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

DEVON-SHIRE.

1. Exeter.

IN ancient times within the precincts of the Close, were three Religious Housesa 1.1. The first was a Nunnery, which is now the Deans house, the other was a house of Monks reported to have been built by King Ethelred, about A. Ch. 868. The third was a Monastery of Benedictines founded by King Aethelstan A. D. 932. but the Monks not long after his death, forsook it for fear of the Danes, till A. D. 968. at which time King Edgar restored them. Upon the re∣moval of the Bishops See hither from Crediton A. D. 1050. the Monks were translated to West∣minister. Bishop Leofricus uniting the three fore∣mentioned Monasteries into his Cathedral Church, placed here some Secular Canons; but the Chapter was not settled till Bishop Brewer A. D. 1235. established and endowed a Dean, and twenty four Prebendaries. This Church is dedicated to St. Mary and St. Peter.

Vide Mon. Angl. T. 1. p. 220.

Quaedam Historica ad Ecclesiam S. Petri Exon. spectantia, cum Catalogo Reliquiarum MS. super D. 1. Art. 76. in Bibl. Bodl.

* Chronicon Exoniensis Ecclesiae MS. in Bibl. Bodl. Laud. I. 71.

* Registr. MS. in Bibl. Bodl. Wood. 9.

2. Crediton.

Upon the division of the Diocese of Shirborn A. D. 985. by King Edward and Arch-bishop Plegmund, Eadulphus was made Bishop of Devon∣shire, who built his Cathedral Church here. And tho' the Bishops See was removed to Exeter A. D. 1050. yet here remain'd a Collegiate Church dedicated to the Holy Cross, consisting of a Dean and twelve Prebendaries, till the ge∣neral Dissolution, at which time it was endowed with 140^l. 14^s. 5^d. per an.

3. Pilton.

A Benedictine Priory founded by King Aethel∣stan, and dedicated to St. Mary. It was subor∣dinate to Malmsbury in Wiltshire, and rated at the Suppression at 56^l. 12^s. 8^d. ob. Dugd.

4. Tavystock.

An Abby of Benedictines founded here by Ordgar Earl of Devonshire, A. D. 961. and dedi∣cated to St. Mary and St. Rumon. It was valued 26. Hen. VIII. at 902^l. 5^s. 7^d. per an. Dugd.

Vide Mon. Angl. T. 1. p. 217, 995.

Cartularium penes Joh. Maynard Arm. MS.

5. Clive. Qu.

About A. D. 1005. Ailmar Earl of Cornwall built a Monastery of Black Canons to the ho∣nour of St. Mary Magdalene. Speed.

6. Plimpton.

Here was a Collegiate Church of the foun∣dation of some of the Saxon Kings, for a Dean and four Prebendaries, which being dissolved, W. Warwast Bishop of Exon. (temp. Hen. I.b 1.2) founded a Priory of Black Canons, and dedica∣ted it to the Apostles St. Peter and St. Paul. It's yearly revenues at the Dissolution were worth 912^l. 12^s. 8^d. ob.

Vide Mon. Angl. T. 2. p. 6.

7. Ottery.

Made a Cell to the Abby of St. Mary in Roan by King Edward the Confessor A. D. 1060. but granted by the Abbat and Convent 8. Ed. III. to Ioh. Grandison Bishop of Exeter who A. D. 1337. founded a College here, consisting of a Warden, eight Prebendaries, ten Vicars, a Ma∣ster of Musick, a Master of Grammer, two Priests, eight Deacons, eight Choristers, and two Clerksc 1.3, to the honour of Christ Iesus, the bles∣sed Virgin Mary, and King Edward the Con∣fessor. It was valued 26. Hen. VIII. at 303^l. 2^s. 9^d. per an.

Vide Mon. Angl. T. 1. p. 549. T. 3. P. 2. p. 59.

8. Hertland.

Githa wife to Earl Godwin, placed Secular Priest's in the Church of St. N••ctan here, who

were changed into Canons of the Order of St. Austin by Galfrid de Dynam, (temp. Hen. II.) It was rated at the Dissolution at 306^l. 3^s. 2^d. q. per an.

Vide Monast. Angl. T. 2. p. 285.

9. Totteness

An Alien-Priory, Cell to the Abby of St. Ser∣gius and St. Bachus at Angiers, to which Abby it was given byd 1.4 Iuhellus fil. Aluredi, (temp. Will. Conq.) It was dedicated to St. Mary, and was not suppressed till 27. Hen. VIII. at which time it was endowed with revenues to the value of 24^l. 9^s. 2^d. per an. Dugd. 124^l. 10^s. 2^d. ob. Speed.

