Haltemprice Priory
Encyclopedia
Haltemprice Priory was an Augustinian monastery located approximately two miles south of the village of Cottingham
in the East Riding of Yorkshire
, England
. The original monastic buildings have long since gone, although ruins of a farmhouse, built 1584 remain on site and incorporate some of the Priory stonework.
licenced Thomas Wake, of Liddell in Cumberland
(who inherited the manor of Cottingham in 1300), to found an Augustinian monastery in Cottingham incorporating the church there. Some records suggest that the first Priory was actually built, and that canons of the house of Bourne in the Diocese of Lincoln
had taken up residence there when legal complications arose.
It was discovered, that due to certain statutes of English law, Thomas Wake's heirs or successors would have been able to order the future demolition of the Priory. It was for this reason that the Pope granted further license that the Priory should be moved to another suitable location, so it was with permission from both the Pope and Edward II
that Thomas Wake moved the monastery to Newton - a now deserted medieval village
located two miles south of Cottingham.
and Wolfreton upon Haltemprice
Priory (Originally Alta Prisa from the medieval French 'Haulte Emprise' or High Endeavour giving the modern name Haltemprice
) with the rent and services of the free tenants and serfs therein. He also gave half the toll of the market of Cottingham, and of the fairs there, and the advowson
of the churches of Cottingham, Kirk Ella
, Wharram Percy
, and Belton
in the Isle of Axholme
The situation was dire, and at the time of Sir Thomas's death in 1349 the construction of the Priory was still not fully complete. Since then - with the decline in finances - the Priory had fallen into an even worse state of disrepair. In a report issued to Pope John XXIII (Antipope)
in 1411 it was revealed that a gale had blown down the bell-tower, ruining the church and other buildings and that a fire had destroyed the Priory gateway and nearby offices. The Priory was in such a bad state of disrepair it afforded poor accommodation for those living there.
From the years 1415 - 1458 Haltemprice Priory was made exempt from royal taxation on grounds of 'notorious poverty'.
In 1515 a dispute came to pass between John Wymersley, the Prior of Haltemprice and the Sheriff of Hull
, Edward Mattison over whom possessed legal authority over Willerby and Wolfreton. A battle ensued, only to be broken up by the Mayor of Hull, and settled in the Court of Star Chamber - three years later. The final ruling allowed Hull control of the freshwater springs conceding the royalties of Willerby and Wolfreton to the Priory.
orchestrated by Henry VIII
the house was visited by commissioners Richard Layton
and Thomas Legh
. On 26 May 1536 they reported that the house was occupied by a prior and nine canons along with forty servants and boys. Haltemprice Priory was finally dissolved on 12 August 1536.
Cottingham, East Riding of Yorkshire
Cottingham is a village and civil parish in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It lies just to the north-west of the city of Kingston upon Hull...
in the East Riding of Yorkshire
East Riding of Yorkshire
The East Riding of Yorkshire, or simply East Yorkshire, is a local government district with unitary authority status, and a ceremonial county of England. For ceremonial purposes the county also includes the city of Kingston upon Hull, which is a separate unitary authority...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. The original monastic buildings have long since gone, although ruins of a farmhouse, built 1584 remain on site and incorporate some of the Priory stonework.
Origins
In 1320 Pope John XXIIPope John XXII
Pope John XXII , born Jacques Duèze , was pope from 1316 to 1334. He was the second Pope of the Avignon Papacy , elected by a conclave in Lyon assembled by Philip V of France...
licenced Thomas Wake, of Liddell in Cumberland
Cumberland
Cumberland is a historic county of North West England, on the border with Scotland, from the 12th century until 1974. It formed an administrative county from 1889 to 1974 and now forms part of Cumbria....
(who inherited the manor of Cottingham in 1300), to found an Augustinian monastery in Cottingham incorporating the church there. Some records suggest that the first Priory was actually built, and that canons of the house of Bourne in the Diocese of Lincoln
Diocese of Lincoln
The Diocese of Lincoln forms part of the Province of Canterbury in England. The present diocese covers the ceremonial county of Lincolnshire.- History :...
had taken up residence there when legal complications arose.
It was discovered, that due to certain statutes of English law, Thomas Wake's heirs or successors would have been able to order the future demolition of the Priory. It was for this reason that the Pope granted further license that the Priory should be moved to another suitable location, so it was with permission from both the Pope and Edward II
Edward II of England
Edward II , called Edward of Caernarfon, was King of England from 1307 until he was deposed by his wife Isabella in January 1327. He was the sixth Plantagenet king, in a line that began with the reign of Henry II...
that Thomas Wake moved the monastery to Newton - a now deserted medieval village
Deserted medieval village
In the United Kingdom, a deserted medieval village is a former settlement which was abandoned during the Middle Ages, typically leaving no trace apart from earthworks or cropmarks. If there are fewer than three inhabited houses the convention is to regard the site as deserted; if there are more...
located two miles south of Cottingham.
Foundation
In the foundation charter of 1325, Thomas Wake bestowed the manors of Newton, WillerbyWillerby, East Riding of Yorkshire
Willerby is a village and civil parish in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England that is located about west of Kingston upon Hull city centre. According to the 2001 UK census, Willerby parish had a population of 8,056....
and Wolfreton upon Haltemprice
Priory (Originally Alta Prisa from the medieval French 'Haulte Emprise' or High Endeavour giving the modern name Haltemprice
Haltemprice
thumb|right|200px|Obsolete Arms of the Former Haltemprice Urban District CouncilHaltemprice is an area in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England, directly to the west of Hull. It comprises the villages, Anlaby, Cottingham, Hessle, Kirk Ella, Skidby, West Ella and Willerby...
