Delapré Abbey
Encyclopedia
Delapré Abbey or more properly, the Convent of St Mary De La Pré, was founded as a Cluniac nunnery about the year 1145, situated in the meadows of the River Nene
to the south of Northampton
.
The convent was founded by Simon de Senlis in the reign of King Stephen
; it held a Royal Charter from Edward III
. At its founding, the convent was endowed with land at Hardingstone
and held the churches at Earls Barton
, Great Doddington
and Fotheringay
(confirmed by the Scottish Kings Malcolm
and William
). Edward III increased their holdings with the churches of Wollaston
and Filgrave
and also granted them the advowson
of the church at Fyfield, Hampshire
. Edward III is recorded as giving "ten beams" towards the repair of the church in 1232, and another five oaks for work on the Refectory
in 1258.
It was one of only two Cluniac nunneries built in England (the other being at Arthington
in Yorkshire); the Cluniac order was one of reformed Benedictine
rule; it was led directly by the great abbey at Cluny
in Burgundy. Typically a dozen to twenty nuns resided at the abbey at any one time. Traditionally the Guild of Weavers at Northampton made an annual procession to the Abbey church each Easter Monday
where, according to the ordinances of the Guild in 1431, they would offer up "...tapers before the ymages of the Trynitie
and our Lady
."
Nearby was the Cluniac Abbey of St Andrews (now the site of St Andrew's Hospital
), which was founded by Simon de Senlis, Earl of Northampton
, the father of the founder of Delapré.
After much later use as a private residence and in war service, the house was converted for use as the Northamptonshire County Records Office and the County Record Society. Currently the house is empty and a fierce debate continues locally over its future use. The building is Grade II* listed.
Some longtime residents claim there were accounts of an underground passage linking the nunnery to a friary based in the centre of Northampton, by way of Bridge Street. The Abbey is reputed to be haunted by a "blue or grey Lady", a nun, said to have been seen frequently on the main staircase (the habits of Cluniac nuns were blue).
An impression of the great oval seal of the Abbey is held in the Public Records Office. It represents the coronation of the Blessed Virgin under a carved canopy.
, which took in the Abbey grounds to the north of the Abbey and to the south of the River Nene
, King Henry VI
was captured and spent the night of the 10 July 1460 at the Abbey as a prisoner. The nuns tended the wounds of those injured at the battle. Many of the battle-dead are buried in the nuns' graveyard (now the walled garden).
-style garden. This is thought to have been where the enclosed formal garden can now be found.
The Tates lived at Delapré until 1764, when they sold the estate to the Bouverie family. The majority of the present buildings date from this time. The design of the grounds became influenced by the style of Capability Brown
. The Bouverie family changed the garden to one featuring fruit and vegetables, with orchards planted elsewhere. This was similar to the earlier fruit garden of the original nunnery. Researchers believe the present walled garden is located on the site of the nuns' burial ground, as evidence of graves was discovered during the garden's construction.
During the 19th century, other typical Victorian
features were added, such as the rock and water gardens, and garden conservatories for peaches and grapes. The buildings for growing fruit still remain; a ha-ha
was also constructed.
The Northampton Borough Council founded "The Delapré Abbey Preservation Trust", intended to take forward the ownership of and responsibility for the Abbey. The Council intended that the Trust will work to secure the future of the buildings by finding sources of income streams to allow renovation of the buildings.
Part of the estate has been developed as the public Delapré Golf Course.
The Northampton Borough Council (NBC) added bunding to the London Road side of the grounds to prevent unauthorised vehicular access to the grounds. In the wet spring of 2007, this caused a flood lake to appear, which was condemned as dangerous to the public. In November 2006, NBC's planning committee approved an application to remove the bunding but successive administrations have to date not provided funds to perform the work - despite public concerns over the flooding. The Homes & Communities Agency has since indicated an interest in using the bund material on a nearby housing development.
One of only three remaining Eleanor Crosses
is located at the Hardingstone
end of the Delapré Abbey estate. The body of Queen Eleanor
, wife of Edward I
, rested at the Abbey on its journey from Lincoln to London. The king erected the crosses to mark the passage. The cross was begun in 1291 by John of Battle; he worked with William of Ireland to carve the statues.
