Edith Weston Priory Explained

Edith Weston Priory
Order:Benedictine
Established:1114
Disestablished:1394
Mother:Abbey of Saint-Georges, Boscherville, France
Diocese:Diocese of Lincoln
Location:Edith Weston, Rutland, England
Map Type:Rutland
Coordinates:52.6405°N -0.6347°W

Edith Weston Priory was a small alien house of Benedictine monks in Edith Weston, Rutland. The French parent house of Abbey of Saint-Georges, Boscherville was founded by Ralf de Tanquerville, chamberlain to William the Conqueror, about the year 1050. By 1114 his son William donated the church and manor at Edith Weston, and a small cell of monks was set up to collect the rents and intercede for the founder's soul.[1] [2]

The cell was one of two in England: William founded Avebury Priory in Wiltshire around the same time.[3] Like all alien houses, control (and revenues) passed to the Crown in time of war with France, and it was during one of these periods that the priory closed. The last known Prior was in 1361, and by 1394 the church and manor had been sold to St. Anne's Priory, Coventry, bringing the priory to an end.[1] [2]

Pevsner was dismissive of the priory, saying that Brooke Priory was the only monastery in Rutland as "Edith Weston hardly counts as one".[4]

The earthwork remains probably now lie below the waters of Rutland Water.[2]

Priors of Edith Weston

Only a few names are known:[1] [5]

Robert de Cunebaud is known as a delinquent whose abuses were used to justify widespread suspicion of alien cells[1]

References

Notes and References

  1. Book: Alien Cell: Priory of Edith Weston . A History of the County of Rutland: Volume 1 . 1908 . 163–164 . 26 May 2013 . William . Page . Victoria County History.
  2. 325159. Edith Weston Priory. 26 May 2013.
  3. Book: A History of the County of Wiltshire, Volume 3. 1956. University of London. Pugh. R.B.. Ralph Pugh. Victoria County History. 392-393. Alien Houses: The Priory of Avebury. 6 August 2021. Crittall. Elizabeth. British History Online.
  4. Book: Nikolaus . Pevsner . Elizabeth . Williamson . Geoffrey K. . Brandwood . The buildings of England . Leicestershire and Rutland. 1985. Yale University Press. 9780300096187. Nikolaus Pevsner. 26 May 2013.
  5. Book: Smith, David Michael. The Heads of Religious Houses, England and Wales: 1377-1540. 1972. Cambridge University Press. 9780521865081. 158. The Heads of Religious Houses, England and Wales . 3 .