Philip FitzRobert de Gay, Castellan of Cricklade

FARINGDON CASTLE: WHERE SON BETRAYED FATHER

In 1144, Robert / Earl of Gloucester built a castle in Faringdon Clump (an old Iron Age hill fort) at the behest of his son, Phillip. Phillip had been holding Cricklade Castle (Wiltshire) for his aunt, the Empress Matilda, but had suffered badly from Royalist attacks and wanted another stronghold in the Thames Valley. Unfortunately, no sooner had the place been built than King Stephen arrived to lay siege to it. Robert refused to send reinforcements and, after only a four day siege the castellan, Brian de Soulis, capitulated. Soon after Phillip, exasperated by his father's inactivity, surrendered Cricklade and joined King Stephen's cause. Rumor had it that the two Imperialists had conspired together, letting the enemy into Faringdon in order to safeguard their own futures.

Source -- David Nash Ford's Royal Berkshire History

www.berkshirehistory.com/castles/faringdon-cast.html