DOCSLIB.ORG

Cirencester Anglo Saxon Chur

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Cirencester Anglo Saxon Chur c.. A \I 'ii' ., 'D~ "\ ~ ~G ,'LI.l.-\ 6;, b {.*" COTSWOLD ARChIlEOi..OGY CIRENCESTER: ANGLO-SAXON CHURCH AND MEDIEVAL ABBEY COTSWOL 0 ARCHAEOLO~/C/U TRUST LTD.. CIRENCESTER EXCAVATIONS IV ClRENCESTER ANGLO-SAXON CHURCH AND MEDIEVAL ABBEY by David J. Wilkinson and Alan D. McWhirr Excavations directed byJ. S. Wacher (1964), A. D. McWhirr (1965) and P. D. C. Brown (1965-6) WITH CONTRIBUTIONS FROM R. Brownsword, R. M. Bryant, T. C. Darvill, G. Egan, A. K B. Evans, C. M. Heighway, C. A. Ireland, R. D. H. Gem, N. Griffiths, M. Harman, D. R. Hook, J.Keely, N. Mayhew, E. E. H. Pitt, J. F. Rhodes, L. Viner, A. G. Vince Cotswold Archaeological Trust Ltd Cirencester 1998 © Authors and Corswold Archaeological Trust Ltd, 1998 Headquarters Building, Unit 9, Kemble Business Park, Cirencester, Glos. GL7 6BQ © Original site archive, Cotswold District Council, 1998 ISBN 0 9523196 2 4 The publication ofthis volume has been supported by English Heritage. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission ofCotswold Archaeological Trust Ltd. Cover illustration: the Spital Gate of Cirencester Abbey. Copyright: Cirencester Town Cot/neil Produced by Past Historic, King's Stanley, Gloucestershire Printed in Great Britain by J.W. Arrowsmith Ltd., Bristol CONTENTS List of figures vu Acknowledgements - A. D. McWhirr. Xl INTRODUCTION - A. D. McWhirt 1 HISTORICAL AND TOPOGRAPHICAL BACKGROUND The topographical development of the site - R. M. Bryant and C. M Heighway 7 Historical evidence for the Anglo-Saxon church and medieval abbey - A. K B. Evans 14 THE EXCAVATIONS Summary ofphases. 19 Roman buildings beneath the Anglo-Saxon church and medieval abbey - J. Keely and L Viner 19 The Anglo-Saxon church; the archaeological evidence - P. D. C. Brown and A. K. B. Evans 23 The Anglo-Saxon church at Cirencester: a reconstruction and evaluation - R. D. H. Gem 32 The structures ofphase 1b - R. M. Bryant 39 The Augustinian abbey of St Mary - D. J. Wilkinson 43 The destruction of the abbey buildings and post-dissolution features - D. J. Wilkinson 67 THE FINDS Medieval and later coins and reckoning counters - R. Reece, N. Mayhew and J. F. Rhodes 71 Objects of silver and copper alloy - D. J. Wilkinson with R. Brownsword, D. R. Hook, E. E. H. Pitt, N. Griffiths, C. M. Heighway 72 Iron objects - D. J. Wilkinson 84 Lead and pewter objects - D. J. Wi1kinson 92 Lead Cloth Seal - G. Egan 92 Worked bone objects 94 Clay pipes - D. J. Wilkinson and A. Peacey 94 Post-medieval vessel glass - D. J. Wilkinson 97 Portable objects of stone - D. J. Wilkinson with T. C. Darvill 97 The pottery - C. A. Ireland 98 Roof tile 141 Medieval floor tiles - A. G. Vince 142 Architectural stonework - D. J. Wilkinson 156 BURIALS - C. M. Heighway, M. Harman, L. Viner and D. J. Wilkinson 163 Abbreviations 169 Bibliography 169 Index 175 LIST OF FIGURES 1. The location of Cirencester X11 2. Cirencester: the abbey precinct and north part of the town 2 3. General view of the 1964 excavations 3 4. Trench outlines with excavation codes 5 5. Topographical development: Roman and post-Roman 8 6. Topographical development: 9th-early 12th centuries 9 7. Topographical development: 12th century 10 8. Topographical development: 13th-18th centuries 12 9. Topographical development 1795 and 1964 13 10. Plan of Roman building XXV.1 21 11. Plan of Roman building XXVLl 22 12. Plan of east end ofAnglo-Saxon church 24 13. Trench 65 B M V, Section 91 through Anglo-Saxon apse and Roman features 25 14. Foundation plan ofthe Anglo-Saxon church 26 15. Suggested ground plan ofthe Anglo-Saxon church 27 16. Roman and Anglo-Saxon walls in BN I and II 28 17. Roman walls and grave H 156 under nave north arcade in BL viii 28 18. View ofAnglo-Saxon south aisle wall and south nave wall,with burials of11th-12th century 28 19. Section 120/121/133, P vi, vii west end ofAnglo-Saxon church 29 20. Anglo-Saxon apse and crypt floor above Roman drain (bottom left) 30 21. Anglo-Saxon apse cutting Roman wall 30 22. The bonding 0 f the north porticus wall 109 with nave wall 117 31 23. View north in trench BN ii showing Anglo-Saxon walls 117 and 107 31 24. View south in trench BV i showing north porticus wall 111 32 25. Anglo-Saxon crypt floor looking west showing floor of crypt