Hatfield Regis Priory
Encyclopedia
Hatfield Regis Priory is a former Benedictine
priory
in Hatfield Regis, in Essex
, England
. Founded in 1135, it was dissolved in around 1536.
was well established by the time of the Norman Conquest and the Domesday Book
lists the presence of a Saxon church. At one time a royal manor of Harold I, it fell under the possession of William I
. Popular for hunting in the neighbouring forest, its royal patronage led to its becoming known as Hatfield Regis.
The Benedictine monastery itself was founded by Aubrey de Vere II
, Earl of Oxford
in or before 1135, one of the five of that order to be founded in Essex. The monastery was a daughter house of the Breton
monastery of St. Melanie in Rennes
, and was dedicated to "God, St Mary, and St. Melanius Redonensis". The original deed, now in the possession of Trinity College, Cambridge
is unusual in that instead of a seal it has a "short black-shafted knife".
Hatfield Broadoak, Essex, lay next to Hatfield Regis, and "Broadoak" was often replaced with "Regis" in reference to the priory. The confusion was enhanced by a dispute over tithes from the royal manor of Hatfield granted to the Augustinian canons
of St. Botolph, Colchester
, by King Henry I
. The dispute was settled in 1194.
John Lydgate
, the poet, was elected prior in 1423 but resigned the office a few years later to concentrate on his travels and writing.
granted ten oaks each from the forests of Hatfield and Wristle. Another dispute arose over the appointment of the prior. The de Vere earls of Oxford and the abbot of St. Melanie both claimed the right, resulting in a series of unpleasant episodes in 1235. The matter was appealed to Rome, and in 1236 Pope Gregory IX ordered commissioners to hear the matter. A final settlement was reached eighteen years later. On the death of the prior, the Hatfield monks were to ask permission of the earl of Oxford to hold an election. The new prior would be presented to the earl, who would request his confirmation by the bishop of London. The prior was to notify the abbot and convent of Rennes of the death of his predecessor and of his own election and confirmation. This is an example of an assertion of practical independence by an English cell of a foreign monastery.
The priory reached its peak in the first half of the fourteenth century with its great church, 230 feet in length, dominating the local countryside.
's Dissolution of the Monasteries
. At the time only the prior and four monks lived there, though had thirty servants to attend to their needs. The tithes and patronage were initially granted to Barking Abbey
but after Barking was dissolved were given to Trinity College, Cambridge by Henry VIII in 1546. The tomb effigy of Robert de Vere, 3rd Earl of Oxford
was moved from the priory chapel to the parish church at Hatfield.
Some parts of the priory church remain as part of St Mary's parish church. The remaining buildings were dismantled and no trace remains of them above ground where they stood in the field to the north of the church.
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...
priory
Priory
A priory is a house of men or women under religious vows that is headed by a prior or prioress. Priories may be houses of mendicant friars or religious sisters , or monasteries of monks or nuns .The Benedictines and their offshoots , the Premonstratensians, and the...
in Hatfield Regis, in Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
, 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...
. Founded in 1135, it was dissolved in around 1536.
History
The settlement of HatfieldHatfield Broad Oak
Hatfield Broad Oak is a village and civil parish in the Uttlesford district of Essex, England, about five and a half miles south-east of Bishop's Stortford...
was well established by the time of the Norman Conquest and the Domesday Book
Domesday Book
Domesday Book , now held at The National Archives, Kew, Richmond upon Thames in South West London, is the record of the great survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086...
lists the presence of a Saxon church. At one time a royal manor of Harold I, it fell under the possession of William I
William I of England
William I , also known as William the Conqueror , was the first Norman King of England from Christmas 1066 until his death. He was also Duke of Normandy from 3 July 1035 until his death, under the name William II...
. Popular for hunting in the neighbouring forest, its royal patronage led to its becoming known as Hatfield Regis.
The Benedictine monastery itself was founded by Aubrey de Vere II
Aubrey de Vere II
Aubrey de Vere II — also known as "Alberic[us] de Ver" — was the second of that name in England after the Norman Conquest, being the eldest surviving son of Alberic or Aubrey de Vere who had followed William the Conqueror to England in or after 1066.Their lineage is probably Norman, possibly...
