Robert de Cheyneston, Abbot of Vale Royal facts for kids
Robert de Cheyneston was an Abbot at Vale Royal Abbey in Cheshire from 1340 to 1349. Before becoming Abbot, he was already a monk at the Abbey. By 1337, he was an important leader within the Abbey's administration.
Contents
Robert de Cheyneston: A Leader for Vale Royal Abbey
Robert de Cheyneston took on the role of Abbot during a challenging time for Vale Royal Abbey. He worked hard to solve the Abbey's problems and make things better for the monks and the community.
Robert, perceiving that all the trouble and caution of his predecessor had been of no avail, made a vigorous opposition to the abbot of Shrewsbury, in London and elsewhere, in the cause aforesaid, and laboured arduously on behalf of his monastery.
Facing Financial Challenges
When Robert became Abbot, the Abbey was facing many money problems. He figured out that the Abbey owed at least £20. This was a lot of money back then!
Right after he started, some of the Abbey's farm buildings, called granges, caught fire. This was a big problem because all the corn stored inside was lost. The Abbey then had to buy more corn just to feed everyone until the next harvest.
Around the same time, Robert faced another issue. He had bought some land in a village called Over. This land was made up of twelve "burgages," which were like small plots of land in a town. However, he bought them without getting the proper permission from the King's official, called an escheator. To fix this, he had to pay a fine of £10. After paying, he received a special pardon and permission to keep the land.
Solving a Big Legal Problem
One of Robert's main concerns was a long-running legal fight between Vale Royal Abbey and Shrewsbury Abbey. This dispute had started even before Robert became Abbot, during the time of the previous Abbot, Peter.
When Abbot Peter passed away in 1340, the Abbot of Shrewsbury immediately sent Robert another legal document, continuing the argument. Both sides made many claims against each other. The dispute was finally settled in 1343. Robert agreed to pay Shrewsbury Abbey £100 to cover their legal costs and end the disagreement.
Improving the Abbey Buildings
Vale Royal Abbey had been under construction for fifty years, but it was still not finished. The Abbey often didn't have enough money to complete the work. Even the monks' own living areas, which were supposed to be temporary, were falling apart.
Despite having very limited money, Robert managed to make some important improvements. In his first two years, he was able to put a lead roof on the choir (the part of the church where the monks sang) and the north end of the church. However, he couldn't afford to do much more major building work after that.
What Happened Next
Robert de Cheyneston served as Abbot until 1349. He was later followed by Thomas, who was elected as the new Abbot in 1351.
