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Proc Hampsh Field Club Archaeol Soc, 49, 1993, 207-227

NETLEY : , MANSION AND RUIN

Ay JOHN HARE

ABSTRACT isolated from the temptation of the rest of the world. The order had aroused immense jVetley Abbey was the youngest of 's , but enthusiasm, and spread rapidly in after with the exception of those whose churches are. still used, its the foundation of the first English house, that of buildings survive more completely than those of any other. When, Waverley, in 1128. Its strictness and the simplicity however, Henry VIII dissolved the abbey in 1536, a new and of its life appealed both to those who wished to important phase began for the abbey buildings, which were now dedicate themselves to the monastic life and, with to re-emerge as a great Tudor mansion. Even when this phase had ended and tfie. buildings had become ruined, they continued toits cheapness and spiritual enthusiasm, to those be influential. As a romantic ruin in the later eighteenth century, patrons who were contemplating founding a new jVelley was to be a source of interest and inspiration to many of monastery. was one of the last of the the writers of the lime, labels produced sonnets and odes and the Cistercian houses to be founded in England, and name of found its way onto the plqybilb ofljtndon belongs to a small group of monasteries settled in and into the hands of the novel-reading public of Germany, the thirteenth century from the great new royal and America. In this varied history, Netley has reflected foundation of Beaulieu in Hampshire, founded by many of the developments of 600 years in Hampshire and King John in 1203. beyond. The history of the abbey's early years has now been placed on a firm basis by CAF Meekings, upon whose article the next three paragraphs MONASTERY have been based (Meekings, 1981). had died in 1238, before the foundation Netley Abbey owed its foundation to Peter des of his new abbey in the following year. The Roches, of (1205-38) and a setting up of the monastery was thus the work of major political figure during the reigns of Kings his executors, the commissioner appointed John and Henry III. As bishop of one oT the by the Cistercian order (those of Quarr and richest dioceses in Christendom and as an Waverley). and the of the motherhouse, important influence on royal policy, he was a man Beaulieu. King Henry also helped, or did not of considerable wealth, and some of this was hinder the process, and subsequently claimed to applied to religious uses. He had already founded be the founder of the monastery. Bishop Peter three monasteries and a friary when, towards the may have sought to gain the king's support with end of his life, he became increasingly interested the dedication of the new monastery, which was in the Cistercian order. His heart was to be buried given to Henry Ill's favourite saint, King Edward at , Surrey, in the first of the the Confessor, the abbey being called the abbey of Cistercian houses and he planned to create two St Mary of Edwardstow, or the place of St Cistercian houses, one in France, at la Clarte Edward. The new monastery would need lands to Dieu, and one in England. It was the latter that provide it with an annual revenue: these came was to become Netley. from the purchase from two main sources. French The Cistercian order was one of the attempts monasteries who had been given lands in that emerged in Europe in the eleventh century to England, particularly after the Norman reform monasticism along stricter more Conquest, found it attractive to sell these now disciplined lines. The would be engaged in that the English kings had lost most of their manual work, as well as thought and prayer, with French lands and a return of English control in simpler buildings and music, and in remote sites France seemed unlikely. Secondly, gentry 208 HAMPSHIRE HELD CLUB AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY

Figl I lie- ,il)l)c\ i h u n h the west

suffering from financial difficulties sold land to well enough entrenched for its abbot to be the bishop or his executors. The endowment was appointed by the General of the certainly not lavish, and the bishop's death may Cistercian order to take part in the foundation of have been a cause of this. Netley was less well Xewenham Abbc\ in . Initialk there is endowed than his earlier foundations at little evidence of Henry III taking any interest in Halesowen and Titchfield, although not the development of the abbey. The turning point, compared with that of Selbournc. The abbey also alter which the king became more interested, needed a site for itself, and one that was seems to have been the decision by his brother sufficiently remote to fit in with the demands of Richard, carl of Cornwall, to found a new the Cistercian order. There was the village of Cistercian house at Hailes in in Hound nearby but that was all. Then, though not 1242-3. Henry also could be a Cistercian now, Netley, or Letley as it was also called. founder, but with the minimum cost. By 1244, he seemed a sensible choice; it was cut off from the was calling himself Netley's founder, or at least world by the woodland and heathland on its one of the founders, and in 1251 he claimed sole landward side and by the sea elsewhere. responsibility. In 1244 he ordered the grant of According to the Waverley chronicle, the £100 'for the foundation of the church, whereof monastery began in 1239, although its buildings the king wishes to lay the first stone as founder'. had not yet commenced, the site of Netley being His name and title can still be seen carved on acquired in 1240-1. By 1245, the community was one of the foundation stones for the crossing of MARK: NETLEYABBEY: MONASTERY, M \\M<>\ \\l) RUIN 209

Fig 2. The south from the nortli-ursi the monastic church. His generosity, however, roi) in the . His financial grants to the seems to have been rather less than this might abbey and its buildings may, moreover, have suggest. He did not give it any land until 1252-3, included money owed to Peter des Roches and when he gave it an uncultivated area of three from the vacant bishopric of Winchester. It thus hundred acres at Roydon (the King's gift or don du seems more appropiate, while accepting a role for 210 HAMPSHIRE FIELD CLUB AND VRCHAEOLOGU AL SOCIETY