and curving inner crypt wall 33 26. Top: reconstructed ground plan and elevation ofthe Anglo-Saxon church (R. D. Gem) 34 27. Reconstruction of the Anglo-Saxon church by Simon James 35 28. Carved stone built into wall 201 36 29. Plan of features of phase 1B 38 30. Wall 201 of building A 39 31. Section of layers outside west end ofabbey church 40 32. Section 26 and 15 through undercroft and slype 42 33. Plan of the abbey church in the 12th century, showing later additions opposite 43 34. View across north presbytery aisle looking south, showing burial H201 43 35. Section 49 across presbytery and aisles 44 36. Section 60 north-south through the north presbytery aisle 45 37. North transept apse cut by later wall 400 ofchapel looking north-west 46 38. North transept showing junction between W333 and W314 looking south 46 39. Section 70 through crossing 47 40. Section 72 through abbey nave 48 41. The west end of the abbey church showing stone B, with courtyard layer running up to it 49 42. The west wall of the abbey church showing stone A 50 43. Plan of chapter house and east claustral range c. 1170 51 44. General view north-east of east cloister range during excavation 52 45. North transept, chapel, and chapter house, looking north-east 52 46. General view of undercroft looking north 53 47. Plan of east end ofnorth presbytery aisle and later eastern extension 54 48. North wall ofnorth presbytery aisle looking west 55 vin CIRENCESTER EXCAVATIONS IV 49. Eastern extension: 14th-century buttress bonded to wall 411 with tile floor 1 55 50. South transept, showing buttresses ofvarious phases, looking south 56 51. Plan of south transept 56 52. Section 71 through crossing . 58 53. Crossing area: plan, showing foundations of choir benches 59 54. View north ofcrossing showing footings of choir seat foundations 60 55. View north of nave crossing showing choir seating foundation 60 56. View south ofnave crossing showing choir seating foundation 60 57. Plan of chapter house and claustral ranges c. 1500 AD 61 58. Section 36, 38 south-north from north transept through chapter house 62 59. Section 28, 27 south-north through east cloister range (trenches BH iv, BH v) 63 60. General view looking north across north transept tile floor 2 and step 64 61. General view looking south ofcloister area 65 62. General view ofeast cloister range looking south 66 63. View ofeast cloister range looking west 66 64. Plan of features in north area of east cloister range 66 65. Cirencester: the seat ofAllen Bathurst Esq (derail) 67 66. 'The Abbey: the Seat ofThomas Master Esq' by Kip, 1712, from Atkins 1712 68 67. Copper alloy and silver small finds 72 68. Copper alloy small finds 74 69. Copper alloy small finds 75 70. Copper alloy small finds 76 71. Copper alloy small finds 78 72. Copper alloy small finds 80 73. Copper alloy small finds 81 74. Copper alloy small finds 82 75. Iron objects 85 76. Iron objects 86 77. Iron objects 87 78. Iron objects 88 79. Iron objects 90 80. Iron objects 91 81. Lead seals 92 82. Lead stars 93 83. Pewter chalice 93 84. Lead cloth seal 94 85. Clay pipes 95 86. Clay pipes 96 87. Medieval pottery nos. 1-21 128 88. Medieval pottery nos. 22-39 129 89. Medieval pottery nos. 40-56 130 90. Medieval pottery nos. 57-65 132 91. Medieval pottery nos.66-84 133 92. Medieval pottery nos.85-105 134 93. Medieval pottery nos. 106-122 136 94. Late medieval pottery nos. 123-159 137 95. Post-medieval pottery nos. 160-180 138 96. Post-medieval pottery nos. 181-187 139 97. Post-medieval pottery nos. 188-203 140 98. Roof furniture 141 99. Medieval floor tiles: floor 1 , in easr extension to abbey church 142 100. Medieval tile floor, floor 2, in north transept 143 101. Medieval tile floor, floor 3, in north-east range of cloister 144 102. Medieval floor tiles cm 1-10 148 103. Medieval floor tiles em 11-18 149 104. Medieval floor tiles cm 19-32 150 105. Medieval floor tiles cm 33-47 151 106. Medieval floor tiles em 48-67 152 107. Medieval floor tiles cm 68-89 153 108. Medieval floor tiles cm 90-110 154 109. Medieval floor tiles cm 111-129 155 110. Medieval floor tiles cm 130-140 155 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS ix 111. Architectural stonework 159 112. Architectural stonework: tracery screen 160 113. Decorated grave cover ofburial H160 165 114. Grave cover ofWalter of Cheltenham, burial H1Dl 166 115. Burial H59, with chalice 166 116. BuriaIHI44incist: 11th-12th century 167 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Many people assisted on the 1964-5 excavations, some on site, others behind the scene. Supervisors included, Anna Bachelier, Peter Bellwood, Peter Broxton, Christine Butcher, Philippa Cullen, Maggie Heewitt, Helen McWhirr, Christine Mahany, Marion Overs, H. Smith, Anna Wacher. Photography on site was carried out by Gilly Jones (1964) and Roger Rumens (1965).