River Nene
The River Nene is a river in the east of England that rises from three sources in the county of Northamptonshire. The tidal river forms the border between Cambridgeshire and Norfolk for about . It is the tenth longest river in the United Kingdom, and is navigable for from Northampton to The...
to the south of Northampton
Northampton
Northampton is a large market town and local government district in the East Midlands region of England. Situated about north-west of London and around south-east of Birmingham, Northampton lies on the River Nene and is the county town of Northamptonshire. The demonym of Northampton is...
.
The convent was founded by Simon de Senlis in the reign of King Stephen
Stephen of England
Stephen , often referred to as Stephen of Blois , was a grandson of William the Conqueror. He was King of England from 1135 to his death, and also the Count of Boulogne by right of his wife. Stephen's reign was marked by the Anarchy, a civil war with his cousin and rival, the Empress Matilda...
; it held a Royal Charter from Edward III
Edward III of England
Edward III was King of England from 1327 until his death and is noted for his military success. Restoring royal authority after the disastrous reign of his father, Edward II, Edward III went on to transform the Kingdom of England into one of the most formidable military powers in Europe...
. At its founding, the convent was endowed with land at Hardingstone
Hardingstone
Hardingstone is a village in Northamptonshire, England. It is on the southern edge of Northampton, and now forms a suburb of the town within the Northampton Borough Council area. It is about from the town centre...
and held the churches at Earls Barton
Earls Barton
Earls Barton is a village and civil parish in eastern Northamptonshire, notable for its Saxon church and shoe-making heritage.The village was the inspiration for the film Kinky Boots and part of the film was shot here...
, Great Doddington
Great Doddington
Great Doddington is a village and civil parish in Northamptonshire in the United Kingdom, close to Wellingborough and just off the A45. At the time of the 2001 census, the parish's population was 1,061 people....
and Fotheringay
Fotheringay
Fotheringay was a short-lived British folk rock group, formed in 1970 by singer Sandy Denny on her departure from Fairport Convention. The band drew its name from her 1968 composition "Fotheringay" about Fotheringhay Castle, in which Mary, Queen of Scots had been imprisoned...
(confirmed by the Scottish Kings Malcolm
Malcolm IV of Scotland
Malcolm IV , nicknamed Virgo, "the Maiden" , King of Scots, was the eldest son of Earl Henry and Ada de Warenne...
and William
William I of Scotland
William the Lion , sometimes styled William I, also known by the nickname Garbh, "the Rough", reigned as King of the Scots from 1165 to 1214...
). Edward III increased their holdings with the churches of Wollaston
Wollaston, Northamptonshire
Wollaston is a large village in the borough of Wellingborough. in Eastern Northamptonshire, England. The name is derived from the Saxon "Wulfaf's Town" - named after a Saxon chief of that name.-Wollaston Today:...
and Filgrave
Filgrave
Filgrave is a village in the Borough of Milton Keynes and ceremonial Buckinghamshire, England. It is about three miles north of Newport Pagnell.The village name is an Old English language word, and means 'Fygla's grove'...
and also granted them the advowson
Advowson
Advowson is the right in English law of a patron to present or appoint a nominee to a vacant ecclesiastical benefice or church living, a process known as presentation. In effect this means the right to nominate a person to hold a church office in a parish...
of the church at Fyfield, Hampshire
Fyfield, Hampshire
Fyfield is a village in north west Hampshire, England. Its nearest town is Andover.-References:*...
. Edward III is recorded as giving "ten beams" towards the repair of the church in 1232, and another five oaks for work on the Refectory
Refectory
A refectory is a dining room, especially in monasteries, boarding schools and academic institutions. One of the places the term is most often used today is in graduate seminaries...
in 1258.
It was one of only two Cluniac nunneries built in England (the other being at Arthington
Arthington Priory
Arthington Priory was a nunnery in the village of Arthington, West Yorkshire, England. The Cluniac nunnery, the only such establishment in Yorkshire, was established by Peter de Arthington - nothing remains of the Priory today.-Foundation of the Priory:...
in Yorkshire); the Cluniac order was one of reformed Benedictine
Benedictine
Benedictine refers to the spirituality and consecrated life in accordance with the Rule of St Benedict, written by Benedict of Nursia in the sixth century for the cenobitic communities he founded in central Italy. The most notable of these is Monte Cassino, the first monastery founded by Benedict...
rule; it was led directly by the great abbey at Cluny
Cluny
Cluny or Clungy is a commune in the Saône-et-Loire department in the region of Bourgogne in eastern France. It is 20 km northwest of Mâcon.The town grew up around the Benedictine Cluny Abbey, founded by Duke William I of Aquitaine in 910...