Henry in the construction of the buildings, to see 1981, 24-32). Architecturally these would have des Roches as the founder of the abbey. included parts of the eastern arm, but not Initially, the monks would probably have necessarily the easternmost window. occupied temporary wooden accomodation, and The plan of the and , with the this and the more permanent buildings would square ended and aisled eastern arm, showed the have begun by 1241. The latter buildings standard design of English Cistercian church probably began in the east part of the site, building from the early thirteenth century including the sacristry, chapterhouse and onwards (Coldstream, 1986, 145-8). Its plan dormitory. The foundation of the abbey church bears little relation to the grand chevet of probably began in the period 1244-46, with the radiating chapels at its mother house, latter year more likely. By 1251, substantial neighbouring Beaulieu, but it does show quantities of lead were ordered by the king for the Cistercian influence. Here should be noted the abbey and he also granted 30 oaks, all for the simple plainness of the architecture, and the use church. The king made further grants of cash and of two storeyed design with the middle trees in the following year, and in the beginning gallery having shrunk into a wall passage, within of 1253 he gave a silver gilt processional cross. All the or upper window storey (Fig 3), this suggests thai during these years major roofing such as was also used at Tintern and Fountains was underway and that by 1253 substantial parts (Coldstream, 1986, 150). Contrasting with this of the abbey church were operational (Meckings, simplicity and with the lancets of the choir and

I •••• Fig 3. The south transept and dormitory range from the south-west. HARK: NETLEY ABBEY: MONASTERY. MANSION AND RUN 211 transept, and the plate of the activity for, as elsewhere, such alterations or undercroft, is the tracery of the large east window internal remodelling may well have left no which shows the influence of Henry's own evidence after the conversion to a country house, greatest architectural patronage: at Westminster the subsequent removal of such alterations, and a Abbey which he had begun to rebuild in 1246 period of decay. The only surviving evidence of (Colvin, 1963, 141). Here the work is any major building programmes in the monastic characterised by deep complex filleted mouldings, church is provided by a nineteenth century purbeck marble capitals and grooves for holding illustration of the east window suggesting the the window glass. This change may represent a addition of stone vaulting in the choir (Sharpe, halt in work or wholesale reappraisal of the 1848) and the remains of the vaulting of the south design in the course of its construction. It may transept. The latter probably belonged to the simply represent the King's desire as patron that fifteenth century, and the springers for the at least the great east end should reflect the new vaulting may still be seen (Fig 4). Some of the ribs style of building that was being developed at of the vault in the S. transept survived until the Westminster, rather than the more traditional nineteenth century. Within the conventual style of the rest of the building. The west entrance buildings, there was a remodelling of the of the also shows the features of dormitory undercroft or the day room in the mid- this new work suggesting an early remodelling of fourteenth century, when new windows were the cast range of the . inserted, and in the west range the demise of the For the rest of the church the design provides lay brothers probably led to rebuilding, and the our only dating evidence. Structurally, the addition of a new room. seems to have post-dated the north wall of the Little is known of the internal life of the , although the south existed from an monastery, for it is not well documented. From early date. The north aisle and the final the fifteenth century come two notebooks of completion of the nave would seem to belong to financial jottings of receipts and expenditure the later thirteenth century. The eastern or (PRO SC6/1258/11; SC12/14/64) and some dormitory range was probably amongst the estate records, but this is little and late. The earliest buildings on the site, and probably the surviving remains would have only been part of a south range went with this. Not enough of the bigger complex of monastic life. None of the west range remains to provide any specific dating outer buildings which would have provided the for its original buildings. It would appear that hospitality, the workshops and the stores survive. within little more than about half a century, the At neighbouring Beaulieu such workshops are abbey buildings had achieved their completed well documented and range from the tanner and plan. It was a typical later Cistercian the parchment maker to the forge and the arrangement, with the dining hall or bakehouse (Beaulieu Account Book). Some built at right angles to the adjacent cloister walk, unidentified buildings have been located. The by contrast to those of other monastic orders buildings would have been enclosed by the where the dining hall was usually built parallel to precinct bank and ditch that ran round the site, the cloisters. The chapter house was also fully nearby was the home farm and the three fish integrated into the eastern range. One of the ponds that provided fresh fish, while water was peculiarities of plan is the isolated building to the channelled from springs nearby (Kell, 69; Currie, east of the abbey with identical grouping of rooms 1988, 271; idem, 1989,21). on the first and second floors. Whether this The surviving monastic buildings suggest that represented the abbot's house or a building for the completion of the abbey was rapid, and on a special guests is unclear, but it has been referred substantial scale. Its abbot was summoned to to by the former title. parliament in 1295, 1296, 1300 and 1302, There are very few indications of building suggesting an important status, that may have works after the original construction. This may derived from a perception of being a royal not necessarily reflect a lack of any building foundation. But despite the royal patrons, it was 212 II WII'SIIIRI; FIELD CLUB AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY

