Dureford Abbey
Encyclopedia
Dureford Abbey, in Sussex
, England, was a Premonstratensian
monastery. It was founded by Henry Hussey who in 1161 granted land to the abbot of Welbeck Abbey
, to establish the new community near Rogate
, Sussex
.
In 1317 the abbot complained as the abbey had been broken into and robbed. A royal visit by the King in 1324 put a further strain on the finances, as did repeated incidences of theft and malicious damage, which left the community reportedly poverty stricken by 1335.
The next century was no better as in 1417 the tower of the abbey church was struck by lightning and collapsed. Further, an abbot was forcibly ejected from his position by canons from Dureford and from Bayham Abbey. He apparently left in fear for his life, and additionally, the canons of Bayham stole £400 worth of goods including vestments.
In 1444 abbot Stephen Mersey was deposed for neglecting the monastery buildings and for plunging the abbey into debt.
On three occasions in the 1450s the abbey was invaded by Sir Henry Hussey (a patron of the monastery and descendant of the founder), who came with an armed band and threatened to burn the monastery and kill the abbot. As it was, he murdered one of the abbey servants.
By 1482 the abbey debts had been wiped out. Unfortunately so had most of the community, who had died in an outbreak of the plague or black death
. There were further burnings of the buildings resulting in more debt and the cloister was reportedly in a ruinous state. In 1497 the canons were criticised for being lax in their duties and for leaving the monastery grounds.
By 1535 the monastery was dilapidated and in considerable debt, and was referred to mockingly as 'Dirtforde' by Richard Layton
, one of the king's officials, who visited it. That same year, the abbey's income was assessed in the Valor Ecclesiasticus
, Henry VIII
's great survey of church finances, at £108 13s. 9d, which meant the following year that it came under the terms of the first Suppression Act, Henry's initial move in the Dissolution of the Monasteries
.In 1536 the abbey was closed by the king and the site was granted to Sir William Fitzwilliam. The last abbot, John Sympson, was appointed head of Titchfield Abbey
in Hampshire
but resigned in less than a year. He was later given the living of Horsted Keynes
.
Sussex
Sussex , from the Old English Sūþsēaxe , is an historic county in South East England corresponding roughly in area to the ancient Kingdom of Sussex. It is bounded on the north by Surrey, east by Kent, south by the English Channel, and west by Hampshire, and is divided for local government into West...
, England, was a Premonstratensian
Premonstratensian
The Order of Canons Regular of Prémontré, also known as the Premonstratensians, the Norbertines, or in Britain and Ireland as the White Canons , are a Catholic religious order of canons regular founded at Prémontré near Laon in 1120 by Saint Norbert, who later became Archbishop of Magdeburg...
monastery. It was founded by Henry Hussey who in 1161 granted land to the abbot of Welbeck Abbey
Welbeck Abbey
Welbeck Abbey near Clumber Park in North Nottinghamshire was the principal abbey of the Premonstratensian order in England and later the principal residence of the Dukes of Portland.-Monastic period:...
, to establish the new community near Rogate
Rogate
Rogate is a village and civil parish in the Chichester district of West Sussex, England situated in the Western Rother valley. The village is on the A272 road seven miles west of Midhurst. The parish comprises the villages of Rogate and Rake and the hamlets of Haben, Fyning, Hill Brow, Langley,...
, Sussex
West Sussex
West Sussex is a county in the south of England, bordering onto East Sussex , Hampshire and Surrey. The county of Sussex has been divided into East and West since the 12th century, and obtained separate county councils in 1888, but it remained a single ceremonial county until 1974 and the coming...
.
A History of Disaster
The founder and other local landowners granted much additional land in the area to the abbey and the unlimited use of a quarry from which to construct the monastic buildings.In 1317 the abbot complained as the abbey had been broken into and robbed. A royal visit by the King in 1324 put a further strain on the finances, as did repeated incidences of theft and malicious damage, which left the community reportedly poverty stricken by 1335.
The next century was no better as in 1417 the tower of the abbey church was struck by lightning and collapsed. Further, an abbot was forcibly ejected from his position by canons from Dureford and from Bayham Abbey. He apparently left in fear for his life, and additionally, the canons of Bayham stole £400 worth of goods including vestments.
In 1444 abbot Stephen Mersey was deposed for neglecting the monastery buildings and for plunging the abbey into debt.
On three occasions in the 1450s the abbey was invaded by Sir Henry Hussey (a patron of the monastery and descendant of the founder), who came with an armed band and threatened to burn the monastery and kill the abbot. As it was, he murdered one of the abbey servants.
By 1482 the abbey debts had been wiped out. Unfortunately so had most of the community, who had died in an outbreak of the plague or black death
Black Death
The Black Death was one of the most devastating pandemics in human history, peaking in Europe between 1348 and 1350. Of several competing theories, the dominant explanation for the Black Death is the plague theory, which attributes the outbreak to the bacterium Yersinia pestis. Thought to have...
. There were further burnings of the buildings resulting in more debt and the cloister was reportedly in a ruinous state. In 1497 the canons were criticised for being lax in their duties and for leaving the monastery grounds.
By 1535 the monastery was dilapidated and in considerable debt, and was referred to mockingly as 'Dirtforde' by Richard Layton
Richard Layton
Richard Layton was an English churchman, jurist and diplomat, dean of York and a principal agent of Henry VIII and Thomas Cromwell in the Dissolution of the Monasteries.-Life:...
, one of the king's officials, who visited it. That same year, the abbey's income was assessed in the Valor Ecclesiasticus
Valor Ecclesiasticus
The Valor Ecclesiasticus was a survey of the finances of the church in England, Wales and English controlled parts of Ireland made in 1535 on the orders of Henry VIII....
, Henry VIII
Henry VIII of England
Henry 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...
's great survey of church finances, at £108 13s. 9d, which meant the following year that it came under the terms of the first Suppression Act, Henry's initial move in the Dissolution of the Monasteries
Dissolution of the Monasteries
The Dissolution of the Monasteries, sometimes referred to as the Suppression of the Monasteries, was the set of administrative and legal processes between 1536 and 1541 by which Henry VIII disbanded monasteries, priories, convents and friaries in England, Wales and Ireland; appropriated their...
.In 1536 the abbey was closed by the king and the site was granted to Sir William Fitzwilliam. The last abbot, John Sympson, was appointed head of Titchfield Abbey
Titchfield Abbey
Titchfield Abbey is a medieval abbey and later country house, located in the village of Titchfield near Fareham in Hampshire, England. The abbey was founded in 1222 for Premonstratensian canons, an austere order of priests...
in Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
but resigned in less than a year. He was later given the living of Horsted Keynes
Horsted Keynes
Horsted Keynes is a village and civil parish in the Mid Sussex District of West Sussex, England. The village is located about eight kilometres north east of Haywards Heath, in the Weald...
.