in Burgundy. Typically a dozen to twenty nuns resided at the abbey at any one time. Traditionally the Guild of Weavers at Northampton made an annual procession to the Abbey church each Easter Monday
Easter Monday
Easter Monday is the day after Easter Sunday and is celebrated as a holiday in some largely Christian cultures, especially Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox cultures...
where, according to the ordinances of the Guild in 1431, they would offer up "...tapers before the ymages of the Trynitie
Trinity
The Christian doctrine of the Trinity defines God as three divine persons : the Father, the Son , and the Holy Spirit. The three persons are distinct yet coexist in unity, and are co-equal, co-eternal and consubstantial . Put another way, the three persons of the Trinity are of one being...
and our Lady
Our Lady
As a general concept, Our Lady may refer to:*Our Lady, the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mary, the mother of Jesus of Nazareth*Our Lady, the Blessed Virgin Mary in Roman Catholic teachings...
."
Nearby was the Cluniac Abbey of St Andrews (now the site of St Andrew's Hospital
St Andrew's Hospital
St Andrew's Hospital in Northampton, England is a psychiatric hospital run by a non-profit-making, charitable trust. It is by far the largest mental health facility in UK, providing national specialist services for adolescents, men, women and older people with mental illness, learning disability,...
), which was founded by Simon de Senlis, Earl of Northampton
Simon I de Senlis, Earl of Huntingdon-Northampton
Simon I de Senlis , 2nd Earl of Northampton and 2nd Earl of Huntingdon jure uxoris was a Norman nobleman.In 1098 he was captured during the Vexin campaign of King William Rufus and was subsequently ransomed. He witnessed King Henry I’s charter of liberties issued at his coronation in 1100...
, the father of the founder of Delapré.
After much later use as a private residence and in war service, the house was converted for use as the Northamptonshire County Records Office and the County Record Society. Currently the house is empty and a fierce debate continues locally over its future use. The building is Grade II* listed.
Some longtime residents claim there were accounts of an underground passage linking the nunnery to a friary based in the centre of Northampton, by way of Bridge Street. The Abbey is reputed to be haunted by a "blue or grey Lady", a nun, said to have been seen frequently on the main staircase (the habits of Cluniac nuns were blue).
A short history of the Abbey
- 1145 - Delapré Abbey was built by Simon, the son of Simon de Senlis the 2nd Earl of NorthamptonEarl of NorthamptonEarl of Northampton is a title that has been created five times.-Earls in for the Honour of Huntingdon, first Creation :*Waltheof *Maud, Countess of Huntingdon** m. Simon I de Senlis** m...
. - 1290 - The death of Queen EleanorEleanor of CastileEleanor of Castile was the first queen consort of Edward I of England. She was also Countess of Ponthieu in her own right from 1279 until her death in 1290, succeeding her mother and ruling together with her husband.-Birth:...
, Queen of England. On 28 November 1290, Eleanor of CastileEleanor of CastileEleanor of Castile was the first queen consort of Edward I of England. She was also Countess of Ponthieu in her own right from 1279 until her death in 1290, succeeding her mother and ruling together with her husband.-Birth:...
the wife of Edward I died at Harby, NottinghamshireHarby, NottinghamshireHarby is a village in the English county of Nottinghamshire, the farthest eastern village within the county boundaries. The nearest large town is Lincoln over the border in Lincolnshire. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 289. The parish church of All Saints was built in 1875-76 in...
. Her body was embalmed at LincolnLincoln, LincolnshireLincoln is a cathedral city and county town of Lincolnshire, England.The non-metropolitan district of Lincoln has a population of 85,595; the 2001 census gave the entire area of Lincoln a population of 120,779....
, and on 4 December a procession began to Westminster AbbeyWestminster AbbeyThe Collegiate Church of St Peter at Westminster, popularly known as Westminster Abbey, is a large, mainly Gothic church, in the City of Westminster, London, United Kingdom, located just to the west of the Palace of Westminster. It is the traditional place of coronation and burial site for English,...
accompanied by the King. The procession travelled through Northampton and to the convent at Delapré for the night. The King stayed at Northampton CastleNorthampton CastleNorthampton Castle was built under the stewardship of Simon de Senlis, the first Earl of Northampton, in 1084. It took several years to complete, as there is no mention of it in the Domesday Book, a great survey of England completed in 1086....