Fig 4. The south transept: the remains of the later vaulting,

insufficiently endowed, small and continually in assessment a year later of £181 2s 81 2d. (PRO difficulties (Hockey, 1976, 95). In 1328 it had at SCI2/33/27), still placed it among the lesser least 15 monks and at the end in 1536 it possessed monasteries. seven, although the population of England had The abbey was poorly endowed and, for much declined on a comparable scale during this of its life, there remains little surviving period. Its poor endowment was reflected in the documentation. For the first half of its existence, tax assessment of 1291, when its income was the evidence must necessarily be supplemented by assessed at £S\ 2s (VCH, 147; Taxatio Ecclesiastica that of other Cistercian Houses and particularly Papae Nicholai). It was by no means the poorest of of the neighbouring but larger and richer mother the Hampshire monasteries, but it was certainly house of Beaulieu. Fortunately there still survives among the poorer ones. Nor did matters improve from the latter, a remarkable set of early accounts, in the course of its existence. It acquired some which provide an incomparable picture of the more land, but in the 1330's had to part with running of a Cistercian estate (Account Book of some of its properties {VCH, 147). When Henry ; Hockey, 1976, 56-73). From the VIII carried out his assessment of the value of beginning the Cistercian monks were helped by a church property in the Valor Ecclesiaslicus, the group of lay brothers or conversi, men subject to annual income of the abbey was assessed at £100 the monastic discipline but whose prime task was 12s 8d placin among the poorest of the Cistercian to cultivate the estate or run the workshops: the Houses in England. Even the more generous self-sufficiency of the monastery could thus be HARE:.: NEi'1'l.KY ABBEY: MONASTERY. MANSION AND RUIN 213 maintained while freeing the monks to devote landowner rather than a peculiarly Cistercian themselves more fully to prayer, study and the one. It had a relatively compact estate with much service of god, although manual work was also of its lands in the area around included. Accommodation for such lay brothers Water: Totton, Southampton, Roydon, Westset, would be provided in the west claustral range. Hound, Shottisham, , Townhill, This range has largely disappeared at Netley, but Shamelhurst, Netley and Wellow. In addition it the former presence of the lay brothers here is had a group of manors or lands scattered in indicated by the surviving access doorway from neighbouring counties: Northleigh (Oxon.) their quarters into the west end of the church. Gomshulle (Surrey), Kingston Deverill (Wilts), Normally, the estates were cultivated by creating Waddon, Ashley and Charleton (Dorset) (PRO large farms or granges which could be operated SC6/Hen VIII/ 3326). The estate was run both by the lay brothers, supplemented by paid labour. by the abbot and his monks, such as the cellarer, On Netley's estate there were granges at Netley, and by lay officials such as the steward. In Wellow, Roydon and (Surrey) (Taxatio addition, as on other estates, the abbey had its EccUsiasUca Papae Mcholai), but we know little more own council (Latham, 1928, 61-3). The manorial than this. On diat of Beaulieu, there were a group accounts provide glimpses of the activity of some of granges around the abbey and another around of the estate officials, thus at Kingston Deverill in in . For Beaulieu, we have 1411 the visitors included the steward and others both documentation and some of the surviving coming on two occasions to hold the manorial buildings of these granges, which as at St Leonard courts and to supervise the manor and stock, and , reflect the wealth and large brother John Lymington and brother Randulph scale of their agricultural activities. The accounts who came on the abbey's business on separate there show the activity of diese lay brothers, and occasions, and William Langport and others who their regular return to the abbey itself. But from came to supervise the manor and the account the beginning, Nedey also held other lands with (WRO 192/32). William seems to have an existing settlement and agricultural established a brief family tradition for in the organization, with a manor that included a 1440's and 1450's a John Langport was the abbey mixture of the monastic farm (as previously Receiver, and frequently appears to supervise the cultivated by its lay owner) and of the land manor and stock, and draw up the annual cultivated by the tenants. Such manors continued accounts. He was also to appear at Roydon in to be operated in their traditional way. During 1459 and 1462 (PRO SC6/980/24; 26). In some the thirteenth century, both Netley and Beaulieu years the abbot came to Kingston Deverill. in contributed to the expansion of cultivation seen in others not; at other times it seems to have been this period, and were particularly involved in the the cellarer who was the more active in estate colonisation into the woods and wastes of the administration (WRO 192/32), a reflection New Forest. Thus Henry's gift of Roydon, saw perhaps of varying personal interests and the Netley converting the heath and scrub to a more flexible distribution of tasks in such a small grange, and arable and livestock farming. religious house. The abbot may have been a more regular visitor to estates that were closer to the It is only in the fifteenth century that we can abbey itself as at Roydon (PRO SC6/980/24-27). begin to see the functioning of the estate, as a The accounts may also provide glimpses of the large number of manorial accounts survive for earlier career of some of the abbots. Thomas the last century of the monastery's existence, Stevens who was abbot of Netley at the although it is a very incomplete collection. By dissolution, and then moved on to Beaulieu where then the organization of Cistercian estates had he became abbot in time to see the end of that changed as the monks had found it impossible to abbey as well, had earlier been the abbot's maintain an adequate supply of lay brothers and Receiver (PRO SC6/HVI1I/3319), and abbot they began to differ little from other estates John Burgeys had previously been the cellarer (Donnelly, 1954, 399-458). The abbey should (PRO SC6/980/27). now be treated as a substantial Hampshire 214 HAMPSHIRE FIELD CLUB AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY

Abbot's Lodgings

NETLEY ABBEY

50ft.

Fig 5. Plan of Neiley Abbey, based on the plan in Hamilton Thompson (1953). Abbreviations: (D) Dormitory above; (R) Reredorter (latrines) above; (F) Frater or dining hall.

On the Netley estate, as elsewhere, the later were not necessarily final changes and Kingston were to see the lord giving up his Deverill provides a good example of the abbey direct cultivation of most of the estates, replacing repeatedly changing its policy: it resumed the uncertainties of product prices by the greater cultivation temporarily in 1407, leased in 1408 stability of rent and the greater ease of and 1411, cultivated again in 1421 and 2, and administration found when the land was leased after a lease in 1423 resumed again in 1426. for a fixed sum. As elsewhere in diis area, this was From 1428 the leasing became permanent (WRO not a sudden or irreversible policy (Hare, 1985). 192/32). Elsewhere Northleigh and Gomshulle The process was already under way at the end of were leased by 1422, Charleton by 1448 and the fourteenth century when Kingston Deverill Roydon temporarily by 1422. Such manors sent was leased by 1396 and Wellow by 1398 cash to the abbey, although occasionally, as at (WRO/192/32; PRO SC6/983/12). But these Kingston Deverill, some livestock was sent to the HARE: NKT1.KY ABBKY: MONASTERY, MANSION AND RUIN 215

fi'