Vide Mon. Angl. T. 1. p. 1023.

10. Barnstaple.

Ioel fil. Alluredi (temp. Will. Conq.) founded here an Abby of Cluniack Monks, and dedicated it to St. Peter and St. Paul and St. Mary Magdalene. It was subordinate to St. Martin de Campis in Paris, and rated at the Dissolution at 123^l. 6^s. 7^d. Dugd. 129^l. 15^s. 3. q. Speed.

Vide Mon. Angl. T. 1. p. 684, 1024.

11. Exeter.

A little Priory built by Will. Rufus, to the ho∣nour of St. Nicholas, and by him annexed as a Cell to Battel Abby, valued at 154^l. 12^s. Speed. 147^l. 12^•. Dugd.

Vide Mon. Angl. T. 1. p. 352.

* Registrum quondam penes D. Wilh. le Neve Regem Armorum, nunc in Bibl. Cotton.

12. Axmouth.

An Alien-Priory Cell to the Abby of Mount-borow, to which it was given by Richard de Redvers, temp. Hen. I.

Vide Mon. Angl. T. 2. p. 992.

13. Brightley.

Here Richard Redvers Sheriff of Devon-shire, A. D. 1136. founded an Abby for Cistertian Monks, who afterward removed to

14. Ford.

Which place was given to them A. D. 1142. by Adelicia wife of Richard de Brioniis. It was dedi∣cated to the blessed Virgin Mary, and endowed at the Suppression with 374^l. 10^s. 6^d. ob. per an. Dugd. 381^l. 10^s. 6^d. ob. Speed.

Vide Mon. Angl. T. 1. p. 785.

15. Exeter.

Baldwin de Riveriis Earl of Exeter about A. D. 1146. founded here a Monastery of Cluniack Monks, and dedicated it to St. Iames. It's yearly revenues were worth 26. Hen. VIII. 502^l. 12^s. 9^d. Dugd.

Vide Mon. Angl. T. 1. p. 643.

16. Buckfastre.

An Abby of Cistertians founded by Ethelwerd

son to Will. Pomerei, (temp. Hen. II.) to the ho∣nour of the blessed Virgin. It was valued at the Suppression at 466••. 11^s. 2^d. ob. q. per an. Dugd.

Vide Mon. Angl. T. 1. p. 792, 945.

17. Torr.

An Abby of Praemonstratenses founded by Wil. Briwere, (temp. R. Ricardi I.) and dedicated to St. Mary, S. Saviour, and the holy Trinity. It's yearly revenues were worth at the Suppression 396^l. 11^d. Speed. Dugd.

Vide Mon. Angl. T. 2. p. 652.

Reg. Abbati•• d•• Torr MS. in S••actario pen. Remem. Regis.

18. Dunkeswe••l.e 1.5

A. D. 1201. Will. Briwere built an Abby of White Monks to the honour of St. Mary. By the charity of the Founder and some other be∣nefactors, it was endowed 26. Hen. VIII. with 294^l. 18^s. 6^d. per an. Dugd. 298^l. 11^s. 10^l. Speed.

Vide Mon. Angl. T. 1. p. 925.

19. Otterington.

King Iohn gave this Mannor to the Monks of St. Michael in periculo maris in Normandy, to which Abby it afterwards became a Cell.

Vide Mon. Angl. T. 1. p. 569.

20. Can••••dnleigh.

Walter Clavel first founded a Monastery for

Canons of the Order of St. Austin, who were expelled by Maud de Clare Countess of Hereford, (temp. R. Hen. III.) and Nuns placed in their room. It's yearly revenues were worth at the Suppression 197^l. 1^d. Dugd. 202^l. 15^s. 3^d. Speed.

Vide Mon. Angl. T. 2. p. 362.

21. Frithelstoke.

A Priory of Black Canonsf 1.6 built by Robert Beauchamp (temp. Hen. III.) to the honour of St. Mary and St. Gregory. It was rated 26. Hen. VIII. at 127^l. 4^d. q. per an. Speed.

Vide Mon. Angl. T. 2. p. 326.

22. Exeter.

Gilbert and Iohn Long Merchants of Ex••ter, built a Priory of Canonsg 1.7 of the Order of St. Austin, A. D. 1273. to the honour of St. Iohn Baptist. It was rated at the Suppression at 102^l. 12^s. 9^d. per an. Speed.

Vide Mon. Angl. T. 2. p. 362.