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Gloucestershire Economic Needs Assessment
    GL5078P Gloucestershire ENA For and on behalf of Cheltenham Borough Council Cotswold District Council Forest of Dean District Council Gloucester City Council Stroud District Council Tewkesbury Borough Council Gloucestershire Economic Needs Assessment Prepared by Strategic Planning Research Unit DLP Planning Ltd August 2020 1 08.19.GL5078PS.Gloucestershire ENA Final GL5078P Gloucestershire ENA Prepared by: Checked by: Approved by: Date: July 2020 Office: Bristol & Sheffield Strategic Planning Research Unit V1 Velocity Building Broad Quay House (6th Floor) 4 Abbey Court Ground Floor Prince Street Fraser Road Tenter Street Bristol Priory Business Park Sheffield BS1 4DJ Bedford S1 4BY MK44 3WH Tel: 01142 289190 Tel: 01179 058850 Tel: 01234 832740 DLP Consulting Group disclaims any responsibility to the client and others in respect of matters outside the scope of this report. This report has been prepared with reasonable skill, care and diligence. This report is confidential to the client and DLP Planning Ltd accepts no responsibility of whatsoever nature to third parties to whom this report or any part thereof is made known. Any such party relies upon the report at their own risk. 2 08.19.GL5078PS.Gloucestershire ENA Final GL5078P Gloucestershire ENA CONTENTS PAGE 0.0 Executive Summary .......................................................................................................... 6 1.0 Introduction...................................................................................................................... 19 a) National
    [Show full text]
  • Tetbury and Tetbury Upton Neighbourhood Plan 2015-2030 Referendum Version October 2017
    Tetbury and Tetbury Upton Neighbourhood Plan 2015-2030 Referendum Version October 2017 1 Neighbourhood Plan Area – designated 1st August 2013 Tetbury and Tetbury Upton Neighbourhood Plan Referendum Version October 2017 2 FOREWORD. Welcome to the Tetbury and Tetbury Upton Neighbourhood Plan. The Tetbury Neighbourhood Plan Working Group have carried out a huge amount of work to produce this Neighbourhood Plan which encompasses all the key planning issues that will affect the town in the future. Neighbourhood Plans are a new type of planning document following on from The Localism Act (2011) which introduced Neighbourhood Development Plans as policies that focus on local planning and give communities the opportunity to become involved in their future. For some years now Tetbury has been discussing what shape the town should take into the future, ‘Planning for Real’ was probably the first public consultation that gave townspeople the opportunity to describe their forward vision and following this there have been a number of public consultations and workshops that have contributed to the content of this plan. Discussions have also taken place with planning professionals, landowners, developers, local organisations, local health professionals, neighbouring parish councils and the District Council. The proposals that result from these discussions are in this document and they will determine the way that our town can develop into the future. The Tetbury community now has a chance to approve the plan in a referendum. Tetbury Town Council is very grateful for the huge amount of work carried out by the Neighbourhood Plan Working Group without their commitment and dedication we would not have such a quality document that reflects joint working between many local organisations and the community consultations.
    [Show full text]
  • The Scale and Impact of the Farming, Food, Drink & Rural Economy In