Kitchen I Hall Chapel [ c^}ooooc> <> o o o < b

•g ID o j>

NETLEY: THE TUDOR MANSION

Fig 6. Plan of the Tudor mansion, based on the plan in Hamilton Thompson (1953). supplemented by the plans in Guillaume. 1848, and Carter (BL Add. Mss. 29928). The garden measurements may not be exact. Abbreviations: (1) Great Chamber above; (2) gallery above; (3) garden terrace. abbey hospice, or some of the cash used to ceased by 1485 and 1501 (PRO SC6/980/2, 5, 6, purchase local products for the abbey (as in 1465 18, 25; 981/18; Hen VII/652). Such estates, and when four cloths were purchased at Salisbury for the home farm at Netley provided some of the £8 14s 4d) (WRO 192/32). grain and meat needed by the abbey and it is But like other monasteries, the abbey clear from die accounts of Townhill and Roydon maintained direct cultivation on some of its that their surplus was dispatched to the abbey neighbouring estates in the mid-fifteenth century itself, Townhill being engaged in some livestock and afterwards, in order to supply some of its fattening for this purpose (PRO SC6/983/10). basic food requirements (Hare, 1985). It was The abbey continued to cultivate some of its engaged in direct cultivation at Townhill in 1459, lands in its vicinity until the dissolution (PRO 1463 and 1488 (PRO SC6/983/10; 980/27; Hen SC12/33/27). VII/676); and at Roydon in 1413, 1422 and The abbey was a substantial producer of wool 1424, and, after a spell of leasing in 1425 and in the thirteenth century, although on a much 1459, resumed cultivation in 1461-3, until this smaller scale to Beaulieu or the great Benedictine 216 HAMPSHIRE F1KI.D CLUB AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY houses (Lloyd, 1973, table 5). In the fifteenth The area around the abbey itself, is an area about century, it kept substantial flocks on its chalkland whose rural economy we know very little. Here manors at Waddon (and its smaller satelite of too, some settlements suffered more than others, Ashley) in Dorset and Kingston Deverill in two rentals of 1303/4 and 1369/70, show that Wiltshire: in 1461 after a heavy bout of sheep Westbrook saw a much more dramatic decline in murrain the flock at Waddon dropped from 828 its tenant numbers than Hound (PRO SCI 1/583 to 595, and at Kingston Deverill there were and 584). regularly over 800 sheep in the mid century (PRO Grand as were its buildings the abbey seems SC6/833/20; WRO/192/32). The abbey to have been underendowed. When Henry VIII remained involved in these flocks until the 1490's, decided to dissolve the lesser monasteries (those withdrawing between 1493-98. At Kingston with an annual income of less than £200) Netley Deverill the sheep had been incorporated in the was one of his victims. The records of his lease of the manor but the abbey was still involved commissioners provide us with a glimpse of the in stocking the flock at Waddon and at Ashley abbey at the end of its existence (PRO until at least 1499 (WRO/192/32; PRO SC12/33/27). There were then seven monks, SC6/Hen VII/1040). This continued sheep 'all being priests, by report of good religious farming long after the arable lands had been conversation'. All but one wished to remain as leased was a feature of many of the downland monks, and unlike at the neighbouring house at landlords (Hare, 1985, 85-6). The abbey flocks Quarr, there is no evidence of the monks were essentially kept as a cash earner, and their changing their mind and wishing to leave (Faculty organization reflected the impact of the market: Office Register). In addition the buildings housed the lambs who were walked from Waddon 30 household servants, officials and officers and (Dorset) to Kingston Deverill were then fattened two observant, an order of friars that had for sale in the prosperous neighbouring markets already been closed by Henry and whose of the cloth industry, as well as being rented for members had been distributed among various their manure. households. Situated upon the shoreline, the The later Middle Ages were to be a period of abbey was of 'great relief and comfort' to those dramatic population decline but as on other travelling upon the seas, giving it a similar role estates the impact was not uniform. Some areas to the Cistercian house of Quarr on the Isle of suffered more than others, as they were unable to Wight (PRO SC12/33/27; Hare, 1993). Netley's resist the lure of more attractive areas beyond. buildings were described as 'large', and 'great', On the chalklands, a contrast may be seen and as 'in good state of repair'. While it was between the Wiltshire and Dorset manors of the clearly not an affluent house, it seems to have abbey. Kingston Deverill had the benefit of been living within its means, and no criticism proximity to the expanding cloth producing areas was made of the religious life here. But what is of west Wiltshire, which would have demanded lacking from this source as in so much our meat and grain as well as wool. Agriculture could evidence about the abbey, is any indication as to remain prosperous, although here by the 1430s, the spiritual life of the monastery or of the there were signs of increasingly decayed rents of religious role that provided the central cottages, suggesting that the manor was losing justification for the existence of this gentry labour to the expanding cloth areas nearby household. (WRO 192/32; Hare, 1992, 27-30). By contrast, on its Dorset manors, there was less immediate demand for agricultural products, and less ability MANSION to retain its population. Thus Charleton would seem to have been deserted during the fifteenth The dissolution brought an abrupt end to the century, for by 1501 there was little rent other life of the abbey, but it also opened up a new than from the two farms into which the demesne and important phase for its buildings. Like had been divided (PRO SC6/Henry VII/613). many other monasteries, Netley was converted HARE: NKTLEY ABBKY: MONASTERY, MANSION AND RUIN 2 1 7

