Black Ladies Priory
Diocese of Coventry and Lichfield | |
Controlled churches | Broome, Worcestershire Possibly Rode, Somerset |
---|---|
People | |
Founder(s) | Possibly Roger de Clinton |
Important associated figures |
|
Site | |
Location | Near Brewood |
Coordinates | 52°40′53″N 2°13′38″W / 52.6815°N 2.2271°W |
Public access | no |
Listed Building – Grade II* | |
Official name | Black Ladies |
Designated | 16 May 1953 |
Reference no. | 1039336 |
Listed Building – Grade II* | |
Official name | Garden walls to east, north and south of Black Ladies, with gate piers |
Designated | 16 May 1953 |
Reference no. | 1039337 |
Listed Building – Grade II | |
Official name | Tudor Barn, Blackladies |
Designated | 28 March 1985 |
Reference no. | 1374042 |
Black Ladies Priory was a house of
Name and dedication
The
The precise formula used to refer to the convent officially evidently varied through time. The 14th century seal of the priory bore the words: sigillum conventus sancte Marie nigrarum dominarum – seal of the convent of St. Mary of the Black Ladies. – which translates as [s]eal of the community of the Black Nuns at Bre[...].
Foundation
Black Ladies was situated within the
The secure existence of Black Ladies was confirmed in the next century. Pope Gregory IX (1227–1241) took the priory under his protection and confirmed it in its property holdings, both present and future.[9] He explicitly recognised the right of the sisters to elect their own prioress, although the bishop was to ordain their chaplain.
Estates, endowments and finances
The priory was never wealthy and most of its income came from small, scattered estates, close by in Staffordshire or in neighbouring counties. A deed of 1170 has the nuns of Brewood and Blithbury, at Mavesyn Ridware, giving land they held at Ridware to the lord of the manor, in return for an annual rent of two shillings and confirmation of meadowland they already had there.[10] This shows the nuns busily trying to make the most of a small holding. It also shows that there was already some sort of special relationship between Black Ladies and Blithbury. The Blithbury nuns obtained land at Gailey in Penkridge parish around 1160, but this had passed to Black Ladies by 1189,[11] when Henry II took it under royal control, leaving his son King John to compensate Black Ladies with the manor of Broome in 1200.[12] Three years later, the prioress vindicated her claim to the advowson of the church at Broome. Alexander de Bransford, the parson of Broome who died around 1205, had been presented by the previous manorial lord, Richard of Ombersley, whose father Maurice was reckoned the founder of the church.[13] Broom had been created by partitioning Clent and granted to Maurice in 1154.[14] The church was thus sometimes considered a chapelry of the church at Clent and Herbert, the vicar of Clent, claimed the right to present a successor. The prioress successfully maintained that the king had acquired the advowson when he confiscated the manor and had handed over this potentially valuable asset to Black Ladies, although it was not mentioned in the charter of 1200. The priory seems to have retained the advowson thereafter.[15]
The priory had its
Kings made several small gifts and a few important concessions. In 1204 King John gave
In 1275 Mabel and Alice, the prioresses respectively of Black Ladies and Blithbury, recorded a land deal with one Robert de Pipe.[26] Thereafter, definite references to the priory at Blithbury cease. Long associated with Black Ladies, it seems to have been absorbed into it in the late 13th century. Most of its lands appear in later records as assets of Blackladies. By the 16th century the Blithbury lands made a large contribution to the revenues of Black Ladies.[27][28]
In 1291[29] Pope Nicholas IV granted an indulgence to all who would travel to Black Ladies to celebrate four Marian festivals and the church's anniversary there.[30] This amounted to one year and forty days of penance – a considerable incentive to make the pilgrimage and so potentially a source of considerable income from offerings. In the Taxatio Ecclesiastica of that year the only property of Brewood recorded was the mill at Chetton, which was worth 16 shillings.[4] However, in the first decades of the 14th century the nuns were still poor enough to pursue a convoluted dispute with the vicar of Brewood over who should receive tithes on the wool of animals not owned by them but grazed on their land.[31] However, not much later their assessments for subsidies to the king were assessed at 2 shillings in 1327[32] and 3 shillings in 1333[33] – the latter one of the highest in the area.
