Life
In 1070, Judith married Earl Waltheof of Huntingdon and Northumbria. They had three children, the eldest daughter, Maud, brought the earldom of Huntingdon to her second husband, David I of Scotland.
In 1075, Waltheof joined the Revolt of the Earls against William. It was the last serious act of resistance against the Norman conquest of England. Judith betrayed Waltheof to her uncle, who had Waltheof beheaded on 31 May 1076.
After Waltheof's execution Judith was betrothed by William to Simon I of St. Liz, 1st Earl of Northampton. Judith refused to marry Simon and she fled the country to avoid William's anger. He then temporarily confiscated all of Judith's English estates.
Judith founded Elstow Abbey in Bedfordshire around 1078. She also founded churches at Kempston and Hitchin.
She had land-holdings in 10 counties in the Midlands and East Anglia. Her holdings included land at:
- Earls Barton, Northamptonshire
- Great Doddington, Northamptonshire
- Grendon, Northamptonshire
- Merton, Oxfordshire
- Piddington, Oxfordshire
- Potton, Bedfordshire
The parish of Sawtry Judith in Huntingdonshire is named after the Countess.
Read more about this topic: Judith Of Lens
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