    The Scale and Impact of the Farming, Food, Drink & Rural Economy in Gloucestershire The Scale and Impact of the Farming, Food, Drink & Rural Economy in Gloucestershire March 2019 the gloucestershire agrifood and rural economy final report.docx March 2019 The Scale and Impact of the Farming, Food, Drink & Rural Economy in Gloucestershire Contents Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 3 Executive Summary ................................................................................................................... 4 Gloucestershire’s Agriculture and Food Sector .......................................................................... 6 UK & Global Context .............................................................................................................. 6 The Scale of Gloucestershire Agriculture and pre Consumer Food Chain .............................. 8 The Consumer End of the Gloucestershire Food Chain .........................................................15 Non Farming Enterprises and diversification..........................................................................16 Major Companies in the Gloucestershire Agricultural, Food & Drink Sector ...........................18 The ‘End to End’ Food Chain .................................................................................................19 Gloucestershire’s Rural Economy .............................................................................................20
    [Show full text]
  • Cotswold District Council Business Delivery Plan August 2017
    Cotswold District Council Cotswold District Council Business Delivery Plan August 2017 Contents 1. Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 1 2. Economic Evidence and policy ....................................................................................................... 3 Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 4 Cotswold District – Economic overview .......................................................................................... 4 Cotswold Site and Employment Land Analysis ............................................................................... 8 Main Conclusions from the Stakeholder Consultation ................................................................. 17 3. Achieving the growth ambitions – key themes............................................................................. 22 Achieving the growth ambitions – Key Themes ............................................................................ 23 4. Priorities and delivery options for the economic strategy ........................................................... 28 Introduction .................................................................................................................................. 29 Strategic Priorities ........................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Elizabeth Thomas Phd Thesis
    'WE HAVE NOTHING MORE VALUABLE IN OUR TREASURY': ROYAL MARRIAGE IN ENGLAND, 1154-1272 Elizabeth Thomas A Thesis Submitted for the Degree of PhD at the University of St Andrews 2010 Full metadata for this item is available in St Andrews Research Repository at: http://research-repository.st-andrews.ac.uk/ Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/10023/2001 This item is protected by original copyright Declarations (i) I, Elizabeth Thomas, hereby certify that this thesis, which is approximately 80,000 words in length, has been written by me, that it is the record of work carried out by me and that it has not been submitted in any previous application for a higher degree. I was admitted as a research student in September, 2005 and as a candidate for the degree of Ph.D. in September, 2005, the higher study for which this is a record was carried out in the University of St Andrews between 2005 and 2009. Date: Signature of candidate: (ii) I hereby certify that the candidate has fulfilled the conditions of the Resolution and Regulations appropriate for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the University of St Andrews and that the candidate is qualified to submit this thesis in application for that degree. Date: Signature of supervisor: (iii) In submitting this thesis to the University of St Andrews we understand that we are giving permission for it to be made available for use in accordance with the regulations of the University Library for the time being in force, subject to any copyright vested in the work not being affected thereby.
