Aldeby Priory facts for kids
Aldeby Priory was a special religious house built in the 1100s in Aldeby, Norfolk, England. It was home to a group of Benedictine monks. Think of it like a small monastery connected to a bigger one in Norwich.
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History of Aldeby Priory
How the Priory Started
The priory began thanks to a woman named Agnes de Beaupré. She later married Hubert de Rye. Around the time of King Henry I, Agnes gave the church and land in Aldeby to the monks in Norwich.
Because of this gift, Bishop Herbert decided to set up a small priory here. He placed a prior (the leader) and three Benedictine monks at Aldeby. This made Aldeby Priory a "cell" of the main Norwich monastery. A cell is like a smaller branch or outpost of a larger monastic house.
When the priory church was built, Bishop Herbert laid the first foundation stone. Hubert and Agnes de Rye laid the second. King Henry I officially approved the gifts to the priory. The priory was dedicated to St. Mary. It received land and the church in Aldeby, along with other gifts from Henry de Rye, Hubert's son.
Life at the Priory
In 1275, the local jury found that the prior of Aldeby had certain rights. These included checking the quality of bread and beer sold locally. The prior could also hold a "view of frank-pledge." This was a meeting where local people had to promise to be peaceful and law-abiding.
In 1286, a man named William Rosalyne bought the lordship (control) of Aldeby from the Norwich monks and the prior. However, the monks kept some land and the right to choose the church's priest. This part became known as the "prior's manor."
Important People and Events
On May 27, 1355, John de Bedingfield was the prior of Aldeby. He was asked by the prior of Norwich to listen to the confessions of the nuns at Bungay. This shows how the Aldeby Priory was connected to other religious houses.
In 1376, Sir Thomas Savage was buried near the priory church. Later, in 1466, Lady Isabel Morley passed away. She was seen as the patroness of the priory. This meant her family were heirs to the original founders, Hubert and Agnes de Rye.
In 1481, there were three monks living at this small priory: Edmund Salle, Roger Framlingham, and William Spink.
Priory Finances and Challenges
The priors of these smaller cells, like Aldeby, had to send yearly financial reports to the main prior in Norwich. Many of these old reports from Aldeby still exist today. They cover years from 1422 to 1523.
In 1514, the main Norwich Priory was inspected. John Lakenham, who was the prior of Aldeby at the time, didn't have good news. He hadn't sent in his accounts for the past year. The priory owed about £10, which was a lot of money back then. Also, the priory's gates and the brewery were falling apart.
Because of these problems, the bishop ordered that all cells must send their yearly accounts to Norwich. Edmund Norwich was the prior of Aldeby in 1532. He was questioned, but mainly about the condition of the Norwich Priory itself.
Aldeby Priory was a small place. It was founded by Agnes de Beaufoe (or Beko) and her husband Hubert de Rye. It was given land and tithes (a type of tax) during the time of King Henry I.
The priory's value in 1466 was £7 15s. 6d. When monasteries were closed down in England, Aldeby Priory became property of the Crown. Later, it was given to the new dean and chapter of Norwich Cathedral.
Priors of Aldeby
Here are some of the people who served as prior (leader) of Aldeby Priory:
- John de Bedingfield (around 1355)
- Richard de Rye (around 1422)
- Thomas Hethyll (around 1462)
- William Bexwell (around 1505)
- John Lakenham (around 1514)
- Edmund Norwich alias Drake (around 1532)
See also
In Spanish: Priorato de Aldeby para niños
