Gilpins came over in the train of William the Conqueror. There is a conflicting claim by Rev. Charles MACHELL, Chaplain to King Charles II who said that the Gilpins were Scottish. The scottish clan McAlpin recognise Gilpin as an alternative spelling in its list. However they said they could not provide any further information.
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Either or both could be true. However what can be proved is that thier first known fixed abode (spanning several hundred years) was in the lake district, Kentmere. There an area of land was presented to Richard Gilpin in gratitude for the slaying a wild boar that was terrorising local villages. The boar remains on their coat of arms.

Kentmere Hall was eventually lost due to the English Civil War. Cromwell siezed properties which had been given by Royality decree. To avoid this, the property was entrusted to a close friend of the family. An agreement was made to return the property to the Gilpins upon the death of Cromwell, when the threat was over. This agreement was broken. To make matters worse the Gilpins could not obtain the Signed Agreement (It had been last seen in France, where the family temporarily held out). Legal courts proved fruitless.

So the Gilpins moved their family home after 500 years to Scaleby Castle. This marks the end of an era for the Glpins in my research. But also the start of a new beginning.

The Kentmere Gilpins

Scaleby Castle Gilpins