Reading Abbey Research Articles

Cherchez la femme. Queens, Queens' Landsand Nunneries: Missing Links in the Foundation of Reading Abbey

In 1121 Henry I founded Reading abbey, an event closely connected in time to his second marriage. This article links the lands used to endow Reading with those of late Saxon queens and of female communities themselves linked to queens. It explores lay control of such communities and the circumstances in which such control came to be defined as unacceptable, and thus in which monastic reform advanced. The events of 1120-21, after the tragic death of Henry'’ only legitimate son, are seen as constituting just such a circumstance. The foundation of Reading abbey, as a male Cluniac house, used former queens' lands and freed the lands of older religious communities. It was simultaneously an act of penance, a celebration of queenship and legitimate dynastic continuity, and an offering for the purification and fertility of the king’s new marriage.

Compton

782 Notification and confirmation by the dean and the master of the school of St Edward of Shaftesbury (Seftebyr'), judges-delegate of Pope Gregory IX, quoting the papal commission, of the settlement before them in the church of St Nicholas at Wilton (Wilton') [Wilts.] of the dispute between Simon, rector of the church of Compton (Cumton') belonging to the abbess of Wherwell (Werewellö) [Hants.], and Reading Abbey over the tithes which the abbey receives within the parish of Compton and which Simon claims belong by common right to his church. The abbey, appearing by R. its sacrist, has ceded the tithes to the said church and rector and his successors in perpetuity, in return for an annual payment of 8s to the sacrist at Reading within the octave of Easter. Both parties have bound themselves by a corporal oath to observe this settlement, submitting themselves to the jurisdiction and coercion of the archdeacon of Berkshire and the [rural] dean of Newbury (Neubir') in this regard. The abbey may resume possession of the tithes if the payment is not made by the stated term.Done in the year of grace 1234[before 17 Aug.] 1234Bf 195r–v; Cff 114V–115r

Pangbourne

818 Licence by King Edward III to John son of William of Blewbury (Blebury) to alienate in mortmain to Reading Abbey one messuage, 70 acres and 1 rood of land, 1½ acres of wood and 11s 3d rent in Pangbourne (Pangeburne), which are not held of the king in chief and which are worth annually 235 6¾d as appears by the inquest held by Robert Selyman, escheator in Hants., Wilts., Oxon., Berks., Beds, and Bucks.; to be held by the abbey in perpetuity at the value of 375 11d in part satisfaction of the £10 worth of land and rent which the abbey has the king's licence to acquire. Licence also to the abbot and convent to receive and hold the same 1 Feb. 1333

Hinton (in Hurst) and Sheepbridge (in Swallowfield)

810 Gift in free alms by William Longespee (Lunghespeie)a to Reading Abbey of 40s annual rent at Hinton (Henton') and Sheepbridge (Scheperige)b to be received on the morrow of St Martin [11 Nov.], viz., from Sir Thomas leBlondc and his heirs 1 mark, from Sir Henry de Mara and his heirs 1 mark and from Richard del Hechd and his heirs 1 mark. To be held freely, saving to the donor and his heirs the homage and any other services of the said Thomas, Henry and Richard and their heirs. Warranty. Grant of power to the abbey to distrain the said men and their heirs if they shall default in payment, and to take the distresses to Whitley (Witele), as the men's charters testify. The donor binds himself in respect of any kind of security concerning the said 405 which the king's justices or other discreet men shall require to be made (providerint faciendam). Sealing [c. 1238 × 1250]

Ufton Nervet (in Ufton)

1188 Gift in free alms by Simon son of Nicholas and Isabel his wife to Reading Abbey of the whole land which Thomas son of Alan sometime gave them in the vill of Ufton [Nervet] (Huffinton'). To be held freely by rendering annually to the said Thomas and his heirs 1d at Easter and to Richer Neirnut, lord of the fee, and his heirs ys sterling at Michaelmas for all custom, demand, suit and secular service, saving such foreign service as pertains to the said tenement, which the abbey will acquit. Warranty and sealing with their seals.

Cholsey

770 Order by King Henry I to the bishop of Salisbury and Earl David that, if the sheriffs of Berkshire and the reeves of Cholsey have given any of the inland of Cholsey and put it out of the demesne, they are to cause it to return to the demesne of Reading Abbey by the oath of lawful men of the hundred. Witness(es) [omitted][prob. latter half of 1123]B f 17vPd. Regesta, ii. 353 (no. clxxv); (cal.) ibid., 191–2 (no. 1423)The date is after the appointment of the first abbot, 15 Apr. 1123 (Flor. Hist., ii. 49) and probably also after 19 June, the date of Pope Calixtus II's confirmation to Reading, which does not mention Cholsey (no. 139). The king's attempt to recover alienated demesne probably took place at the same time as his recovery of the church of Cholsey from the abbey of Mont St Michel in the latter half of 1123 (no. 3). Earl David is King David I of Scotland, earl of Huntingdon and Northampton 1113/14–36.

Beenham

664 Gift in free alms by Walter son of Robert of Padworth (Pedewrþe) to Reading Abbey of ½ acre of meadow which he had in Norþmed' extending in length from the bed of the [River] Kennet (ab alveo Kenete) to the arable land of the abbey in Beenham (Bienham). To be held free of all exaction, claim, demand and service. Warranty. The donor and his heirs will answer for all foreign service of the said land. Witnesses [omitted][13th cent.; not later than 1258]Bf71r; Cf36v

Leicestershire

451 Notification by King Stephen to the bishop of Lincoln, and the justice, sheriff and barons of Leicestershire, of his gift in free alms to Reading Abbey of the land of Wigston [Parva] held by William, the king's almsman (elemosinarius), who has become a monk of Reading; and precept that the abbey shall hold it with all the liberties with which it holds its other lands 1137A f 18v; B f 30r;Cf 6rPd. Regesta, iii. 252 (no. 681)Testibus: Rogero episcopo Sar(esburiensi), et Ricardo episcopo Baioc(ensi), et multis aliis. Apud Westm(onasterium), anno incarnationis dominice MCxxxvii.

