Blanche Baroness Wake of Liddell

Blanche of Lancaster, Baroness Wake of Liddell, was born around 1305 as the eldest daughter of Henry, 3rd Earl of Lancaster, and Maud Chaworth. Her namesake was her grandmother, Blanche of Artois, the regent of Navarre. Before 9 October 1316, she married Thomas Wake, 2nd Baron Wake of Liddell, who had previously been under the guardianship of her father. The marriage did not produce any children.

Following her husband’s death in 1349, Blanche encountered significant challenges, including the arson of her houses by the Bishop of Ely. She pursued legal action, resulting in King Edward III ordering the bishop to compensate her. The conflict escalated when the bishop had her servant, William Holm, murdered, which led to Edward III confiscating the bishop’s possessions and demanding his apology. Blanche also served as an executor of her brother Henry’s will and was granted custody of her grandnephews, John and Thomas. She witnessed the beginning of King Richard II’s reign and was buried at Greyfriars, Stamford upon her death.