    [Show full text]
  • Pevsner's Architectural Glossary
    Glossary pages new extra text:Layout 1 10/9/10 16:22 Page 1 PEVSNER’S ARCHITECTURAL GLOSSARY Glossary pages new extra text:Layout 1 10/9/10 16:22 Page 2 Nikolaus and Lola Pevsner, Hampton Court, in the gardens by Wren's east front, probably c. Glossary pages new extra text:Layout 1 10/9/10 16:22 Page 3 PEVSNER’S ARCHITECTURAL GLOSSARY Yale University Press New Haven and London Glossary pages new extra text:Layout 1 10/9/10 16:22 Page 4 Temple Street, New Haven Bedford Square, London www.pevsner.co.uk www.lookingatbuildings.org.uk www.yalebooks.co.uk www.yalebooks.com for Published by Yale University Press Copyright © Yale University, Printed by T.J. International, Padstow Set in Monotype Plantin All rights reserved. This book may not be reproduced in whole or in part, in any form (beyond that copying permitted by Sections and of the U.S. Copyright Law and except by reviewers for the public press), without written permission from the publishers Glossary pages new extra text:Layout 1 10/9/10 16:22 Page 5 CONTENTS GLOSSARY Glossary pages new extra text:Layout 1 10/9/10 16:22 Page 6 FOREWORD The first volumes of Nikolaus Pevsner’s Buildings of England series appeared in .The intention was to make available, county by county, a comprehensive guide to the notable architecture of every period from prehistory to the present day. Building types, details and other features that would not necessarily be familiar to the general reader were explained in a compact glossary, which in the first editions extended to some terms.
    [Show full text]
  • How Useful Are Episcopal Ordination Lists As a Source for Medieval English Monastic History?
    Jnl of Ecclesiastical History, Vol. , No. , July . © Cambridge University Press doi:./S How Useful are Episcopal Ordination Lists as a Source for Medieval English Monastic History? by DAVID E. THORNTON Bilkent University, Ankara E-mail: [email protected] This article evaluates ordination lists preserved in bishops’ registers from late medieval England as evidence for the monastic orders, with special reference to religious houses in the diocese of Worcester, from to . By comparing almost , ordination records collected from registers from Worcester and neighbouring dioceses with ‘conven- tual’ lists, it is concluded that over per cent of monks and canons are not named in the extant ordination lists. Over half of these omissions are arguably due to structural gaps in the surviving ordination lists, but other, non-structural factors may also have contributed. ith the dispersal and destruction of the archives of religious houses following their dissolution in the late s, many docu- W ments that would otherwise facilitate the prosopographical study of the monastic orders in late medieval England and Wales have been irre- trievably lost. Surviving sources such as the profession and obituary lists from Christ Church Canterbury and the records of admissions in the BL = British Library, London; Bodl. Lib. = Bodleian Library, Oxford; BRUO = A. B. Emden, A biographical register of the University of Oxford to A.D. , Oxford –; CAP = Collectanea Anglo-Premonstratensia, London ; DKR = Annual report of the Deputy Keeper of the Public Records, London –; FOR = Faculty Office Register, –, ed. D. S. Chambers, Oxford ; GCL = Gloucester Cathedral Library; LP = J. S. Brewer and others, Letters and papers, foreign and domestic, of the reign of Henry VIII, London –; LPL = Lambeth Palace Library, London; MA = W.