into a great country mansion, in this case for Winchester at Bishop's Waltham {Literary the Paulets. The buildings were to be Remains, 81). For Henry VIII, this grant of transformed into something appropriate for the Netley, would have been both a means of new owner's power and prestige, and the site rewarding a loyal servant and of establishing a would remain an important centre of influence trusty lieutenant in a coastal and potentially in the area around. As a ruin, Netley shows this vulnerable part of the country, near the ports of conversion better than most that are still Southampton and Portsmouth. Paulet and later occupied. Thomas Wriothesley who acquired Titchfield Once the abbey had been dissolved its Abbey in 1538, would provide a focus for royal property could be disposed of. Some of its debts power in the area. were paid off (Youings, 1971, 226). Michael The new owners of the monasteries adopted Lyster and William Sherland paid over £800 for different approaches to the problem of adapting all the 'cattle and stock' at Netley (Kennedy, buildings designed for monastic use into the 1953, 149). Given that the dissolution very different demands of a great country house commissioners had valued the stocks, stores and (Howard, 1987). They wanted to produce up to corn at only £1 14. 13s. 8d. (PRO SC12/33/27) date mansions appropriate to a nobleman, but it would seem that they would have had the funds were not inexhaustable and they sought opportunity for considerable asset stripping to reuse the existing buildings as much as within the buildings. Soon afterwards, however, possible. At Netley, study of the surviving Henry granted the site to Sir William Paulet, buildings enables us to establish how this was and it was he who transformed the monastery done: the abbey being converted into a into a sixteenth century country house. Paulet courtyard house, the claustral area becoming came from a Hampshire gentry family; he was a the main courtyard (see Figs. 5, 6). It was a lawyer and civil servant who had already been conversion largely carried out in brick, although sheriff of Hampshire, and the holder of stone was also used, particularly for facing. important posts in royal government, as master Much of the brick work has, however, now gone, of the King's wards and comptroller of the royal both during the later decay and quarrying of household. Like many religious conservatives at the country house, and by deliberate attempt to the court, he showed no reluctance to acquire purify the ruins of what was perceived to be monastic land, and was second only to Thomas later clutter. Thus the blockings of the chapter Wriothesley in his acquisition of Hampshire house windows were removed during the 1860's monastic land (Kennedy, 1972, 81-2; Hare, clearance (Kell, 75, 82). 1993). He continued to prosper after his Paulet turned the nave of the great abbey acquisition of Netley, acquiring a peerage in church into his hall and kitchen. A cross wall was 1539, and subsequently becoming Earl of inserted to divide the nave at the end of the third Wiltshire in 1550 and Marquis of Winchester in bay from the west: the wall has gone but has left 1551. This social elevation reflected his its mark in the torn off shaft on the south wall. continual political importance, as one of the Brick ovens and hearths were installed, and leading councillors of the latter part of Henry further kitchen facilities were built outside to the VIII's reign and that of Edward VI, and one north. The hall filled the eastern part of the nave who kept the post of Lord Treasurer through and was entered from a newly cut door in the turbulent political times and successive religious south wall by the cloister. Paulet probably changes from 1550 until his death in 1572. He retained the arcades between the nave and . remained one of the most powerful figures in This would have reduced his cost, and while these Hampshire politics until well into the early part had certainly disappeared by the 1730's, their of Elizabeth's reign (DNB; BindofT. 1982; Fritze, early disappearance could be explained by being 1982) Paulet also carried out major building made of fine quality ashlar stone which would works at the family house of Basing House, and have been the most valued for quarrying and re- for a time held the great palace of the of use. The north transept was pulled down at this 218 HAMHSHIRIiKlEI.UClJUBiUCDAKCHABOIjOGICAI.SOCIF.'IT stage and not in the late eighteenth century as is structure today (Fig 8). The cloisters were frequently stated (eg Hamilton Thompson, 1953). destroyed and the open space converted into a This is evident in an estate survey of 1725 courtyard, probably cobbled, with a fountain in (HRO/Copy 641/12). Carter's plan in 1789 the centre (Kell, 77). The courtyard would shows the north wall of the nave and that of the provide access to the buildings around. The choir linked by a stone wall or footings across visitor would thus be faced initially by a grand where the transept would have been (BL Add entrance front and passing through this range Mss 29928) (see also Fig 7). Moreover the would see a great courtyard with the hall eastern shaft of the south west pier of the opposite. Arrangements in the west range were transept has also been cut in such a way that as unclear although they did include a brick-lined a new wall in this position could be keyed into staircase and the range extended further to the the pier. These are the sort of alterations that south. Further east, a private garden was laid out would only be made for conversion of the between the new house and the former abbot's buildings and not when they were in ruins. The building. It had brick-lined terraces and was north transept would have been an obvious enclosed by a high wall to the north (Kell, 85). building to pull down (as at Abbey); Such an enclosed garden is parallelled by the its presence would have blocked light from the arrangements at Paulet's other Hampshire former crossing, now the lord's dining area. The residence at Basing House. eastern arm of the choir was kept as a chapel, While it is possible that these alterations may not and the new cross wall built between it and what all have have belonged to a single campaign, it was now the hall, was recovered in the seems likely that they all belong to an initial nineteenth century (Kell, 81). Paulet's new conversion. A contemporary letter to the new private wing was built out of the south transept, owner of neighbouring abbey of Titchfield implies with a major room or great chamber inserted as that Paulet was then busy at Netley giving a first floor. The joist holes still cut into the instructions as to how the conversion should be monastic architecture show evidence of this made (PRO SPl/131/fl01), and there is nothing conversion. in the details of the building which would support In the east range, further doorways were a substantially later date. Structurally the new inserted to allow movement from one room to gallery and the new entrance front go together, as another, so avoiding the need for the covered reflected in the adjoining stair turret. cloisters, which were now destroyed; but the main Neighbouring Titchfield provides us with an importance of this range lay on the first floor excellent point of comparision to this conversion. where the dormitory was converted into one of There, after much discussion and changes of plan, the long galleries required by houses of the die frater or dining hall was transformed into the period, providing a central access for the main hall (St John Hope, 1906, 233-43), and a buildings as well as a recreational area for great gateway was inserted into the nave of the gathering and conversation (Coope, 1986, 44-51). church. But despite these contrasts, the final plans The gallery included at least two staircase of the two houses ended up being very similar, with entrances as well as access from the lord's great the gatehouse range opposite the hall, and with a chamber in the south transept. Additional long gallery along one side (see also Hare, 1993, accomodation was provided in the former 'pictures'). A standard courtyard plan might be monastic reredorter. The new main or south front required, whether the origins of the buildings were was built over the site of the former demolished monastic, as also at Mottisfont Abbey (HRO 13 monastic dining hall, and contained a central M63 420), or secular as at contemporary Cowdray doorway flanked by two polygonal turrets, with (Sussex). similar turrets at either end of the range. Paulet was active in most of the activities Although these towers or turrets have now concerning the defence and fortification of disappeared, they were visible in plan in 1789 Hampshire and the Isle of Wight from 1539 and their presence can still be deduced from the until his death in 1572, and it is appropriate that HARE M.II.KY Aliim MONASTERY, MANSION WDKI IN 219

