Caldwell Priory facts for kids
Seal of the Priory of Caldwell
|
|
| Monastery information | |
|---|---|
| Order | Canons of the Holy Sepulchre, Augustinians |
| Established | 1154 |
| Disestablished | 1536 |
| Site | |
| Location | Bedford, Bedfordshire, England |
Imagine a very old monastery called Caldwell Priory. It was home to a special group of monks called Canons of the Holy Sepulchre. This priory was in Bedfordshire, England, right by the River Great Ouse in the south-west of Bedford. It existed for many years, from around 1154 until 1536.
Contents
History of Caldwell Priory
How Caldwell Priory Started
The exact beginning of Caldwell Priory is a bit unclear. The earliest official documents that gave the priory land and money were from the time of King Henry II. This means the priory likely started around 1154, or maybe even a little earlier during the reign of King Stephen. We don't know who the founder was for sure. Some old stories say it was the ancestors of Simon Barescote, while others mention the Beauchamps or Beaumonts.
At first, the priory belonged to the Canons of the Holy Sepulchre. They were dedicated to Saint John the Baptist. These canons were very similar to other Augustinian monks. The main difference was their name and a special scarlet badge on their cloaks. In fact, monks from Dunstable Priory (another Augustinian house) were sometimes invited to become priors (leaders) at Caldwell.
By the early 1200s, Caldwell Priory owned several churches in Bedfordshire. These included Bromham, Roxton, Sandy, and Oakley with its chapel in Clapham. They also had churches in Buckinghamshire (Marsworth and Broughton) and Leicestershire (Arnesby). Later, they added Tolleshunt Major in Essex. Most of their land was in Bedfordshire, but it was never a huge amount. In 1291, their possessions were worth less than £50.
Life at the Priory
In 1224, when Bedford Castle was under attack, the canons helped the king. They gave him materials for his mangonels (large stone-throwing machines). In return, they received some of the stones from the castle walls after it was taken down. They seemed to have a good relationship with the monks from Dunstable Priory.
There was a time in 1249 when the prior, Eudo, was accused of some things. He decided to leave and join another group of monks called Cistercians before Bishop Grossetête came to visit. The sub-prior from Dunstable Priory then took his place.
In 1339, after Prior Roger of Wellington passed away, the king's officer tried to take control of the priory's lands. This was because of a rumor that the king had taken control of the priory's right to choose its leader during the time of King Henry III. Also, the prior held land and rent in Bedford that was connected to the king. However, the canons appealed directly to the king. They explained that their right to choose their leader had been passed down through different noble families. The king then told his officer to leave them alone.
Priory Finances
We don't know exactly how much money or land the priory started with because the original founding document is missing. In 1272, Robert of Houghton gave the canons the land where the priory was built. By 1336, they owned lands and properties in many places around Bedfordshire.
The churches that belonged to the priory were not always rich. Sometimes, they actually cost the canons money instead of bringing in income. For example, the chapel of Clapham and the church of Marsworth had to pay a yearly amount to another monastery called Osney Abbey. The canons of Caldwell tried many times to stop these payments, but they usually failed. This payment was still a cost for the priory in 1535.
Around this time, the priory was quite poor. The prior, Hugh de Beauchamp, was rebuilding the church. A few years before, Bishop Dalderby had even given the canons permission to ask for donations because they were so poor.
The priory didn't get richer over time. In 1318, they gave away the right to choose the priest for Broughton church. In 1525, they did the same for Sandy church, giving it to Bishop Longland. Bishop Longland himself described Caldwell Priory as "a very poor place" in the same year. He said that instead of the £100 the king had asked for, he only told the prior to give £20 towards a special collection from all religious houses.
Bishop Visits and Rules
Bishops would visit monasteries to check on them and make sure everything was running well.
In 1387, Bishop Buckingham visited Caldwell Priory. He reminded the canons about important duties like obeying rules, being quiet, helping with church services, and managing the monastery's money properly. He especially stressed that the younger canons needed to be taught singing and grammar. This would help them perform their religious duties better. The canons were also told not to go to taverns in Bedford or visit the monastery of Elstow. If they did, they could be punished.
Later, Bishop Repingdon repeated these rules. He said the canons should not go to Bedford or Elstow Abbey for any reason. One canon was even forbidden from leaving the cloister (the enclosed area of the monastery) at all. The canons were generally not allowed to drink anywhere unless the prior was present, which suggests there might have been some issues with drinking.
When Bishop Grey visited, he found that John Wymington, the brother who had been told to stay within the cloister, was now in charge of the sub-prior's office. He had to be removed from that position. Bishop Grey's rules were similar: canons shouldn't go to Bedford, hunting dogs weren't allowed in the monastery, and the common seal (used for official documents) had to be kept locked away. It seems that the biggest problem Bishop Longland found was the priory's poverty.
The End of the Priory
In 1535, the prior, Thomas Dey, along with six canons and two lay brothers, agreed to the King's authority over the church. Because the priory's income was only about £109 a year, it was closed down in 1536 under the Dissolution of the Lesser Monasteries Act. This was part of a larger plan by King Henry VIII to close many monasteries in England.
What Happened After the Priory Closed
After the priory was closed, its land and buildings (about 306 acres) were rented out. Then, in 1563, they were sold for £404. The priory buildings seemed to last until the 1800s. However, a new house was built on the site sometime between 1818 and 1857. That house was later torn down between 1926 and 1967. Today, the site is a mix of houses and old industrial land.
Leaders of Caldwell Priory (Priors)
Here is a list of the leaders, or Priors, of Caldwell Priory over the years:
- Osbert (1178, 1186)
- Hugh (1200-1201)
- Alexander (elected 1212, died 1229)
- William (elected 1229, died 1244)
- Eudo (elected 1244, resigned 1249)
- Walter of Caddington (elected 1249, resigned 1272)
- Matthew of Bedford (elected 1272, resigned 1287)
- John of Yprès (elected 1287, resigned 1313)
- John de Lacu (elected 1303, died 1318)
- Hugh de Beauchamp (elected 1318, resigned 1326)
- Roger of Wymington (elected 1326, occurs 1332)
- Robert of Lufwyk (resigned 1338)
- William of Souldrop (elected 1338, resigned 1348)
- Richard of Hardwick (elected 1348, died 1349)
- Ralph of Derby (elected 1349, died 1375)
- Thomas de Stratford (elected 1375, died 1396)
- Ralph Portreeve (elected 1396, resigned 1397)
- Thomas Pollard (elected 1397, died or resigned 1420)
- Thomas Bole (elected 1420, occurs 1425)
- John Ampthill (occurs 1437)
- John Bedford (resigned 1479)
- Richard Derby (elected 1479)
- Thomas Cople (elected 1492, resigned 1509)
- Robert Hanslape (elected 1509, resigned 1525)
- John Biggleswade (elected 1525, died 1531)
- Thomas Dey (elected 1531)
The Priory's Official Seal
The official seal of Caldwell Priory showed the Virgin Mary wearing a crown and holding the baby Jesus. On her right was Saint John the Baptist, and on her left was Saint John the Evangelist. Below them, the prior (leader of the monastery) was shown kneeling.