On 16 October 1346, while campaigning in France at an important stage of the Hundred Years' War, Edward III licensed the prioress and convent of Brewood to appropriate the church of Rode in Somerset, where they already held the advowson.[34] There is no indication of which prioress and convent. However, this was at the request of Thomas Swynnerton and Alice Swynnerton is known to have been prioress of Black Ladies until 1332.[35] There is no sign that the appropriation was ever implemented. More certain is a receipt of 28 September 1394 by which Petronilla, named as prioress of the Black Nunnery of Brewood, acknowledged a gift of £100 from Thomas Gech to establish a chantry for Thomas de Brompton, formerly lord of Church Eaton, and his forebears. It is possible that Gech had married Brompton's widow, Isabella, but this is disputed.[36][37] This was the largest recorded gift to the priory.[38]
A
The monastic life
The community of Benedictine nuns at Black Ladies was very small. At dissolution in 1538, there were only three nuns and the prioress to receive pensions.[46] A canonical visitation in 1521 had also found only four nuns living in the priory.[41] It seems that the community never numbered more than a handful. They were, however, supported by a number of lay servants and officials. A chaplain and seven other employees had to be paid off at the dissolution.[46] As well as the financial problems associated with small and scattered endowments, the community seems to have struggled with management and governance.
The conviction of the nuns for poaching in 1286 illustrates both problems. The incident concerned seems to have happened about a decade earlier, so justice, while certain, was not swift. After a
The zealous Bishop Northburgh found numerous shortcomings – minor and more serious, moral and financial – when he carried out a canonical visitation around 1323. Northburgh was clearly a stickler for transparent management and that of the priory fell far short of the best 14th century practice. He demanded that the prioress and other office holders be prepared to present the accounts. The two most senior lay staff were sacked: Annabel de de Hervill, the
Evidently there were problems in maintaining even a semblance of leadership. Bishops were forced to intervene three times in the 15th century – in 1442, 1452 and 1485 – to appoint a prioress because of prolonged vacancies, although the nuns were supposed to elect their own head.[50] However, the visitation of 1521 found the priory in good order, although one nun commented that young girls slept in the dormitory with the nuns.[41]
Prioresses
The following list is based on that in the Victoria County History,[51] with additions from other referenced sources.
Isabel granted land at Brewood to Roger de Meyland, bishop of Coventy and Lichfield.[52] This dates her period of office as being at least partly contemporary with his episcopate, approximately 1258–95, although it is impossible to know whether she preceded or succeeded Mabel.
Mabel or Amabilia, occurs 1272 obtaining land at Horesebrook[19] and again witnessing a land transfer in 1275.[26] (fn. 37)
Emma occurs 1301.
Alice de Swynnerton was sued for return of stolen cattle in 1324[48] and resigned in 1332.
Helewis of Leicester, formerly a nun at the priory,[53] was elected in 1332 and still living in 1373.
Parrnel or Petronilla gave a receipt for a gift of £100 in September 1394[36] and was still living in 1412.
Margaret Chilterne, formerly a nun at Chester Priory, was appointed in 1442[54] and resigned by 1452.
Elizabeth Botery, a nun of Brewood, was appointed by the bishop in 1452 after a long vacancy[55] and died in 1485.
Margaret Cawardyn, appointed 1485, was formerly sub-prioress of Brewood.[56]
Isabel Lawnder was probably from Beech, near Stone, Staffordshire, the daughter of Ralph Launder.[57] She was prioress by 1521 and held the post until the dissolution of the priory in 1538. Later she seems to have lived with her sister Agnes Beech and nephew John. One of the other nuns at Black Ladies at the dissolution was Alys Beech, possibly a relative.[58]
Dissolution and sale
Black Ladies, Brewood, was scheduled for dissolution with the rest of the lesser monasteries. The prioress at the time of dissolution was Isabel Lawnder, who had been in office at the visitation of 1521.
Legh, who had earned a reputation for his high-handed treatment of monks and nuns, took over from Prioress Isabel on 16 October 1538.[63]
She received a lump sum of 40 shillings
Ultimately Giffard emerged as the victor and in February 1539 he was sold the site, watermill, demesne lands, church and churchyard, steeple of Black Ladies, worth £7 9s. 1d. a year, for the sum of £134 1s. 8d.[67] The sale was confirmed by the Court of Augmentations.[68]
Later history
With Thomas Giffard's brief succession to his father's lands, from 1556 to 1560, Black Ladies became part of the Giffard patrimony. While ultimately it was to descend with Chillington itself, Thomas initially used Black Ladies to make provision for a younger son, Humphrey: after Humphrey's death it was to revert to Thomas's eldest son and heir, John Giffard. In fact, Humphrey outlived John, so the house passed to John's heir, Walter, some time after 1614. According to the Victoria County History account of Black Ladies Priory, "no part of the priory buildings has survived."[70] This echoes the earlier VCH account of the estate, which stated baldly that: "No part of the monastic buildings has survived."[71] However, the Brewood parish council website asserts: "Much of the structure pre-dates the Dissolution".[72] This is not supported by the building's English Heritage listing, which describes it as: "Country house. Late C16 or early C17 with C20 renovations."[73] The present house visibly incorporates considerable portions of the Tudor and Jacobean structures erected by the Giffards over the century and so after the Dissolution. There was also a complex of service and agricultural buildings. The stables, known as the Tudor Barn, now form a separate house, fronted by the priory pond. During the Commonwealth and the Protectorate Blackladies was temporarily lost to the Giffards, as they suffered sequestration because of their royalist activities.[74] From the early 18th century all or parts of it were leased out[75] and in 1893 it was finally sold, to Major Ernest Vaughan.[76]
The continuing religious importance of Black Ladies beyond the
See also
Footnotes
- ^ Baugh et al. Houses of Benedictine nuns: The priory of Brewood (Black Ladies), note anchor 1. in A History of the County of Stafford, volume 3.
