Notitia monastica, or, A short history of the religious houses in England and Wales by Thomas Tanner ...

BARK-SHIRE.

1. Abingdon.

THIS Abbey was founded about A. D. 675. by Heane Nephew to Cissa Vice∣roy of the West-Saxons, but the Monks forsook it in K. Alfreds time for fear of the Danes. It was restored A. D. 955. by the munificence of K. Edred. and K. Edgar and by the care of Ethelwulfus, afterward Abbat here. This Monastery being of the Benedictine Order and dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, was endowed at the Suppression with 1876^l. 10^s. 9^d. according to Sir William Dugdale's Valuation, or according to Mr. Speed with 2042^l. 2^s. 8^d. ob. q. per an.

Vide Monasticon Angl. T. 1. p. 96. Angliae Sacr. T. 1. p. 163. Reynerii Apostolat. B••ned. in Anglia: Tract. 2. p. 124.

Historiam MS. de primis Fundatoribus Abben∣doniae in Bibl. Cotton. Vitellius A. 13.

* Registrum de Abbendon MS. quondam penes Baron. Fenton, nunc in Bibl. Cotton. Claudius C. 6.

* Cartas de terris pertinentibus ad Monast. de Ab∣bendon in Bibl. Cotton. Jul. C. 2. 21.

* Cartularium de Abbend. MS. penes ... Ber∣ry de Cullam prope Abbend.

* Registrum aliud MS. penes Magistrum Wray de Ricot in Com. Oxon.

* Apographa Cartarum &c. ad hoc coenobium spe∣ctantium in Volum. secundo Collectionum MSS. Bri∣ani Twine in Bibl. Coll. Corp. Christi Oxon.

2. Hellenstowa

Here was a Nunnery built by Cissa or Cilla Si∣ster to Hean Founder of Abingdon to the honour of the Holy Cross and S. Helen; not long after it's Foundation it was removed to Witham, from whence also the Nuns were forced to fly by rea∣son of the Wars.

Vide Monast. Angl. T. 1. p. 97. 99.

3. Hurley.

A Cell of Benedictine Monks to the Abbey of Westminster, to which it was given by Ieffrey de

Magna-villa or Mandevil in the reign of William the Conqueror. It was dedicated to St. Mary, and valued 26. Hen. VIII. at 121^l. 18^s. 5••. Dugd. 134^l. 10^s. 8^d ob. Speed.

Vide Monast. Angl. T. 1. p. 363.

4. Walingford.

The Church of the Holy Trinity here, being given to the Abby of St. Albans, Paul the Ab∣bat (temp. Will. Conq.) sent hither a Con∣vent of Monks, and so made it a Cell to that Monastery.

Vide Mon. Angl. T. 3. P. 1. p. 11. T. 1. p. 326.

5. Reading.

In the Saxon times here was a Nunneryb built by Queen Alfrith, but that being destroyed and the lands alienated, King Henry I. A. D. 1225. founded an Abby here to the honour of the Holy Trinity, the Blessed Virgin, St. Iames and St. Iohn the Evangelist, for two hundred Black Monks. The yearly Revenues of this Abby, were worth at the Dissolution, 1938^l. 14^s. 3^d. ob. q. Dugd. 2116^l. 3^s. 9^d. Speed.

Vide Monast. Angl. T. 1. p. 417.

Reyner. Apostolat. Benedict. Tr. 2. p. 152.

Registrum Abbatiae de Reading in Bibl. Cotton. Vespasian. A. 1.

* Aliud in eadem Bibliotheca Domitian. A. 3.

* Aliud penes ... Davies de Pangburn in Com. Bercher.

* Catalogum Benefactorum Mon. Radingensis in Bibl. Lambeth. 4^•o. XLVII.

* Registrum mutilum hujus Abbatiae penes V. Rev. Rob. Woodward L. L. D. Decanum Eccl. Cathedr. Sarisbur.

* Cartularium de omnibus terris, tenementis, red∣ditibus, placitis, &c. ad Abbatiam de Reading perti∣nentibus, manu antiqua in membrana pulchre exara∣tum. fol. Continens paginas 500. Hunc quantivis pretii Codicem MS. inter alia vener••••dae Antiquitatis monumenta religiosissime conservat Vir Dignissimus Henricus Worsley, nuper Aulae S. Edmundi Oxon. nunc Hospitii Lincolniensis Armiger.

6. Steiningtonc or Stiventon.

An Alien Priory, Cell to the Abby of Becc in Normandy, to which it was given by King Hen. I.

Vide Mon. Ang. T. 2. p. 954.

7. Sandford or Sandlefordd.

Galfred Earl of Perch and Maud his wife, (temp. R. Iohan.) founded a Priory here for Canons of the Order of St. Austin, and dedicated it to St. Iohn Baptist. About A. D. 1480. the Monks forsook this Monastery, which was thereupon

annexed to Windsor College, by Richard Beau∣champ then Bishop of Sarume.

Vide Monast. Angl. T. 1. p. 481. T. 3. P. 1. p. 66.

8. Farendon.

A Priory of Cistertian Monks founded by King Iohn A. D. 1200. it was subordinate to the Abby of Beaulieu in Hampshire.

Vide Monast. Angl. T. 1. p. 926.

