After the Norman conquest, William the Conqueror created the three earldoms of Shrewsbury, Hereford and Chester to protect his border with Wales.

In 1071, the Earl of Chester, Hugh Lupus, made his cousin, Nigel of Cotentin, the 1st Baron of Halton.

[5] He married the eldest daughter of Yorfid, on whose death without a male heir the Lancashire manors of Widnes, Appleton, Cronton and Rainhill came to his son-in-law, William.

[10] John, son of Richard fitz Eustace, was a governor in Ireland for Henry II.

Later he served King John in the unsuccessful attempt to thwart the French conquest of Normandy following which he was made High Sheriff of Lancashire.

[14] Henry de Lacy, son of Edmund, was educated at court and became Chief Councillor to Edward I.

While the king was engaged on military conflicts with the Scots, Henry was appointed Protector of the Realm.

[11] He died at his London home, Lincoln's Inn and was buried in the old St Paul's Cathedral.

[13] Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster, nephew of the 2nd Earl and son of the 3rd, next succeeded to the barony of Halton.

[17] John of Gaunt gained the barony by his marriage to Blanche, daughter and heiress of the 13th baron.

He was banished from England by Richard II and at the time of his father's death he was in exile in France.

Henry procured an Act of Parliament to ordain that the Duchy of Lancaster would remain in the personal possession of the reigning monarch and the barony of Halton is now vested in that dukedom.