- ^ Baugh et al. Houses of Benedictine nuns: The priory of Brewood (Black Ladies), footnote 1. in A History of the County of Stafford, volume 3.
- ^ Baugh et al. Houses of Benedictine nuns: The priory of Brewood (Black Ladies), note anchor 46. in A History of the County of Stafford, volume 3.
- ^ a b Dugdale, p. 499.
- ^ W. de Gray Birch, p. 457.
- ^ Midgley (ed). Brewood: Introduction, manors and agriculture: Lesser Estates, note anchor 610. in A History of the County of Stafford, volume 5.
- ^ Baugh et al. Houses of Benedictine nuns: The priory of Brewood (Black Ladies), note anchor 2. in A History of the County of Stafford, volume 3.
- ^ Baugh et al. Houses of Benedictine nuns: The priory of Brewood (Black Ladies), note anchor 3. in A History of the County of Stafford, volume 3.
- ^ Baugh et al. Houses of Benedictine nuns: The priory of Brewood (Black Ladies), note anchor 12. in A History of the County of Stafford, volume 3.
- ^ Baugh et al. Houses of Benedictine nuns: The priory of Brewood (Black Ladies), note anchor 4. in A History of the County of Stafford, volume 3.
- ^ Midgley (ed). Penkridge: Introduction and manors, note anchor 332. in A History of the County of Stafford, volume 5.
- ^ Rotuli Chartarum in Turri Londinensi Asservati, p. 80.
- ^ Collections for a History of Staffordshire, volume 3, p. 127.
- ^ Collections for a History of Staffordshire, volume 2, p. 117.
- ^ Page and Willis-Bund (eds). Parishes: Broom, note anchor 30.
- ^ Baugh et al. Houses of Benedictine nuns: The priory of Brewood (Black Ladies), note anchor 10. in A History of the County of Stafford, volume 3.
- ^ Baugh et al. Houses of Benedictine nuns: The priory of Brewood (Black Ladies), note anchor 9. in A History of the County of Stafford, volume 3.
- ^ Baugh et al. Houses of Benedictine nuns: The priory of Brewood (Black Ladies), note anchor 17. in A History of the County of Stafford, volume 3.
- ^ a b Collections for a History of Staffordshire, volume 1, p. 332.
- ^ Collections for a History of Staffordshire, volume 2, p. 119. For explanation, see p. 123.
- ^ Close Rolls of Henry III, 1237–1242, p. 273.
- ^ Close Rolls of Henry III, 1254–1256, p. 344.
- ^ Close Rolls of Henry III, 1264–1268, p. 331.
- ^ Calendar of Liberate Rolls, 1240–1245, p. 71.
- ^ Calendar of Charter Rolls, 1257–1300, p. 79.
- ^ a b Baugh et al. Houses of Benedictine nuns: The priory of Blithbury (Black Ladies), note anchor 8. in A History of the County of Stafford, volume 3.
- ^ a b c Dugdale, p. 501.
- ^ a b Hibbert, p. 94.
- ^ Collections for a History of Staffordshire, volume 6, p. 152, F.274.
- ^ Regesta 46, 1291–1292, 8 Ides May. in Calendar of Papal Registers Relating To Great Britain and Ireland: Volume 1, 1198–1304.
- ^ Baugh et al. Houses of Benedictine nuns: The priory of Brewood (Black Ladies), note anchor 21. in A History of the County of Stafford, volume 3.
- ^ Collections for a History of Staffordshire, volume 7, p. 236.
- ^ Collections for a History of Staffordshire, volume 10, p. 121.
- ^ Calendar of Patent Rolls, 1345–1348, p. 475.