    [Show full text]
  • Gothic Beyond Architecture: Manchester’S Collegiate Church
    Gothic beyond Architecture: Manchester’s Collegiate Church My previous posts for Visit Manchester have concentrated exclusively upon buildings. In the medieval period—the time when the Gothic style developed in buildings such as the basilica of Saint-Denis on the outskirts of Paris, Île-de-France (Figs 1–2), under the direction of Abbot Suger (1081–1151)—the style was known as either simply ‘new’, or opus francigenum (literally translates as ‘French work’). The style became known as Gothic in the sixteenth century because certain high-profile figures in the Italian Renaissance railed against the architecture and connected what they perceived to be its crude forms with the Goths that sacked Rome and ‘destroyed’ Classical architecture. During the nineteenth century, critics applied Gothic to more than architecture; they located all types of art under the Gothic label. This broad application of the term wasn’t especially helpful and it is no-longer used. Gothic design, nevertheless, was applied to more than architecture in the medieval period. Applied arts, such as furniture and metalwork, were influenced by, and followed and incorporated the decorative and ornament aspects of Gothic architecture. This post assesses the range of influences that Gothic had upon furniture, in particular by exploring Manchester Cathedral’s woodwork, some of which are the most important examples of surviving medieval woodwork in the North of England. Manchester Cathedral, formerly the Collegiate Church of the City (Fig.3), see here, was ascribed Cathedral status in 1847, and it is grade I listed (Historic England listing number 1218041, see here). It is medieval in foundation, with parts dating to between c.1422 and 1520, however it was restored and rebuilt numerous times in the nineteenth century, and it was notably hit by a shell during WWII; the shell failed to explode.
    [Show full text]
  • Pick of the Churches
    Pick of the Churches The East of England is famous for its superb collection of churches. They are one of the nation's great treasures. Introduction There are hundreds of churches in the region. Every village has one, some villages have two, and sometimes a lonely church in a field is the only indication that a village existed there at all. Many of these churches have foundations going right back to the dawn of Christianity, during the four centuries of Roman occupation from AD43. Each would claim to be the best - and indeed, all have one or many splendid and redeeming features, from ornate gilt encrusted screens to an ancient font. The history of England is accurately reflected in our churches - if only as a tantalising glimpse of the really creative years between the 1100's to the 1400's. From these years, come the four great features which are particularly associated with the region. - Round Towers - unique and distinctive, they evolved in the 11th C. due to the lack and supply of large local building stone. - Hammerbeam Roofs - wide, brave and ornate, and sometimes strewn with angels. Just lay on the floor and look up! - Flint Flushwork - beautiful patterns made by splitting flints to expose a hard, shiny surface, and then setting them in the wall. Often it is used to decorate towers, porches and parapets. - Seven Sacrament Fonts - ancient and splendid, with each panel illustrating in turn Baptism, Confirmation, Mass, Penance, Extreme Unction, Ordination and Matrimony. Bedfordshire Ampthill - tomb of Richard Nicholls (first governor of Long Island USA), including cannonball which killed him.