. The following day the procession left Delapré and at the top of the hill, the ground was consecrated. On this spot, one of the Eleanor CrossesEleanor crossThe Eleanor crosses were twelve originally wooden, but later lavishly decorated stone, monuments of which three survive intact in a line down part of the east of England. King Edward I had the crosses erected between 1291 and 1294 in memory of his wife Eleanor of Castile, marking the nightly...
was erected. - 1460 - The Battle of NorthamptonBattle of Northampton (1460)The Battle of Northampton was a battle in the Wars of the Roses, which took place on 10 July 1460.-Background:The Yorkist cause seemed finished after the previous disaster at Ludford Bridge...
between the YorkistHouse of YorkThe House of York was a branch of the English royal House of Plantagenet, three members of which became English kings in the late 15th century. The House of York was descended in the paternal line from Edmund of Langley, 1st Duke of York, the fourth surviving son of Edward III, but also represented...
s and LancastrianHouse of LancasterThe House of Lancaster was a branch of the royal House of Plantagenet. It was one of the opposing factions involved in the Wars of the Roses, an intermittent civil war which affected England and Wales during the 15th century...
s took place at Delapré. - 1538 - Under the dissolution of the English Reformation, Henry VIIIHenry VIII of EnglandHenry VIII was King of England from 21 April 1509 until his death. He was Lord, and later King, of Ireland, as well as continuing the nominal claim by the English monarchs to the Kingdom of France...
forced the Abbey to surrender to the Crown. - 1543 - The Crown let the Delapré estate to a tenant.
- 1550 - The Crown sold the Delapré estate to the Tate family.
- 1756 - Sir Charles HardyCharles HardyAdmiral of the Fleet Sir Charles Hardy was a Royal Navy officer and colonial governor of New York.-Early career:Born at Portsmouth, the son of a vice admiral, Charles Hardy joined the Royal Navy as a volunteer in 1731....
, Governor of New York, husband of Mary Tate, sold the estate to Edward Bouverie for £22,000. - 1905 - The Bouverie family let the Abbey estate to John Cooper, a Northampton boot and shoe manufacturer.
- 1914 - Miss Mary Bouverie moved back to the Abbey.
- 1940 - The War OfficeWar OfficeThe War Office was a department of the British Government, responsible for the administration of the British Army between the 17th century and 1964, when its functions were transferred to the Ministry of Defence...
took over the Abbey. Miss Bouverie moved to DustonDustonDuston is a village and civil parish in the borough of Northampton in the English county of Northamptonshire. It has been a settlement since at least Roman times....
and later returned to a room over the stables in 1942; she died on 20/1/1943. - 1946 - The Northampton Corporation purchased the estate for £56,000.
- 1948 - The War Office gave up its use of the Abbey house after the end of World War IIWorld War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. - 2004 - Seven people began living in the south & west wings as live-in security. As of 2010 there were still seven people, two from the original group.
- 2005 - The Northampton Borough Council announced plans to form a new Delapré Abbey Trust.
The Abbesses of the Convent of St Mary De La Pré
- Azelina 1145
- Missing
- Cecilia de Daventry - elected 1220
- Agatha - died 1274
- Emma Malore - elected 1274, died 1282
- Margery de Wolaston - elected 1282, died 1296-7 - The Abbess at the time of the death of Queen EleanorEleanor of CastileEleanor of Castile was the first queen consort of Edward I of England. She was also Countess of Ponthieu in her own right from 1279 until her death in 1290, succeeding her mother and ruling together with her husband.-Birth:...
- Margery de Broke - elected 1297, resigned 1319
- Agnes de Poveley - elected 1319, died 1327
- Margaret de Grey - elected 1327-8, died 1333-4
- Isabel de Cotesbrok - elected 1333-4, annulled by the bishop
- Katherine Knyvet - appointed 1333-4, died 1349 of the plague
- Isabel de Thorp - appointed 1349, resigned 1366
- Joan Mallore - elected 1366, died 1394
- Margery Dayrell - elected 1394
- Gonora Downghton - died 1481 - The Abbess at the time of the Battle of NorthamptonBattle of Northampton (1460)The Battle of Northampton was a battle in the Wars of the Roses, which took place on 10 July 1460.-Background:The Yorkist cause seemed finished after the previous disaster at Ludford Bridge...