- ^ Baugh et al. Houses of Benedictine nuns: The priory of Brewood (Black Ladies), footnote 23. in A History of the County of Stafford, volume 3.
- ^ a b Collections for a History of Staffordshire, volume 4, part 2, p. 15, footnote.
- ^ Collections for a History of Staffordshire, volume 20, p. 153 and footnote 4.
- ^ Baugh et al. Houses of Benedictine nuns: The priory of Brewood (Black Ladies), note anchor 23. in A History of the County of Stafford, volume 3.
- ^ Collections for a History of Staffordshire, volume 1, p. 250.
- ^ a b Baugh et al. Houses of Benedictine nuns: The priory of Brewood (Black Ladies), note anchor 24. in A History of the County of Stafford, volume 3.
- ^ a b c Baugh et al. Houses of Benedictine nuns: The priory of Brewood (Black Ladies), note anchor 27. in A History of the County of Stafford, volume 3.
- ^ Hibbert, p. 92.
- ^ Dugdale, p. 500.
- ^ Hibbert, p. 93.
- ^ Letters and Papers, Henry VIII, volume 10, p. 515, no. 1238.
- ^ a b c Hibbert, p. 227.
- ^ Collections for a History of Staffordshire, volume 5, part 1, p. 163.
- ^ a b Collections for a History of Staffordshire, volume 9, part 1, p. 101.
- ^ Collections for a History of Staffordshire, volume 9, part 1, p. 104.
- ^ Baugh et al. Houses of Benedictine nuns: The priory of Brewood (Black Ladies), note anchors 25 and 26 in A History of the County of Stafford, volume 3.
- ^ Baugh et al. Houses of Benedictine nuns: The priory of Brewood (Black Ladies): Prioresses in A History of the County of Stafford, volume 3.
- ^ Collections for a History of Staffordshire, volume 6, p. 146, F.246b.
- ^ Baugh et al. Houses of Benedictine nuns: The priory of Brewood (Black Ladies), footnote 40. in A History of the County of Stafford, volume 3.
- ^ Baugh et al. Houses of Benedictine nuns: The priory of Brewood (Black Ladies), footnote 42. in A History of the County of Stafford, volume 3.
- ^ Baugh et al. Houses of Benedictine nuns: The priory of Brewood (Black Ladies), footnote 43. in A History of the County of Stafford, volume 3.
- ^ Baugh et al. Houses of Benedictine nuns: The priory of Brewood (Black Ladies), footnote 44. in A History of the County of Stafford, volume 3.
- ^ Baugh et al. Houses of Benedictine nuns: The priory of Brewood (Black Ladies), footnote 45. in A History of the County of Stafford, volume 3.
- ^ a b Hibbert, p. 228.
- ^ Baugh et al. Houses of Benedictine nuns: The priory of Brewood (Black Ladies), note anchor 45. in A History of the County of Stafford, volume 3.
- ^ Baugh et al. Houses of Benedictine nuns: The priory of Brewood (Black Ladies), note anchor 33. in A History of the County of Stafford, volume 3.
- ^ Baugh et al. Colleges: Penkridge, St Michael, note anchor 67. in A History of the County of Stafford, volume 3.
- ^ Letters and Papers, Henry VIII, volume 13, part 2, no. 586.
- ^ Letters and Papers, Henry VIII, volume 13, part 2, no, 627.
- ^ Letters and Papers, Henry VIII, volume 14, part 1, Augmentation Book 211, no. 103b.
- ^ Hibbert, p. 22-6.
- ^ Letters and Papers, Henry VIII, volume 13, part 2, no, 629.
- ^ Letters and Papers, Henry VIII, volume 14, part 1, no. 403/30.
- ^ Letters and Papers, Henry VIII, volume 14, part 1, Augmentation Book 211, no. 54d.
- ^ Palmer and Crowquill, p. 48.
- ^ Baugh et al. Houses of Benedictine nuns: The priory of Brewood (Black Ladies), note anchor 35. in A History of the County of Stafford, volume 3.
- ^ Midgley (ed). Brewood: Introduction, manors and agriculture: Lesser Estates, following note anchor 627. in A History of the County of Stafford, volume 5.
- ^ Brewood Village Web Site
- ^ Historic England. "Details from listed building database (1039336)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 12 October 2011.
- ^ Midgley (ed). Brewood: Introduction, manors and agriculture: Lesser Estates, note anchor 616. in A History of the County of Stafford, volume 5.
- ^ Midgley (ed). Brewood: Introduction, manors and agriculture: Lesser Estates, note anchor 633. in A History of the County of Stafford, volume 5.
