Poughley Priory facts for kids
Poughley Priory was a special kind of religious house called a priory. It was home to a group of monks known as Austin Canons. These canons followed the rules of Saint Augustine. The priory was located in Chaddleworth, a village in Berkshire, England, between Great Shefford and Leckhampstead.
The priory was started around the year 1160 and was closed down in 1525.
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History of Poughley Priory
A very old document from 1330 tells us how Poughley Priory began. It was founded by a man named Ralph de Chaddleworth around 1160. He gave the priory the land where a hermit (someone who lives alone for religious reasons) used to live. This place was called 'Clenfordemere' or 'Ellenfordemere'. Ralph also gave them a nearby wood and the church of Chaddleworth, including its chapel and everything that belonged to it.
Around the same time, or soon after, the priory received more land from other people. For example, Thomas de Mazuy gave them land in West Batterton, and Roger de Curridge gave them land in Curridge. These gifts helped the priory grow and become stronger.
The priory was built on the old hermit's site and was dedicated to Saint Margaret. It was set up for the Austin Canons.
Papal Support and Challenges
In 1182, Pope Alexander III, the leader of the Catholic Church, gave the new priory a special gift. He said they didn't have to pay tithes, which were like a tax (usually 10% of income) paid to the church. He also told the local church leaders not to put any new charges on the priory. In this important church document, called a papal bull, the priory was called the priory of St. Margaret of 'Elenfordesmer.'
Later, in September 1256, Pope Alexander IV also helped the priory. He allowed them to hold church services quietly, with closed doors and no bells, during times of interdict. An interdict was a church punishment where religious services were stopped in an area. This meant the canons could still worship even when others couldn't. The Pope also put the priory under his special protection.
In 1291, a list of taxes for Pope Nicholas IV showed that Poughley Priory received some money from the church of West Hendred. It also earned money from its lands in places like Lambourn, Peasemore, and Speen.
The priory faced a big challenge on April 12, 1313. A terrible fire destroyed their granaries (where they stored grain), mills, and other buildings. The bishop granted a special indulgence (a church favor) for forty days to anyone who helped the priory rebuild after the fire.
In 1428, there was a problem with a mill. A man named John Dyke complained that the prior of Poughley had built a mill across the Lambourn river. This mill caused the river to flood the king's lands and meadows. A special group was set up to look into this complaint.
Later Years and Dissolution
In January 1469, Pope Paul II gave the prior, Thomas Sutton, a special permission. Since the priory's income was not very high (less than £50 a year), Prior Sutton was allowed to also hold another church job, like being a rector or vicar, for the rest of his life. This helped him earn more money.
Poughley Priory was one of the first religious houses to be closed down by Cardinal Wolsey. He was a very powerful church leader and advisor to the king. In 1524, Wolsey got permission from the Pope and the King to close the priory. He wanted to use its money and property to help build his new college in Oxford, which is now Christ Church.
The priory was officially closed on February 14, 1524. At that time, John Somers was the prior. The priory's income from church services was about £10 a year, and its income from lands and property was about £61 11s. 7d.
Records from when the priory was closed showed that it owned the churches of Chaddleworth and Kingston. It also owned land and buildings in many other places in Berkshire.
After the priory was closed, there was some disagreement about who would get to use the land. In 1527, Edward Fetyplace wrote to Thomas Cromwell, another powerful figure. Fetyplace was upset because he thought he was promised the site of Poughley, but it was given to someone else. His letter also shows that for a while, students from Wolsey's new college lived at the old priory site.
In 1529, Fetyplace wrote to Cromwell again, asking for more years to rent the Poughley farm. He mentioned that Cromwell had recently visited the priory. Fetyplace said that after Cromwell left, a man came with a cart to take away things that were supposed to go to Wolsey's College in Oxford.
In 1530, Cardinal Wolsey paid "wages" or pensions to the canons and monks who had lost their homes when the priories were closed. Three canons from Poughley received 40 shillings. That same year, goods from Poughley were sold for £29, and the bells were valued at £33 6s. 8d.
Priors of Poughley
These are some of the leaders, called Priors, of Poughley Priory:
- Jerome, around 1182
- William, around 1236
- Robert, in the 1200s
- Yvo, resigned in 1313
- John de Lamborne, elected in 1313
- Ralph de Pesmere, in 1348
- Geoffrey, around 1350
- William Marlborough, resigned in 1442
- John Helme, also known as Hungerford, elected in 1442
- Thomas Sutton, around 1469–1474
- Thomas Ware, resigned in 1497
- William Nordon, elected in 1497, died in 1521
- John Devynyshe, appointed in 1521
- Somers, surrendered in 1524
Common Seal
The priory had its own special seal, used for official documents. The main part of the seal (from 1244) shows Saint Margaret standing on a dragon. She holds a whip in her right hand and a book in her left. Around the edge, it says: SIGILL': SBE MARGAR . . . : CLENFORDE . . .
The back of the seal has a smaller counterseal belonging to Prior William. It shows the prior in his religious clothes, holding a book. Around this part, it says: SIGILL': WILL'MI: PRIORIS: DE: POCCHELEG
