Abbotsbury Abbey

Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox monastery

Abbotsbury Abbey, dedicated to Saint Peter, was a Benedictine monastery in the village of Abbotsbury in Dorset, England. The abbey was founded in the 11th century by King Cnut's thegn Orc and his wife Tola, who handsomely endowed the monastery with lands in the area. The abbey prospered and became a local centre of power, controlling eight manor houses and villages. During the later Middle Ages, the abbey suffered much misfortune. In the time of the dissolution of the monasteries, the last abbot surrendered the abbey and the site became the property of Sir Giles Strangways.

Today, a small part of the former Abbey estate, including the abbey's remains, and those of the nearby St Catherine's Chapel, are in the guardianship of English Heritage.

History

Foundation

The first reference to the site of Abbotsbury may be in a charter of King Edmund (r. 939–946) recording a grant of five hides of land at Abbedesburi to the thegn Sigewulf.<ref name=Keynes207>Keynes, "The lost cartulary of Abbotsbury", p. 207.</ref> The name (Abbedesburi) may suggest that the land had once belonged to an abbot.<ref name=Keynes207 /> During the reign of King Cnut (r. 1016–1035), the Scandinavian thegn Orc (also Urki, Urk) and his wife Tola took up residence in the area, having been granted land at Portesham.<ref name=Keynes208>Keynes, "The lost cartulary of Abbotsbury", p. 208.</ref> Edward the Confessor (r. 1042–1066) also granted him Wootton and it was early in his reign that the couple founded a monastery at Abbotsbury, previously the site of a minor church.<ref name=Keynes208 /> Orc and Tola, who had no children, enriched the monastery with a substantial amount of land,<ref name=Keynes208 /> some of which was bequeathed after their deaths. By the time of the Domesday survey, Abbotsbury (itself worth 21 hides) was recorded to have held more than 65 hides of land TRE.<ref name=Keynes209>Keynes, "The lost cartulary of Abbotsbury", p. 209.</ref> Orc also established his own guild, which according to the extant statutes, had its hall at Abbotsbury and protected the minster's interests.<ref name=Keynes208 /><ref>Dorothy Whitelock, English Historical Documents, no. 139.</ref>

Last period and dissolution

During the 14th century the Black Death killed many villagers and also the abbot. Moreover, the village was repeatedly attacked from the sea, reducing the security of the abbey and its status. In addition, the area suffered depredations from the forces sent to man the coastal defences. Later that century and in the century following the Abbey's situation had started to improve somewhat. In 1535 and 1539 Henry VIII undertook the forcible Dissolution of the Monasteries. Under the last Abbot of Abbotsbury, Roger Roddon, the Abbey was dissolved in 1539,<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> following a visit from Dr. Thomas Legh (Leigh, Lee).<ref name="british-history.ac.uk">'Houses of Benedictine monks: The abbey of Abbotsbury', in William Page (ed.), A History of the County of Dorset: Volume 2, London, 1908, pp. 48-53. British History Online http://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/dorset/vol2/pp48-53 [accessed 22 September 2020].</ref>

Upon the surrender of the abbey, on 12 March 1539, Abbot Roger Roddon, along with the prior and eight brethren received pensions: the abbot, £80; the prior, Thomas Bradford, £9; Thomas Tolpuddle, £7; six other brethren, including William Grey and John Vynsant, £6 to £5 each; Thomas Holnest, 40s.<ref name="british-history.ac.uk"/> Sir Giles Strangways<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> (died 1546), the commissioner who had dissolved the monastery and who bought the abbey buildings, manor houses, water mills and Abbotsbury Swannery and much of the abbey's land for £1,906, 10s (equivalent to £Template:Inflation in Template:Inflation-year).Template:Inflation-fn On the one hand Strangways' own father had in fact been buried in the Abbey, and when he himself died in 1546 his will bequeathed £6 13s.4d. a year for two years for a priest to say Mass for the repose of his soul and the souls of his wife and son.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Henry VIII granted the abbey site to Sir Giles Strangways.<ref name=Victoria /> Much of the land still belongs to Strangways' descendants, the Earls of Ilchester.