- ^ Midgley (ed). Brewood: Introduction, manors and agriculture: Lesser Estates, note anchor 623. in A History of the County of Stafford, volume 5.
- ^ Midgley (ed). Brewood: Introduction, manors and agriculture: Lesser Estates, following note anchor 628. in A History of the County of Stafford, volume 5.
- ^ Hicks Smith, p. 44.
- ^ Palmer and Crowquill, p. 49.
- ^ Hicks Smith, p. 90.
- ^ History page, St Mary's church website Archived March 1, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
References
- G C Baugh; W L Cowie; J C Dickinson; Duggan A P; A K B Evans; R H Evans; Una C Hannam; P Heath; D A Johnston; Hilda Johnstone; Ann J Kettle; J L Kirby; R Mansfield & A Saltman (1970). Greenslade, M. W. & Pugh, R. B. (eds.). A History of the County of Stafford. Vol. 3. London: British History Online, originally Victoria County History. Retrieved 8 November 2016.
- Bliss, William Henry, ed. (1893). Calendar of Papal Registers Relating To Great Britain and Ireland, 1198–1304. Vol. 1. London: British History Online, originally HMSO. Retrieved 10 November 2016.
- Hathi Trust.
- Gairdner, James, ed. (1887). Letters and Papers, Domestic and Foreign, of the Reign of Henry VIII. Vol. 10. London: HMSO. Retrieved 10 November 2016.
- Gairdner, James, ed. (1893). Letters and Papers, Domestic and Foreign, of the Reign of Henry VIII. Vol. 13. London: British History Online, originally HMSO. Retrieved 11 November 2016.
- Gairdner, James, ed. (1894). Letters and Papers, Domestic and Foreign, of the Reign of Henry VIII. Vol. 14. London: British History Online, originally HMSO. Retrieved 11 November 2016.
- de Gray Birch, Walter (1887). Catalogue of Seals in the Department of Manuscripts of the British Museum. Vol. 1. London: Longman. Retrieved 8 November 2016.
- Hardy, Thomas Duffus, ed. (1837). Rotuli Chartarum in Turri Londinensi Asservati. Vol. 1. London: uk Public Record Office. Retrieved 9 November 2016. At Bayerische StaatsBibliothek digital.
- Hibbert, Francis Aidan, ed. (1910). The Dissolution of the Monasteries as Illustrated by the Suppression of the Religious Houses of Staffordshire. London: Pitman. Retrieved 11 November 2016.
- Hicks Smith, James (1864). Brewood: a Résumé Historical and Topographical (1874 ed.). Wolverhampton: William Parke. Retrieved 11 November 2016.
- Maxwell Lyte, H. C., ed. (1906). Calendar of the Charter Rolls Preserved in the Public Record Office, 1257–1300. London: HMSO. Retrieved 10 November 2016.
- Maxwell Lyte, H. C., ed. (1930). Calendar of the Liberate Rolls Preserved in the Public Record Office, 1240–1245. London: HMSO. Retrieved 10 November 2016.
- Maxwell Lyte, H. C., ed. (1903). Calendar of the Patent Rolls Preserved in the Public Record Office, Edward III 1345–1348. Vol. 7. London: HMSO. Retrieved 11 November 2016.
- Maxwell Lyte, H. C., ed. (1911). Close Rolls of the Reign of Henry III Preserved in the Public Record Office, 1237–1242. London: HMSO. Retrieved 10 November 2016.
- Maxwell Lyte, H. C., ed. (1931). Close Rolls of the Reign of Henry III Preserved in the Public Record Office, 1254–1256. London: HMSO. Retrieved 10 November 2016.
- Maxwell Lyte, H. C., ed. (1937). Close Rolls of the Reign of Henry III Preserved in the Public Record Office, 1264–1268. London: HMSO. Retrieved 10 November 2016.
- Midgley, L. Margaret, ed. (1959). A History of the County of Stafford. Vol. 5. London: British History Online, originally Victoria County History. Retrieved 9 November 2016.
- Page, William Henry; Willis-Bund, John William, eds. (1924). Parishes: Broom. Vol. 4. London: British History Online, originally Victoria County History. Retrieved 9 November 2016.)
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:|work=
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External links
- Staffordshire Past Track has a selection of copyright photographs and allows comparison of the site on maps of various dates.
- Historic England. "Black Ladies (1039336)". National Heritage List for England.
- Historic England. "Tudor Barn Black Ladies (1374042)". National Heritage List for England.
- Historic England. "The garden walls at Black Ladies (1039337)". National Heritage List for England.
- British Listed Buildings Alternative source for listing details and quick links to maps, etc.
- Geograph.org.uk images of the area.