) with the rent and services of the free tenants and serfs therein. He also gave half the toll of the market of Cottingham, and of the fairs there, and 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 churches of Cottingham, Kirk Ella
Kirk Ella
Kirk Ella is a village in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England and is located around west of the city of Kingston upon Hull. Together with West Ella it forms the civil parish of Kirk Ella and West Ella....
, Wharram Percy
Wharram Percy
Wharram Percy is a deserted medieval village site on the western edge of the chalk Wolds in North Yorkshire, England. The site is about one mile south of Wharram-le-Street and is clearly signposted from the B1248 Beverley to Malton road...
, and Belton
Belton, North Lincolnshire
Belton is a village and civil parish in the Isle of Axholme area of North Lincolnshire, England, that lies on the A161 road six miles east from Scunthorpe. To the north of Belton is the town of Crowle; to the south, the village of Epworth....
in the Isle of Axholme
Heyday 1320 - 1342
During the years 1320 - 1342 Haltemprice Priory experienced its heyday. At the peak of its influence, Haltemprice Priory controlled a large swathe of land extending from Willerby to Cottingham, Kirk Ella and Southwood. Despite the personal political, financial and military problems effecting him - including the capture of his castle at Liddle by King David of Scotland - Thomas Wake continued to bestow gifts upon the Priory until 1342 when records of further benefactions cease. Sir Thomas died in 1349 and was interred at the Priory.Decline 1342 - 1534
From 1342 - 1534 the Priory's fortunes turned. A combination of mounting debt, administrative incompetence and a string of expensive litigation drained the ecclesiastical finances to the point where Priory could no longer be sustained by the flow of donations it received from its benefactors.The situation was dire, and at the time of Sir Thomas's death in 1349 the construction of the Priory was still not fully complete. Since then - with the decline in finances - the Priory had fallen into an even worse state of disrepair. In a report issued to Pope John XXIII (Antipope)
Antipope John XXIII
Baldassarre Cossa was Pope John XXIII during the Western Schism. The Catholic Church regards him as an antipope.-Biography:...
in 1411 it was revealed that a gale had blown down the bell-tower, ruining the church and other buildings and that a fire had destroyed the Priory gateway and nearby offices. The Priory was in such a bad state of disrepair it afforded poor accommodation for those living there.
From the years 1415 - 1458 Haltemprice Priory was made exempt from royal taxation on grounds of 'notorious poverty'.
In 1515 a dispute came to pass between John Wymersley, the Prior of Haltemprice and the Sheriff of Hull
Kingston upon Hull
Kingston upon Hull , usually referred to as Hull, is a city and unitary authority area in the ceremonial county of the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It stands on the River Hull at its junction with the Humber estuary, 25 miles inland from the North Sea. Hull has a resident population of...
, Edward Mattison over whom possessed legal authority over Willerby and Wolfreton. A battle ensued, only to be broken up by the Mayor of Hull, and settled in the Court of Star Chamber - three years later. The final ruling allowed Hull control of the freshwater springs conceding the royalties of Willerby and Wolfreton to the Priory.
Dissolution
During the Dissolution of the MonasteriesDissolution 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...
orchestrated by 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...
the house was visited by commissioners 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:...
and Thomas Legh
Thomas Legh (lawyer)
Sir Thomas Legh was an English jurist and diplomat, a principal agent of Henry VIII and Thomas Cromwell in the Dissolution of the Monasteries.-Life:...
. On 26 May 1536 they reported that the house was occupied by a prior and nine canons along with forty servants and boys. Haltemprice Priory was finally dissolved on 12 August 1536.
Priors of Haltemprice
| Name | Start of Office | End of Office |
|---|---|---|
| Thomas de Overton | 1327 | died 1328 |
| Robert Engayne | elected 1329 | resigned |
| John de Hickling | confirmed 1331 | |
| Thomas de Elveley | confirmed 1332 | resigned 1338 |
| William de Wolfreton | 1338 | died 1349 |
| Robert de Hickling | 1349 | resigned 1357 |
| Peter de Harpham | 1357 | resigned 1362 |
| Robert de Hickling | elected 1362 (? second time) | occurs 1367 |
| Peter (?de Harpham a second time) | occurs 1370 | |
| Robert Claworth | died 1392 | |
| William de Selby | confirmed 1391-2 | occurs 1414 |
| Richard Worleby | occurs 1415 | resigned 1423 |
| John Thweng | elected 1424 | (occurs 1425, 1430-5, 1437) |
| Robert Thweng | occurs 1435 | 1439 |
| Thomas Dalehouse | elected 1441 | resigned 1457 |
| Robert Holme | confirmed 1457 | |
| William Maunsel | elected 1471-2 | died 1502 |
| William Kirkham | 1502 | died 1506 |
| John Wymmersley | 1506 | died 1514 |
| John Nandyke | confirmed 1514 | occurs 1517 |
| Nicholas Haldesworth | elected 1518 | |
| Richard Fawconer | elected 1528 | resigned 1531 |
| Robert Colynson | elected 1531-2 | last prior |