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Fig 7. The south transept, with the remains of the vaulting in 1776 (Godfrey). Cope (lollection) outside his new house at Nctley he was to build a A late sixteenth century sketch of the house is small castle, whose guns would have been able to included in a contemporary map of command the middle and upper reaches of Southampton {Southampton maps) although this is . Though built by himself it not detailed enough to be useful. The house seems to have been part of a wider royal plan of remained an important mansion both then and defence and he was subsequently granted land for much of the seventeenth century. Queen for the maintenance of the castle and its Elizabeth had visited Paulet's successor the carl garrison. The castle was built by 1545 and of Hertford here, and the family continued to probably in 1544, a critical phase which had make use of it in the seventeenth century ended with the French licet in the Solent. It Sevmour Papers, pp 167, 205, 221, 227, 247, incorporates medieval mouldings suggesting that 250 2, 292, 306). It was described as a lau. in part it was built using materials from the mansion house' in 1636 (A short survey . . .), abbey itself (Colvin, 1982, 554-7). Kell and was clearly provisioned in 1642, when the suggested that this incorporated the former parliamentary committee at Southampton monastic outer gatehouse, but this has not been decided that the stores of sea coal there should substantiated. be confiscated (Godwin, 162-3). In 1650. the 220 HAMI'sHIKI. FIELD CLUB AND ARCHAEOLOGK ALSt M II. IV

Fig 8. Entrance front of Tudor house. The doorway was Hanked In two polygonal tOWCR. T h a i to the right shows the iinterior brickwork and the projecting quoins of the tower walls.

Earl of Hertford wrote to his son who was RUIN shortly to stay there, describing Netley as, 'neither unpleasant nor unsafe, if any place in By the beginning of the eighteenth century, the England be safe . .' (Aylesbury Mss p 156). It abbey had begun to enter its third phase of was still operational after the restoration, and existence, as a ruin. Browne Willis, in a book the Hearth tax returns of 1665 show that with published in 1719 records that the church section 50 hearths it was amongst the largest houses in survived until fifteen years before, when Sir Hampshire, and was then held by the countess B[erkley] L[ewis] sold the chapel (the eastern arm of Somerset (Hearth Tax, 163). Like of the church) to a Southampton carpenter who neighbouring Titchfield it may finally have took off the roof and destroyed many of the walls, succumbed to the uncertainties of family killing himself in the process. The destruction is successions, and in 1676, after the death of the reflected in the accounts for the rebuilding of St dowager duchess of Somerset, it was sold YCH Marys church at Southampton in 1710 11 and III, 477). It was probably some time after this, again in 1722-3. The necessary stone for the towards the end of the seventeenth century, that rebuilding was acquired from the ruins of Netley the house fell out of use and parts were sold off Abbey and on the latter occasion necessitated the for demolition. purchase and use of gunpowder (HRO Top HARE: M l i n MSM.Y MONAS1 ERY \l \\M<>\ AND WIN 221

Till. NORTH VIEW OF XETLEY ABBY. IN HAMPSHIRE.

\F.TIjn ..I/.,'/. -th.-r.-l..,- /.',//{,,/, ///-,/ ,,;u /i-un./f./ if./('. *< fU . I „ Ij.l | •'.:/,. .1/,./ /.-./' ///*//// \ . /'I ',/'/ It'////>>/// ..h,.A /.u/ (AfieAl, /•„/ r/i, , (A.ififf/ • »> n-/u, A.//.//<• if ,,•»/,,:,u,< .I/.-II,/ time ft'Afii f't/h-n.At'/inft.T A.i,/.',>/,/t/11.1 .U.i. • Aii/Zi/ y/A.y/.t.i.i/i.i/ //n.hrt,iAn ,ti./>,ii,.i/r,iitf /,• i/m-ir ,/,vni //.//,';r,i.> , m.'A './/,' ,/..l/A ill A,.< , n/.r/"r ;, , 'A.- / v/'iV : i. /w; • rhc north view of Netley Abbey in Hampshire S&N Buck. 1733). (Cope Collection]

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Fig 10. Inside.3> view of Netle) Tomkins, 1794). Cope Collection] 222 II WIl'Mllkl I II.I.IMI 1 I! ANDARCII \l. ()!.()(, ICALSCX II \\

Fit; 11. Wesl view ofNetlcy Abbey (Tomkins, 1794). (Cope Collection

Southampton 1/3), probably in search of the drawings and plans at the end of the eighteenth ashlar of the piers. An estate plan of 1725 century, such as those made by J Carter in 1789 suggests, through differential shading and the (BL Add Mss 29928), were essentially those that presence of a garden, the possibility that parts of we see now. further decay has occurred, but it the buildings may have remained in use, and that has been limited in scale: the remains of the only the former abbey church was destroyed transept vault have collapsed (Fig 7), as has the (HRO Copy 641/12). It was after a period of vaulting of the dormitory undercroft, whose such destruction that the first illustration of the groins remained in 1789 (BL Add Mss 29928); abbey survives. The Bucks' engraving, published the tracery of the main west window and the in 1733, shows that the abbey church had been vaults of the east range have gone. gutted and cleared of the Tudor alterations and But this very decay and the combination of any of the nave or choir arcades that had survived woodland and sea were to make the ruins this conversion (Fig 9). The abbey was to remain increasingly attractive in the second half of the in this state for over a century, decaying, being eighteenth century, as the romantic movement robbed, as when parts were used to produce a gathered strength. To generations interested in sham ruin at . The abbey ruins visions of a medieval past, of ruins and of nature, were becoming increasingly overgrown and filled Net lev seemed well placed. Its grand ruins were with trees. But the buildings shown in the surrounded by, and protruded, from woodland HARE: NETLEY ABBEY: MONASTERY, \l VNSION AND RUIN 223

