St Victor L’Abbaye

also known as St Victor-en-Caux

The castle is situated in the village of St Victor L’Abbaye in the département of Seine-Maritime in France, which lies just north of the A29 between Amiens and Le Havre, 32 km south of Dieppe.

Article by Paul Remfry

In 1054 Roger Mortimer (d1078), the son of Bishop Hugh of Coutance, fought and won the battle of Mortemer for Duke William of Normandy (d1087). However, in the aftermath of the battle he returned to his castle at Mortemer where entertained his father-in-law, Count Ralph IV Montdidier of Amiens (d1074) who had fought on the other side. Then he released him. His overlord Duke William was astounded at what he saw as an act of treachery and seized Roger’s estates. Later he restored all of the Mortimer lands except for Mortemer itself. At this point St Victor-en-Caux with its Priory became the caput* of the Mortimer family.

Virtually nothing remains of the castle except for its much denuded motte, the wooded slopes of which can be seen beside the church. Possibly this was founded in or soon after 1054 to replace the lost castle of Mortemer.

*caput = “head place”