IV Archiepiscopal and Episcopal Acts

174 Confirmation by William [of Corbeil], archbishop of Canterbury, to Abbot Hugh [I] and the monks of Reading of the gifts made to the abbey by King Henry I—viz., Reading with its churches and chapels, Leominster with its churches and chapels, Thatcham, Cholsey and its church, which church with that of Wargrave the king obtained by exchange with the abbey of Mont StMichel and gave to Reading Abbey. The archbishop makes this confirmation because Reading, Leominster and Cholsey were formerly abbeys and have now been restored to Reading Abbey [1123 × 30]

Wiltshire

654 Notification by Empress Matilda, daughter of King Henry, to John the Marshal and to the sheriff of Wiltshire and the men of Marlborough, that she has given to Reading Abbey, for the health of her soul and those of King Henry I and all her kinsmen, the land of Herbert son of Fulcher, who has become a monk at Reading, with houses and all appurtenances. The abbey shall hold it as freely as it holds all its other possessions given by her father and as Herbert held it [Feb. × Apr. 1141]Af 15v; Bf 19vPd. Regesta, iii. 258 (no. 700)His testibus: H(enrico) episcopo Wintonie, et A(lexandro) episcopo Lincoln (ie), et R(oberto) comite Gloec(estrie), et Milone constabulo, et Hunfr(edo) de Buhun dapifero. Apud Radingiam.

Warwickshire

560 Gift and quitclaim by Gerard son of William of Bearley (Burle) to Reading Abbey of all the land with appurtenances which the said William of Bearley sometime gave him in Bearley (Burghel'). To be held freely by rendering annually to John of Bearley (Burgl') 2d at Michaelmas for all custom, demand and secular service. For this the abbey has given him £10 of silver. Warranty and sealing. Witnesses' [omitted] [c. 122O × c. 1249]

A register from reading abbey

A register from reading abbey

The making of a twelfth-century relic collection

The present communication derives from an attempt to make an edition of the list of relics of Reading Abbey to be found in one of the abbey’s cartularies, British Museum MS Egerton 3031, fols 6v–8r. This is a list of no less than 242 relics, a collection which must have been formed between the founding of the abbey in the 1120s and the writing of the cartulary in the 1190s. It can be supplemented by a much shorter list of 24 relics made by the Dissolution commissioner, Dr London, which however only adds one relic not present in the twelfth-century list, a bone of St Osmund of Salisbury, canonised in 1457. If we add the ‘head’ of the apostle Philip, given by king John, and added to the cartulary in a slightly later hand, we can be fairly safe in saying that the abbey acquired all but two of its relics in the first seventy years of its existence, and the list, which is very full and comparatively early as such lists go, has much to tell us of how such collections were made.

A legend of reading abbey': 'The camp of Refuge'

A legend of reading abbey': 'The camp of Refuge' Get access C. F. S. Warren, M.A. C. F. S. Warren, M.A. Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar Notes and Queries, Volume s8-X, Issue 240, 1 August 1896, Page 105, https://doi.org/10.1093/nq/s8-X.240.105e Published: 01 August 1896

A legend of reading abbey': 'The camp of Refuge'

Journal Article A legend of reading abbey': 'The camp of Refuge' Get access William E. A. Axon William E. A. Axon Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar Notes and Queries, Volume s8-X, Issue 240, 1 August 1896, Page 105, https://doi.org/10.1093/nq/s8-X.240.105d Published: 01 August 1896

A legend of reading abbey': 'The camp of refuge.'

A legend of reading abbey': 'The camp of refuge.'

LORD FINGALL'S CARTULARY OF READING ABBEY

LORD FINGALL'S CARTULARY OF READING ABBEY Get access S. BARFIELD S. BARFIELD Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar The English Historical Review, Volume III, Issue IX, January 1888, Pages 113–125, https://doi.org/10.1093/ehr/III.IX.113 Published: 01 January 1888

V. Observations on Reading Abbey, by Sir Henry Englefield, Bart. F.S.A.

The abbey of Benedictine monks at Reading, founded in the year 1121 by Henry the First, rendered still more famous by his and the empress Maud's burial there, was second to few in this kingdom in its wealth, honours, and magnificence. The number of its religious was two hundred; and their abbot, who was a peer of parliament, gave place only to those of Glastonbury and Saint Albans. His abbey answered in stateliness to the rank and consequence he possessed; and a proof of that is, that parliaments and councils have more than once been held in the great hall of the abbey. The shattered and disjointed ruins of the building, which now remain, bear a character of majesty very singular and almost peculiar to themselves. Stript by destroyers of more than ordinary patience and industry, of almost every stone which cased the walls, they still, though built only of small flints, defy the injuries of time and weather, and have more the appearance of rocks than of the works of human hands. My residence in the neighbourhood has given me frequent opportunities of examining these ruins, and the plan and drawings now presented to the inspection of the Society are the result of my enquiries. I make no apology for this communication; it has long appeared to me, that a number of surveys of the different abbies and cathedrals of this kingdom would be a fund of valuable information for those who study the history of architecture in England