- Joan Doghty - elected 1481
- Joan Chese - elected 1492
- Clementina Stock - elected 1504-5, surrendered 1538
An impression of the great oval seal of the Abbey is held in the Public Records Office. It represents the coronation of the Blessed Virgin under a carved canopy.
The Cluniac Prayer
"O God, by whose grace thy servants the Holy Abbots of Cluny, enkindled with the fire of thy love, became burning and shining lights in thy Church: Grant that we also may be aflame with the spirit of love and discipline, and may ever walk before thee as children of light; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, liveth and reigneth, one God, now and for ever."
The second Battle of Northampton (1460)
After the Battle of NorthamptonBattle of Northampton (1460)
The Battle of Northampton was a battle in the Wars of the Roses, which took place on 10 July 1460.-Background:The Yorkist cause seemed finished after the previous disaster at Ludford Bridge...
, which took in the Abbey grounds to the north of the Abbey and to the south of the River Nene
River Nene
The River Nene is a river in the east of England that rises from three sources in the county of Northamptonshire. The tidal river forms the border between Cambridgeshire and Norfolk for about . It is the tenth longest river in the United Kingdom, and is navigable for from Northampton to The...
, King Henry VI
Henry VI of England
Henry VI was King of England from 1422 to 1461 and again from 1470 to 1471, and disputed King of France from 1422 to 1453. Until 1437, his realm was governed by regents. Contemporaneous accounts described him as peaceful and pious, not suited for the violent dynastic civil wars, known as the Wars...
was captured and spent the night of the 10 July 1460 at the Abbey as a prisoner. The nuns tended the wounds of those injured at the battle. Many of the battle-dead are buried in the nuns' graveyard (now the walled garden).
After the dissolution
In 1542 the Tate family purchased the Delapré Estate from the Crown; they started work on the gardens. Zouch Tateis recorded as having laid out a typical ElizabethanElizabethan era
The Elizabethan era was the epoch in English history of Queen Elizabeth I's reign . Historians often depict it as the golden age in English history...
-style garden. This is thought to have been where the enclosed formal garden can now be found.
The Tates lived at Delapré until 1764, when they sold the estate to the Bouverie family. The majority of the present buildings date from this time. The design of the grounds became influenced by the style of Capability Brown
Capability Brown
Lancelot Brown , more commonly known as Capability Brown, was an English landscape architect. He is remembered as "the last of the great English eighteenth-century artists to be accorded his due", and "England's greatest gardener". He designed over 170 parks, many of which still endure...
. The Bouverie family changed the garden to one featuring fruit and vegetables, with orchards planted elsewhere. This was similar to the earlier fruit garden of the original nunnery. Researchers believe the present walled garden is located on the site of the nuns' burial ground, as evidence of graves was discovered during the garden's construction.
During the 19th century, other typical Victorian
Victorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
features were added, such as the rock and water gardens, and garden conservatories for peaches and grapes. The buildings for growing fruit still remain; a ha-ha
Ha-ha (garden)
Ha-ha is a term in garden design that refers to a trench, one side of which is concealed from view, designed to allow an unobstructed view from a garden, pleasure-ground, or park, while maintaining a physical barrier in one direction, usually to keep livestock out that are kept on an expansive...
was also constructed.
The present buildings
- What remains today consists of four ranges based around an almost square courtyard; this is probably all that remains of the earlier cloisters, with the passage around the north, west and east sides being the former cloister walks.
- The thicker walls found in the northern part of the building are probably part of the walls of the church of the nunnery. Almost nothing of the medieval buildings remain; two small recesses found in the cloister walk may have been used for keeping candles at night.
- What is seen today is the result of work that started with the passing of the house to the Tate family after the dissolution.
- The stables at the northern end of the property date from around 1750-65. They were renovated in 1971 by John Goff, then County Architect.
The future of the Abbey
A volunteer group, "The Friends of Delapré Abbey" runs a tea room on the premises. This helps attract many new and repeat visitors to the building and its grounds. The organisation was granted charitable status in June 2006. In recent times certain sections of the charity have been actively reluctant to change and develop the organisation in line with the local Council's plans for restoration. This has held up the plans until a recent committee change re-established the Council's confidence in the charity's ability to act in a transparent professional manner.The Northampton Borough Council founded "The Delapré Abbey Preservation Trust", intended to take forward the ownership of and responsibility for the Abbey. The Council intended that the Trust will work to secure the future of the buildings by finding sources of income streams to allow renovation of the buildings.