Known Abbots of Abbotsbury

Template:Infobox coat of arms

Incumbent	In office	Comments
Æsuuerdus	?	appears in 1075<ref name=HeadsI>Knowles, Brooke and London (2001), The heads of religious houses: England & Wales, I. 940–1216, p. 23.</ref>
[ Roger, bishop of Salisbury ]	1107–1139	<ref name=HeadsI />
Geoffrey	1140	<ref name=HeadsI />
Roger	?	appears in 1129 x 1150.<ref name=HeadsI />
Geoffrey II	?	appears in 1166.<ref name=HeadsI />
vacant	1175, 1–8 July	<ref name=HeadsI />
Ralph?	?	<ref name=HeadsI />
Roger II	?	appears in 1201.<ref name=HeadsI />
Hugh	?	appears in 1204 x 1205.<ref name=HeadsI />
vacant	1213, 15 July	<ref name=HeadsI /><ref name=HeadsII>Smith and London (2001), The heads of religious houses: England & Wales, II. 1216–1377, pp. 15–6.</ref>
Hugh II	? – 1246?	<ref name=HeadsII />
Roger de Brideton	1246–1258?	<ref name=HeadsII />
Joan of Hilton (Helton)	1258–1284	<ref name=HeadsII />
Philip of Sherborne	1284–1296	<ref name=HeadsII />
[William of Kingston]		<ref name=HeadsII />
Benedict of Loders (Lodres)	1297–1320	<ref name=HeadsII />
Ralph of Sherborne	1320–1321	<ref name=HeadsII />
Peter of Sherborne	1321–1324	<ref name=HeadsII />
William le Fauconer	1324–1343	<ref name=HeadsII />
Walter de Saunford	1343–1348	<ref name=HeadsII />
Walter de Stokes	1348–1354	<ref name=HeadsII />
Henry (of) Toller (or Tolre)	1354–1376	<ref name=HeadsII />
William Cerne	1376–1401	<ref name=HeadsII />
Robert Bylsay	1401–1426	<ref name=Victoria>Page, ed. (1908), The Victoria history of the county of Dorset, pp. 48–53.</ref>
Richard Percy	1426–1442	resigned in 1442<ref name=Victoria />
Edward Watton	1442–1452	<ref name=Victoria />
William Wuller	1452–1468	<ref name=Victoria />
Hugh Dorchester	1468–1496	<ref name=Victoria />
John Abbotsbury	1496 (elected)	<ref name=Victoria />
John Portesham	1505 (elected)	<ref name=Victoria />
Roger Roddon	1534–1539	last abbot, surrendered.<ref name=Victoria />

Burials

Humphrey Stafford (died 1413) and wife Elizabeth d'Aumale Mautravers Stafford
Sir John Mautravers
Humphrey Stafford (died 1442)

Architecture and historic listing designations

As was customary in such cases, Abbotsbury Abbey was largely demolished to maximize profit from the sale and to allow its stone to be reused.

The 14th century Tithe Barn, which at 272 ft by 31 ft is reputedly the largest thatched tithe barn in the world,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> was spared. Though now only half roofed, the still impressive structure has two porches, each surmounted by a watching chamber. Also spared from the general destruction was St Catherine's Chapel, used at one time as a lookout across the sea and conversely as a landmark for mariners. Both are currently Grade I listed buildings and scheduled monuments.<ref>Template:NHLE</ref> <ref>Template:NHLE</ref> In the churchyard to the south of the present parish church, traces of the north wall of the abbey are visible. These remnants are also listed at Grade I.<ref>Template:NHLE</ref> Other Grade I listed buildings at the site include the Malthouse,<ref>Template:NHLE</ref> and the Dairy House.<ref>Template:NHLE</ref> There are four structures listed at Grade II*; the Pigeon House,<ref>Template:NHLE</ref> a gable end section of wall called Pynion's End,<ref>Template:NHLE</ref> a gatehouse,<ref>Template:NHLE</ref> and a run of cottages, the Abbott's Walk.<ref>Template:NHLE</ref> Grade II buildings include a gateway,<ref>Template:NHLE</ref> Abbey House,<ref>Template:NHLE</ref> and a Granary.<ref>Template:NHLE</ref> The Abbey's former swannery is an internationally famous nature reserve.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Gallery

The Grade I listed Tithe Barn
Fragments of the Grade I listed abbey North Wall
The Grade I listed Dairy House
The Grade II listed Abbey House, with the gable of the Grade I listed Malthouse on the extreme right
The Grade II* listed Pynion End gable, with the tithe barn beyond
The Grade II listed Granary
The Grade II listed gateway