, Earl of Oxford
Earl of Oxford
Earl of Oxford is a dormant title in the Peerage of England, held for several centuries by the de Vere family from 1141 until the death of the 20th earl in 1703. The Veres were also hereditary holders of the office of master or Lord Great Chamberlain from 1133 until the death of the 18th Earl in 1625...
in or before 1135, one of the five of that order to be founded in Essex. The monastery was a daughter house of the Breton
Brittany
Brittany is a cultural and administrative region in the north-west of France. Previously a kingdom and then a duchy, Brittany was united to the Kingdom of France in 1532 as a province. Brittany has also been referred to as Less, Lesser or Little Britain...
monastery of St. Melanie in Rennes
Rennes
Rennes is a city in the east of Brittany in northwestern France. Rennes is the capital of the region of Brittany, as well as the Ille-et-Vilaine department.-History:...
, and was dedicated to "God, St Mary, and St. Melanius Redonensis". The original deed, now in the possession of Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Trinity has more members than any other college in Cambridge or Oxford, with around 700 undergraduates, 430 graduates, and over 170 Fellows...
is unusual in that instead of a seal it has a "short black-shafted knife".
Hatfield Broadoak, Essex, lay next to Hatfield Regis, and "Broadoak" was often replaced with "Regis" in reference to the priory. The confusion was enhanced by a dispute over tithes from the royal manor of Hatfield granted to the Augustinian canons
Canon (priest)
A canon is a priest or minister who is a member of certain bodies of the Christian clergy subject to an ecclesiastical rule ....
of St. Botolph, Colchester
Colchester
Colchester is an historic town and the largest settlement within the borough of Colchester in Essex, England.At the time of the census in 2001, it had a population of 104,390. However, the population is rapidly increasing, and has been named as one of Britain's fastest growing towns. As the...
, by King Henry I
Henry I of England
Henry I was the fourth son of William I of England. He succeeded his elder brother William II as King of England in 1100 and defeated his eldest brother, Robert Curthose, to become Duke of Normandy in 1106...
. The dispute was settled in 1194.
John Lydgate
John Lydgate
John Lydgate of Bury was a monk and poet, born in Lidgate, Suffolk, England.Lydgate is at once a greater and a lesser poet than John Gower. He is a greater poet because of his greater range and force; he has a much more powerful machine at his command. The sheer bulk of Lydgate's poetic output is...
, the poet, was elected prior in 1423 but resigned the office a few years later to concentrate on his travels and writing.
Disputes
In around 1230 a fire destroyed part of the priory church, for whose repairs Henry IIIHenry III of England
Henry III was the son and successor of John as King of England, reigning for 56 years from 1216 until his death. His contemporaries knew him as Henry of Winchester. He was the first child king in England since the reign of Æthelred the Unready...
granted ten oaks each from the forests of Hatfield and Wristle. Another dispute arose over the appointment of the prior. The de Vere earls of Oxford and the abbot of St. Melanie both claimed the right, resulting in a series of unpleasant episodes in 1235. The matter was appealed to Rome, and in 1236 Pope Gregory IX ordered commissioners to hear the matter. A final settlement was reached eighteen years later. On the death of the prior, the Hatfield monks were to ask permission of the earl of Oxford to hold an election. The new prior would be presented to the earl, who would request his confirmation by the bishop of London. The prior was to notify the abbot and convent of Rennes of the death of his predecessor and of his own election and confirmation. This is an example of an assertion of practical independence by an English cell of a foreign monastery.
The priory reached its peak in the first half of the fourteenth century with its great church, 230 feet in length, dominating the local countryside.
Dissolution
The priory was dissolved in 1536 by Henry VIIIHenry 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 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...
. At the time only the prior and four monks lived there, though had thirty servants to attend to their needs. The tithes and patronage were initially granted to Barking Abbey
Barking Abbey
The ruined remains of Barking Abbey are situated in Barking in the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham in east London, England, and now form a public open space.- History :...
but after Barking was dissolved were given to Trinity College, Cambridge by Henry VIII in 1546. The tomb effigy of Robert de Vere, 3rd Earl of Oxford
Robert de Vere, 3rd Earl of Oxford
Robert de Vere was the second surviving son of Aubrey de Vere III, first earl of Oxford, and Agnes of Essex. Almost nothing of his life is known until he married in 1207 the widow Isabel de Bolebec, the aunt and co-heiress of his deceased sister-in-law. The couple had one child, a son, Hugh,...
was moved from the priory chapel to the parish church at Hatfield.
Some parts of the priory church remain as part of St Mary's parish church. The remaining buildings were dismantled and no trace remains of them above ground where they stood in the field to the north of the church.