The grounds today
There are about 500 acres (2 km²) of parkland and 8 acres (32,374.9 m²) of more formal gardens. The more ornamental features include:- Delapré Abbey
- A walled garden
- Rock and water gardens
- A ha-haHa-ha (garden)Ha-ha is a term in garden design that refers to a trench, one side of which is concealed from view, designed to allow an unobstructed view from a garden, pleasure-ground, or park, while maintaining a physical barrier in one direction, usually to keep livestock out that are kept on an expansive...
- Tree sculptures
- Delapré Woods
- A lake
Part of the estate has been developed as the public Delapré Golf Course.
The Northampton Borough Council (NBC) added bunding to the London Road side of the grounds to prevent unauthorised vehicular access to the grounds. In the wet spring of 2007, this caused a flood lake to appear, which was condemned as dangerous to the public. In November 2006, NBC's planning committee approved an application to remove the bunding but successive administrations have to date not provided funds to perform the work - despite public concerns over the flooding. The Homes & Communities Agency has since indicated an interest in using the bund material on a nearby housing development.
The formal garden
In 1977 and 1978 three sculptures were installed in the walled garden:- "The Lady with Kittens" and "The Lovers", the work of Walter RitchieWalter RitchieWalter Ritchie was a British sculptor who had been one of the last living apprentices of Eric Gill at Piggotts after the Second World War...
, were donated to Northampton after being displayed at an exhibition of brickwork sculptures at The Building Centre, LondonLondonLondon is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. The large brick panels depict episodes in the life of the mythical lady, Sarah Wellington-Gore. - "Woman and the Fish" is a listed sculpture by Frank DobsonFrank Dobson (sculptor)Frank Dobson R.A. was a British artist and sculptor.Dobson attended the Hastings School of Art and was then an apprentice in the studio of Sir William Reynolds-Stephens. From 1910 to 1912 he attended the City and Guilds of London Art School in Kennington, South London...
, one of UK's most respected sculptors. This was given to Northampton after the Festival of BritainFestival of BritainThe Festival of Britain was a national exhibition in Britain in the summer of 1951. It was organised by the government to give Britons a feeling of recovery in the aftermath of war and to promote good quality design in the rebuilding of British towns and cities. The Festival's centrepiece was in...
in 1951. It previously stood in the Memorial Gardens in the town centre, where it had been vandalised. It was repaired and transferred to its current location after an appeal for funds to meet the high costs of restoration.
The Eleanor Cross
Eleanor cross
The Eleanor crosses were twelve originally wooden, but later lavishly decorated stone, monuments of which three survive intact in a line down part of the east of England. King Edward I had the crosses erected between 1291 and 1294 in memory of his wife Eleanor of Castile, marking the nightly...
is located at the Hardingstone
Hardingstone
Hardingstone is a village in Northamptonshire, England. It is on the southern edge of Northampton, and now forms a suburb of the town within the Northampton Borough Council area. It is about from the town centre...
end of the Delapré Abbey estate. The body of Queen Eleanor
Eleanor of Castile
Eleanor of Castile was the first queen consort of Edward I of England. She was also Countess of Ponthieu in her own right from 1279 until her death in 1290, succeeding her mother and ruling together with her husband.-Birth:...
, wife of Edward I
Edward I of England
Edward I , also known as Edward Longshanks and the Hammer of the Scots, was King of England from 1272 to 1307. The first son of Henry III, Edward was involved early in the political intrigues of his father's reign, which included an outright rebellion by the English barons...
, rested at the Abbey on its journey from Lincoln to London. The king erected the crosses to mark the passage. The cross was begun in 1291 by John of Battle; he worked with William of Ireland to carve the statues.
External sources
- "Delapre Abbey", Northampton Borough Council
Further reading
- The Buildings of England - Northamptonshire. N PevsnerPevsnerPevsner is a surname, and may refer to:* Antoine Pevsner , a Russian sculptor* Sir Nikolaus Pevsner , a German-born British scholar of the history of architecture;** ....
(Second edition). ISBN 0300096321 - British History Online - House of Cluniac Nuns - The Abbey of Delapré
- Colin Spears, Delapré Abbey, ISBN 978-0-9553692-0-9