Walter de Huntercombe, 1st Baron Huntercombe

Walter de Huntercombe, 1st Baron Huntercombe (1247–1313) was an English military commander during the Wars of Scottish Independence and a Governor of Edinburgh Castle.

In c. 1283 Huntercombe took part in a military expedition into Wales as part of the wider Conquest of Wales by Edward I. On 4 June 1290, Huntercombe took possession of the Isle of Man for Edward I, the island previously having been under the control of the Scots. In early 1293 King Edward I ordered Huntercombe to relinquish the island to John Balliol, the King of Scots and Edward's vassal.

In 1294 Huntercombe was summonsed to Portsmouth by Edward I in view of the French occupation of the Duchy of Gascony. In June 1295 he was rewarded for his service by being created Baron Huntercombe. His arms were ermine, two bars gemells, gules.

The Wars of Scottish Independence

In 1296 and 1297 Huntercombe took part in the Wars of Scottish Independence. By his own testimony, de Huntercombe was at the Capture of Berwick with 20 mailed horse, at the Battle of Stirling Bridge with 32 horses. In 1298 he was appointed Governor of Edinburgh Castle. Huntercombe was also appointed Sheriff of Edinburgh, Linlithgow and Haddington. In 1307 he successfully petitioned the King that he be released from the duty to pay scutage for the two Scottish wars in addition to being granted permission levy scutage from his tenants. Huntercombe argued for these privileges on the basis that he had served in both wars.

Huntercombe died in 1312 without issue and his barony became extinct.