The Norris family were well established in the forest fee of Lancashire by the early thirteenth century in various property between Formby and Widnes. The Speke lands themselves were originally held by the Molyneuxs and Haselwells. These holdings first came to members of the Norris family through the marriage of half-brothers Alan and John, sons of Alan le Norris of Formby (who already had other interests in Hale and Garston), to two of the Haselwell heiresses. From these two, it is possible to trace the branches of the Norris family with interests across South Lancashire in Barton, Blackrod, Burtonhead, Daresbury, Eltonhead, Formby, Garston, Halsnead, Kirkby, Speke, Sutton, West Derby and Woolton. The University deeds, however, pertain almost entirely to interests in Speke, Woolton, Garston and Hale. Molyneux remains a significant name throughout these deeds, and the inquisitio post mortem following the death of Henry Norris in 1524 found that the Speke lands were held by knight service of Sir William Molyneux, under whom Henry and his brother William were said to have fought at the Battle of Flodden Field in 1513. The lands were not purchased by the Norrises until the mid sixteenth century.
The existing hall at Speke was begun by Sir William Norris (knighted after fighting for the Lancastrians at Battle of Stoke 1487) during the reign of of Henry VIII. His son Henry (suceeded 1506, died 1524) was in turn succeeded by Sir William Norris, M.P. for Liverpool, who continued the building work. He purchased the Grosvenor lands in Lancashire and exchanged the family's lands in Formby, Lydiate and Ince Blundell for those of Lawrence Ireland in Woolton and Garston. He also examined the family's deeds, and the endorsements found on the reverse of some of the deeds which have helped with their dating and provenance are in his handwriting. The south and east ends of Speke Hall were added by William's son Edward. The final deeds in the University's collection chart the financial problems of Sir William Norris K.B. (made a Knight of Bath under the sucession of James I) and the loss of Speke Hall. He was reputedly reckless with money, and his financial troubles were worsened by the fines he had to pay as a rescusant (NORRIS 282 ). The Hall was mortgaged to John Fleming, who had married one of Sir William's daughters, in 1625 (NORRIS 276 ). After the death of Sir William Norres in 1630, his property was left to Sir Cuthbert Clifton, John Fleming and John Poole (see NORRIS 290 for his last will and testament), and there is evidence of some attempts to manage the estates finances and to provide for Sir William's sons William, Alexander and Henry.
The Norris family members holding the manor of Speke can be traced as follows:
- Alan le Norris
- John le Norris (brother of Alan, d. ca.1333)
- Alan le Norreys (d. 1349-50. His brother William founded the West Derby branch, and his son John the Woolton branch.)
- Sir Henry le Norris (d. 1367-8)
- Sir John Norris (d. ca.1372)
- Henry Norris (d. 1437-8)
- William Norris (d. 1467-8)
- Thomas Norris (married Letitia Norris of the West Derby branch. She inherited the Norris lands in Anglesey.)
- Sir William Norris (married Katherine, daughter of Sir Henry Bold; d. 1506)
- Henry Norris (d. 1524)
- Sir William Norris, M.P. for Liverpool (d. 1568)
- Edward Norris (d. 1606)
- Sir William Norris K.B. (d. 1630)
- William Norris (d. 1651)