    [Show full text]
  • Herefordshire News Sheet
    CONTENTS ARS OFFICERS AND COMMITTEE FOR 1991 .................................................................... 2 PROGRAMME SEPTEMBER 1991 TO FEBRUARY 1992 ................................................... 3 EDITORIAL ........................................................................................................................... 3 MISCELLANY ....................................................................................................................... 4 BOOK REVIEW .................................................................................................................... 5 WORKERS EDUCATIONAL ASSOCIATION AND THE LOCAL HISTORY SOCIETIES OF HEREFORDSHIRE ............................................................................................................... 6 ANNUAL GARDEN PARTY .................................................................................................. 6 INDUSTRIAL ARCHAEOLOGY MEETING, 15TH MAY, 1991 ................................................ 7 A FIELD SURVEY IN KIMBOLTON ...................................................................................... 7 FIND OF A QUERNSTONE AT CRASWALL ...................................................................... 10 BOLSTONE PARISH CHURCH .......................................................................................... 11 REDUNDANT CHURCHES IN THE DIOCESE OF HEREFORD ........................................ 13 THE MILLS OF LEDBURY .................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • The Pershore Flores Historiarum: an Unrecognised Chronicle from the Period of Reform and Rebellion in England, 1258–65*
    English Historical Review Vol. CXXVII No. 529 doi:10.1093/ehr/ces311 © The Author [2012]. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. The Pershore Flores Historiarum: An Unrecognised Chronicle from the Period of Reform and Rebellion in England, 1258–65* Historians of the period of reform and rebellion in England between 1258 and 1265 make extensive use of a chronicle called the Flores Historiarum.1 This is not surprising, because the Flores covers the revolution of 1258, the baronial regime of 1258–60, the king’s recovery of power in 1261, the civil war of 1263, the battle of Lewes in 1264, and the rule of Simon de Montfort down to his defeat and death at the battle of Evesham in 1265. In the earliest surviving text of the Flores, Downloaded from which belongs to Chetham’s Library in Manchester, the account of these revolutionary years is part of a longer section of the chronicle which begins in the year 1249. From that point, until the battle of Evesham in 1265, the text is unified, and distinguished from what comes before and after, by the way in which capital letters at the beginning of sections are http://ehr.oxfordjournals.org/ decorated and, in particular, by the decoration given to the letter ‘A’ in the ‘Anno’ at the beginning of each year.2 The text is also unified, and set apart, by being written, save for a short section at the start, in the same thirteenth-century hand and having very much the appearance of a fair copy.3 Historians who have studied the chronicle have nearly all assumed that this part of the Flores was copied at St Albans Abbey from 4 the work of Matthew Paris and his continuator.
    [Show full text]
  • English Monks Suppression of the Monasteries
    ENGLISH MONKS and the SUPPRESSION OF THE MONASTERIES ENGLISH MONKS and the SUPPRESSION OF THE MONASTERIES by GEOFFREY BAS KER VILLE M.A. (I) JONA THAN CAPE THIRTY BEDFORD SQUARE LONDON FIRST PUBLISHED I937 JONATHAN CAPE LTD. JO BEDFORD SQUARE, LONDON AND 91 WELLINGTON STREET WEST, TORONTO PRINTED IN GREAT BRITAIN IN THE CITY OF OXFORD AT THE ALDEN PRESS PAPER MADE BY JOHN DICKINSON & CO. LTD. BOUND BY A. W. BAIN & CO. LTD. CONTENTS PREFACE 7 INTRODUCTION 9 I MONASTIC DUTIES AND ACTIVITIES I 9 II LAY INTERFERENCE IN MONASTIC AFFAIRS 45 III ECCLESIASTICAL INTERFERENCE IN MONASTIC AFFAIRS 72 IV PRECEDENTS FOR SUPPRESSION I 308- I 534 96 V THE ROYAL VISITATION OF THE MONASTERIES 1535 120 VI SUPPRESSION OF THE SMALLER MONASTERIES AND THE PILGRIMAGE OF GRACE 1536-1537 144 VII FROM THE PILGRIMAGE OF GRACE TO THE FINAL SUPPRESSION 153 7- I 540 169 VIII NUNS 205 IX THE FRIARS 2 2 7 X THE FATE OF THE DISPOSSESSED RELIGIOUS 246 EPILOGUE 273 APPENDIX 293 INDEX 301 5 PREFACE THE four hundredth anniversary of the suppression of the English monasteries would seem a fit occasion on which to attempt a summary of the latest views on a thorny subject. This book cannot be expected to please everybody, and it makes no attempt to conciliate those who prefer sentiment to truth, or who allow their reading of historical events to be distorted by present-day controversies, whether ecclesiastical or political. In that respect it tries to live up to the dictum of Samuel Butler that 'he excels most who hits the golden mean most exactly in the middle'.
    [Show full text]