Gilbert de Venables

Gilbert de Venables, aka Gilbert the Hunter, was a Norman lord who participated in the Norman Conquest of England. He was born in Venables, Eure,^[1] presumably the grandson of Odo II, Count of Blois (since he is mentioned as younger brother of Stephen, Count of Blois by Sir Peter Leycester).^{[citation needed]} He was also a kinsman of Hugh d'Avranches, Earl of Chester and fought in his retinue during the Norman Conquest.^{[citation needed]} His second wife was Margery, daughter of Waltheof (son of Wolfric, lord of Halton).^[2] Their children were William and Amabilia.^[2]

Gilbert was the first baron of Kinderton^[3] and the progenitor of the English de Venables family; his grandson Gilbert II de Venables also held the title of Baron of Kinderton. Gilbert was one of the nine barons of the county-palatine of Chester. Although his name derives from Venables, Eure it is likely that he was the huntsman who served the Duke of Normandy based on the etymology; "Veneur" (huntsman), and "Abilis" (able). His seal was a falcon sinister regardant although his descendants used a variation of the coat of arms of the counts of Blois, which suggests this was his coat of arms too.

He issued a charter in 1087 in which Ralph de Brereton was a witness. There has been speculation^[who?] that ever since Ralph de Brereton there has been a close relationship between the de Venables and the de Brereton possibly that the Breretons acted as the de Venables squire/attendant. Since the de Breretons were given Gilbert's third most valuable fief and were recorded as witnesses in his charters it is likely that this was the case.