Edith Forne facts for kids
Edith Forne (died after 1129) was an important English noblewoman. She was known for having children with King Henry I of England and for starting Osney Abbey near Oxford.
Edith was the daughter of Forn Sigulfson, who was the Lord of Greystoke in Cumberland.
Edith Forne's Family Life
Edith had three children with King Henry I:
- Robert FitzEdith (born around 1093, died 1172)
- William de Tracy (born around 1097, died 1140)
- Adeliza FitzEdith, who is mentioned in old documents with her brother Robert.
In 1120, King Henry arranged for Edith to marry Robert D'Oyly the younger. Robert was the second son of Nigel D'Oyly. As a wedding gift, Edith received the Manor of Cleydon in Buckinghamshire. Edith and Robert D'Oyly had at least two children together: Henry (who was buried at Osney in 1163) and Gilbert.
Founding Osney Abbey
In 1129, Edith convinced her husband, Robert D'Oyly, to build a church. This church was dedicated to St Mary and was located on the Isle of Osney, near Oxford Castle. It was built for a group of monks called Augustine Canons. This church later grew into the famous Osney Abbey.
Edith told her husband that she had a dream about many magpies chattering loudly. A chaplain (a type of priest) explained that the dream meant there were souls in a place called Purgatory who needed a church to be built. Building a church would help these souls find peace and be forgiven for their sins.
Edith's Burial Place
Edith Forne was buried at Osney Abbey. She was buried wearing a religious robe. A historian named John Leland saw her tomb before many monasteries were closed down in England. He wrote that there was a stone statue of Edith, dressed like a woman who had taken religious vows. The statue held a hart (a type of deer) in its right hand and was on the north side of the main altar. The story of her dream about the magpies was even painted near her tomb.