23. Pollshoo.

Will. Briwere Bishop of Exeter (temp. Hen. III.) built here a Benedictine Nunnery to the honour of St. Katherine. It was valued 26. Hen. VIII. at 164^l. 8^s. 11^d. per an. Dugd. 170^l. 2^s. 3^d. Speed.

Vide Mon. Angl. T. 1. p. 545.

24. Newenham,

A. D. 1246. Reginald de Moh••••n founded here

an Abby for Cistertian Monks, and dedicated it to the blessed Virgin. It was endowed at the Dissolution with 227^l. 7^s. 8^d. per an. Dugd. 231^l. 14••. 4••. Speed.

Vide Monast. Angl. T. 1. p. 928.

* Reg. de Newenham in Bibl. Arundel 1647. nunc in Bibl. Coll. Gresham. Norf. 147.

25. Modbury, Molerey. Sp.

An Alien-Priory to the Abby of St. Peter su∣per Dinam in France, to which it was given by ... Ruan or ... Extonh 1.8. It was of the Bene∣dictine Order, and dedicated to St. Gregory. After the Dissolution of these Priories, King Henry VI. gave it to Eton College.

Vide Mon. Angl. T. 1. p. 507. T. 3. P. 2. p. 198.

26. Buckland.

A Priory of Cistertians founded by Amicia Countess of Devon, A. D. 1278. and dedicated to St. Mary and St. Benedict. It was valued at the Dissolution at 241^l. 17^s. 9^d. ob. per an.

Vide Mon. Angl. T. 1. p. 790, 939.

27. Cowike or Cuich.i 1.9

An Alien-Priory Cell to the Abby of Beck in Normandy, being thereunto given by Will. fil. Baldwink 1.10, A. D. ... It was dedicated to St. Andrew.

Vide Mon. Angl. T. 2. p. 954.

28. Slapton.

A College of Prebendaries founded by Guy Brien about A. D. 1350. Lel. Itin. vol. 3.

Vide Histor••a•• Fundationis Cantariae de Slapton in Dioc. Exon. MS. In Bibl. Bodl. inter libros ab Ant. Wood. emptos. 3.

29. Sidmouth.

An Alien-Priory to Mountborow Abby in Nor∣mandy. Lel. Itin. vol. 2.

30. Dartmouth.

A little Cell of St. Patric in the Castle here, annexed to some great Abby. Lel. Itin. vol. 3. p. 40.

31. S. Michael.

A Priory of Black Monks, being a Cell to Malmsburyl 1.11.

32. Careswellm 1.12.

A Cell to Montac••te Priory in Somersetshire.n 1.13

33. Spelep••••••••.

An Alien-Priory, Cell to the Abby of St. Pe∣ter de Fulgeriis in Britanny.

34. Tunstal.

An Alien-Priory.

35. Berleston.

A Priory of Black Canons. Speed.

36. Cornworthy. Lel.

A Nunnery valued 26. Hen. VIII. at 63^l. 2••. 10d. Speed. Dugd.

37. Exeter.

A Benedictine Nunnery dedicated to St. Ka∣therine.

Vide Mon. Angl. T. 1. p. 503.

38. Clovely.

Will. Cary founded here a College for a Dean and six Prebendaries, 11. Ric. II.

Vide Mon. Angl. T. 3. P. 2. p. 109.

39. Marsehe.

A Cell to Plimpton.

☜ Mr. Speed placeth in this County Christ-Church-Twinham, which is in Hantshire; and Syo•• which should be in Middlesex.

Notes

• a 1.1

  I Hooker's History of the Cathedral Church of Ex••ter, in Hollingshed. Vol 2. p. 1027.
• b 1.2

  Not founded by Baldw. Redvers of Devon. temp. Hen. III. as in Speed.
• c 1.3

  Leland. Coll. vol. 1. p. 76.
• d 1.4

  Speed saith that one Roger Newman was founder of this Priory.
• e 1.5

  Falsly placed by Mr. Speed in Somersetshire.
• f 1.6

  A Priory of Black Canons dedicated to St. Nicholas, MS. Bodl.
• g 1.7

  Not Grey-Friers as in Speed's Catalogue.
• h 1.8

  Leland. Itin. Vol. 3.
• i 1.9

  Not two distinct Priories as in Speed.
• k 1.10

  Founded by Thomas Earl of Devon-shire. Speed.
• l 1.11

  Speed. Reyner.
• m 1.12

  In 〈…〉〈…〉.
• n 1.13

  Leland. Er∣••oneously reckoned among the 〈…〉〈…〉.