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Fig 12. Nctlcy: the chapel and south transept West.ill. 1828). [Cope Collection and greenery, within the ruins were more trees of the area of Netley scattered over with the and piles of debris, while part of the vault of the fragments of the pillcrs and the walls; and shaded south transept remained suspended like a spider's by Ash trees of considerable size and beauty, is webb: 'the roof has tumbled in, yet some little of more in harmony with a ruin than the smooth it is left in the transept, where the ivy lias forced level green which is kept up with too much its way through and hangs daunting down among neatness at Tintern' (BL Add Mss 33652 f 13r). the fretted ornament and escutehens of the Poets and w liters, like Horace Walpolc and benefactors'. (T Gray, BL Add Mss 19918) (Fig 7). Thomas Gray, enthused about the remains Beyond, by contrast, could be seen the sea and its (Sambrook, 1980, 22 26), and the abbey gave its ships; and all this was within an easy boat trip name to poems by writers such as Southey ('Ode, from the nourishing holiday resorts of Netley Abbey; Midnight', of 1790) and Bowles; a Southampton and the Isle of Wight (Patterson, novel {Netley Abbey by R Warner in 1795); and an 1970, 72-84; for a visit from Ryde - BM Add Mss operatic farce (by \V Pearce, first produced at 33652, f 12v). Tintern abbey might be a more Covent Garden in London in 1794, and again for famous ruin, but as the Rev J Skinner remarked on at least the next seven seasons, and in Bath and his visit to Netley in 1818 'I was, I confess, much Bristol in 1795: Inchbald, 1815; London Stage part much more struck than on seeing Tintern, and this 5, vol 3; Theatre Royal, Bath, 156, 157, 158; A I can only account for by supposing the ruggedness Hare, pers comm). But the novel, subsequently 224 II VMPSHIRE FIELD CLUB AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY

Rfi 13. Intc i.l \c ll(\ Al>l>< (lope Collection] published in Paris, Berlin and Philadelphia also popularity led to further damage to the ruins and reminds us of a darker side of the romantie image this and (hanging attitudes towards ruins created a of the abbey, where under its profligate and transformation in the appearance of the site. In lieentious abbot, the abbey had become the focus 18()(), the owner, Thomas Chambcrlaync cleared for imprisonment and evil, and was to be the the site of rubble and some of the Tudor alterations, scene of the bloody culmination of the story. the difference in the appearance of the church being By the 1840's tourism remained active but was clearly shown in contemporary illustrations (Figs changing in character as the abbey became a 12 13). Furthermore to protect the monument, popular place of call for the citizens of Chambcrlaync placed the abbey under the Southampton, who came for the ruins, for tea, supervision of a porter, 'though attended with a music and dancing; the romantic atmosphere of the trifling admission fee' (Kell, 75). All that was now monument being broken by kthe popping of Ginger needed was the clearance of the ivy in the twentieth Beer'. A scandalised RH Barham attacked such century to give us the monument that we have conditions in 'Netley Abbey: a legend of today. But the nineteenth century was also to sec Hampshire', in the Ingolsby legends of 1847. Such other developments that were to transform the HARE: NETLEY ABBEY: MONASTERY, MANSION AND RUIN 225 appearance of the ruins. The area ceased to be ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS wilderness. Nearby was built the great army . The swing bridge and above all, the My thanks go to English Heritage for their Southampton to Nedey railway, opened in 1866 support of some of the early research and for (Course, 1973, 19) brought easy access to die abbey, asking me to produce a new guidebook to the site: not merely for visitors but for suburban villas and work which became the starting point for this odier housing. While the site of die monastery itself article. Jonathan Coad encouraged me to turn my might be secure, much of the precinct was to be sold attention to Netley, and has discussed the site and off for housing. It is now difficult to imagine the text with me. My father, Dr Arnold Hare, deserted woods and heathland that seemed to mark commented on the text and helped me with the an appropriate site for the Cistercian founders, but it abbey's theatrical phase. Dr C Woolgar provided is also difficult to imagine the walk from the sea to some additional references from the University of the overgrown romantic ruins in the midst of Southampton collections, and all the engravings nowhere. In all this, Nedey has continued, and will are reproduced from originals in the Cope continue to reflect die changing world beyond. Collection there.

REFERENCES

A Manuscript and other record office material collection (Hampshire Record Office). Sec Manorial account rolls of manors belonging to Netley also: Southampton University Petit Water Abbey. Wiltshire] R[ecord] 0[fiice] Abbey Colours collection 16a, 12b, 9BR, 15a. Wiltshire] R[ecord] Offfice] 192/32; P[ublic] R[ecord] 0[ffice] SC6 various 2. Printed material accounts belonging to Netley. SC6: various Anon [R Warner], Netley Abbey: a gothic story, 2 vol, accounts belonging to Netley. (Southampton, printed for the author by T Antiquarian accounts, Carter (Bfritish] Lfibrary] Add Skelton, 1795). See also L'Abbaye de Netley, Mss 29928); RevJ Skinner (BL Add Mss 33652) Histoire du Moyen Age, traduit de l'allemand Miscellaneous: BL Add Mss 19918 (Letter Grey to par JF Fontallard, Paris, 1801: it was also Brown). HRO Top Southampton 1/3 printed in Philadelphia in 1796 (Eighteenth (Information recorded in the parish register century short title catalogue). of St Mary' Church Southampton).; Anon, 1765 The ruins of Nelley Abbey, 1765. PROSPl/131/flOl. Aylesbury Manuscripts, Historic Manuscripts University of Southampton, Broadlands Archives Commission, 15th Rep, app pt vii, BR11/13/1: A visit to the Abbey from Manuscripts of the Marquis ofAylesbury, 1898. Broadlands in 1788. Barham, R H The Ingolsby legends (various Note: Account rolls have been dated according to the closingyear editions). of the account. Beaulieu Account book. The account-book of Beaulieu Abbey, ed S F Hockey, Camden Soc 4th. 16. 1975. Netley is well provided for with engravings. Good Bindofr, S T 1982 The House of Commons, 1509-1558, groups are in the Cope Collections Seeker & Warburg, History of Parliament (University of Southampton) and the Wallop Trust. 226 HAMPSHIRE HELD CLUB AND ARCHAEOIJOGICAI. SOCIETY