* Cod. antiquum MS. membran. (inter MSS. Bar∣lovianos in Bibl. Bodl.) continentem Taxationes, Regulas compoti, Consuetudines & alia spectantia ad maneria Domus de Farendon. Fol.

9. Poghley.

Here was a Priory founded by Ralph de Chad∣deworth, (temp. Hen. III.) for Canons Regular of the Order of St. Augustine; and dedicated to St. Margaret. It was rated at the Suppression at 71^l. 10^s. 7^d. Speed.

Vid. Mon. Angl. T. 2. p. 266.

10. Walingford.

Edmund Earl of Cornwall (10. Ed. I.) built in the Castle here, a Collegiate Church to the honour of St. Nicholas, and endowed it with Lands and Revenues for the maintenance of a Dean, six Prebends, six Clerks, and four Chori∣sters for ever. It was endowed at the Dissolution, with 147^l. 8^s. per an.

Vide Monast. Angl. T. 3. P. 2. p. 34.

* Evidentias quamplurimas Originales de Wal∣lingford & Ecclesits ibidem inter munimenta Oppidi de Burcester in Com. Oxon.

11. Bustleham v. Bisham.

A. D. 1338. William Montacute Earl of Sarum built a Priory here, for Canons Regular of St. Austin's Order, to the honour of Christ Iesus and the blessed Virgin Mary. At the survey of the Religious Houses made 26. Hen. VIII. this Abby was worth 285^l. 11^s. ob. per an. Dugd. 327^l. 4^s. 6^d. Speed. The Prior and Convent of this Mona∣stery having surrendred it to the King 28. Hen. VIII. The following year it was restored by the same King, and endowed with the lands of the late dissolv'd Priories of Ankerwike, Little Marlow, and Mendham, with several other Re∣venues, to the value of 661^l. 14^s. 9^d. per an. for the maintenance of an Abbat and thirteen Monks of the Benedictine Order; but this was also soon after dissolv'd.

Vide Mon. Angl. T. 12. p. 355. T. 3. P. 1. p. 21.

12. Windsor.

King Henry I. founded a Chantry for eight Priests, neither endow'd nor incorporate, but maintain'd by an annual pension out of the Ex∣chequer. King Edward III. (anno regni 22.) found∣ed this College for a Custos, twelve Secular Ca∣nons, thirteen Priests or Vicars, four Clerks, six Choristers, twenty six Almes Knights, besides

other Officers, to the honour St. George and St. Edward the Confessor.

Vide Mon. Angl. T. 3. P. 2. p. 67.

* Elias Ashmole's Institution of the Garter, Cap. 4. §. 3. In hoc libro habetur Historia hujus Ecclesiae Collegiatae satis accurata, cum relationibus ad Cartas Originales & Registra penes Decanum & Capitulum, & alibi.

13. Bromhall.

Here Edw. the Black Prince founded a House of Benedictine Nuns, and dedicated it to S. Mary Magdalenef.

Vide Mon. Angl. T. 2. p. 899.

14. Noion & Novo Mercato. Qu.

A Cell of Benedictines to the Abby of S. Ebrulf in Normandy. After the suppression of Alien-Priories, it was given by King Henry V. to his new erected Monastery at Sheen.

Vide Mon. Angl. T. 1. p. 975.

15. Shottesbrook.

A College valued at 33^l. 18^s. 8^d. Dugd. Speed.

* Vide Cartas Autographas ad hoc Collegium spectan∣tes

penes Will. Cherry Armigerum ejusdem Manerii Dominum. 1694.

16. Hamme.

A Nunnery of Benedictines dedicated to St. Mary Magd. Speed. Qu.

☜ The Priory of Donington is not mentioned here, because 'twas only a House of Friers. The Monasticon placeth Stratfield-say in this County, but it is in Hampshire. And I shall take notice of Murresley in Buckinghamshire, which Mr. Speed has erroneously reckoned among the Religious Houses in this Shire.

Notes

• a

  This Nunnery is omitted by Mr. Speed, and the Charters belonging to El••stow or Hell••••stow in B••dfordshire, are (Mon. Angl. T. 1. 359.) erroneously ascribed to this in Berkshire. Whereabout this Monastery was situated I was wholly ignorant, (seeing there is no Village of this name at present in this County) 'till informed by Leland

  That there was a Nun∣nery in the time of K. Ina at Abendon in the place where S. Hellen's Church now stands.
• b

  Leland tells us,

  That the old Nunnery was where the Parish Church of St. Mary now is.

  Most of our Historians record the building of Wherwell and Ambresb••ry by this Queen Alfrith, wife to King Edgar; but I could never find any hint of her Founding of this Nunnery at Reading, so that I am afraid Mr. Speed is under a mistake.
• c

  This is falsly placed by the Monasticon, (T. 1. p. 1035.) in Wiltshire.
• d

  The Monasticon (T. 1. p. 482. T. 3. p. 1, 13.) confounds this Sandleford (which is near Newbury) with Sandford or Littlemore in Oxfordshire.
• e

  Frith. Cat. Decan. & Canon. Windsor.
• f

  This account we have from Mr. Speed, who placeth it a∣gain in Norfolk. The MS. Catalogue of Religious Houses un∣der Sir Wil. Dugdale's own hand (inter MSS. Barlovi••••.) tells us of a Monastery of this name in Surry, which probably is a mistake for Berkshire. Reyner reckons this Priory among those of the Order of St. Austin.