Browne Willis, 1719/1 history of the mitre parliamentary Hockey, S F 1970 Quarr Abbey and its lands, Leicester abbies and conventual churches, 2 vol University Press. 1718-19. Hockey, S F 1976 Beaulieu, King John's Abbey, Pioneer Calendar of Liberate Rolls, HMSO, vols IV-VI, 1959-62. Publications. Coldstream, N 1986, 'Cistercian architecture from Howard, M 1987, The early Tudor country house, George Beaulieu to the Dissolution', in ed C Norton Philip. & D Park, Cistercian art and architecture in theHearth Tax The Hampshire Hearth Tax assessment, 1665, eds British Isles, Cambridge University Press, Hughes E and White, P, Winchester, 1986. Hampshire Record Series 1991. Colvin, H M 1963 R A Brown, H M Colvin and A J Kell, E Netley Abbey with an acccount of recent Taylor, The History of the King's works vol I—II, excavations and discoveries, Collectanea The Middle Ages, HMSO. Archaeotogica of British Archaeological Colvin, HMtltl 1982 The History of the King's works vol Association, vol II pt 1. IV, 1485-1660, HMSO. Kennedy, J 1953, The dissolution of the monasteries in Course, E 1973 The Southampton and Netley railway Hampshire (unpublished MA thesis, University (City or Southampton) 1973. of London). Coope, R 1986, 'The "Long Gallery": its origins, Kennedy, J 1972 'Laymen and monasteries in development, use and decoration', in Hampshire, 1530-58', in Proc Hants Field Architectural History, 29, 1986, 43-72. Club, 27, 65-86. Currie, C 1988, 'Medieval Fish Ponds in Hampshire', Latham, L C 1926 The decay of the manorial system, in Aston, M (ed) Medieval Fish, Fisheries and unpublished MA thesis, University of Fishponds in England, BAR British Series, London, 1928. 1988, 189. Literary Remains, Literary remains of Edward VI, ed J G Currie, C 1989 'The conduits at Netley', Newsletter Nichols, Roxburgh Club, 1857. Hants, Field Club, 19-21. Lloyd, T H 1973 'The movement of wool prices in medieval Dictionary of National Biography. England, Econ Hist Rev, supplement 6, Donnelley, J S 1954, 'Changes in the grange economy Cambridge University Press. of English and Welsh Cistercian Abbeys, Meekings C A F 1981 'The early years of Netley 1300-1540', Traditio, 10, 1954, 399-458. Abbey', in C A F Meekings, Studies in thirteenth Faculty Office Registers, 1534—49, ed D S Chambers, century justice and administration, Hambledon Oxford Univ Press, 1966. Press. Fritze, R H 1982 'The role of family and religion in the Temple Patterson. A 1970 Southampton: a biography, local politics of early Elizabethan England: Macmillan. the case of Hampshire in the 1560s', Historical Pearce, W Netley Abbey an operatic farce in two Acts, Journal, 25, 267-87. London 1794, printed in Mrs Inchbald's Godwin, G N 1904 The civil war in Hampshire, Gilbert, Collection of Farces, vol III, 1815. Southampton. St John Hope, W H 1906, 'The making of Place House Guillaume, G 1848, Architectural views and details of Netley Titchfield, near Southampton, in 1538', Abbey, Southampton. Archaeol Journal, 63, 231-44. Hare, J N 1985 'The monks as landlords: the leasing of Sambrook, A J 1980 'Netley and ' in the monastic demesnes in southern England', recent editions of Hamilton Thompson in eds C Barron and. C Harper-Bill, The (1953) church in pre-reformation society, Boydell Press,Seymour papers, Historic Manuscripts Commission, Woodbridge. Report on the manuscripts of the most hon. the Hare, J N 1992 'The lords and their tenants: conflict Marquis of Bath, vol IV, Seymour papers, and stability in fifteenth-century Wiltshire', in 1532-1686, ed M. Blatcher, HMSO, 1968. ed B Stapleton, Conflict and Community in Sharpe, E 1848 Architectural parallels or the progress of Southern England, Alan Sutton, Stroud. ecclesiastical architecture in England through the Hare, J N 1993. The dissolution of the monasteries: a case twelfth and thirteenth century . . .John von voorst. study from Hampshire, HiDES, The University, Short Survey 'A relation of a short survey of the Western Southampton. Counties' Camden Miscellany, 16, 1936. Hoad, M 1990, 'Hampshire in 1839', Newsletter, Hants. Southampton Maps; E Welch. Southampton Maps from Field Club., 14, 1-2 Elizabethan times, City of Southampton, 1964. HARE: NETLEY ABBEY: MONASTERY, MANSION AND RUIN 227

Taxatio Ecclesiaslica papae. Mcholai, Record Commission, Heritage; page references are to the 1980 1810-. printing). Theatre Royal Bath: a calendar of performances at the Orchard Valor Ecciesiasticus, Record Commission, 1810-34. Street Theatre, ed A Hare, Kingsmead press, VCH, 1903 Victoria County History of Hampshire vol II, Bath, 1977. 1903, 146-9. Thompson, A Hamilton 1953, jVetley Abbey (the VCH, 1908 Victoria County History of Hampshire vol iii, standard guide book, having gone through 472-7. many editions under the Ministry of Works, Youings,J 1971 The dissolution of the monasteries, Allen & Department of Environment and English Unwin.

Author. J N Hare, Peter Symonds' College, Winchester

© Hampshire Field Club and Archaeology Society