HOUSES OF AUGUSTINIAN CANONS
8. THE PRIORY OF BRADENSTOKE
The priory of Bradenstoke, dedicated to St.
Mary, was situated in the parish of Lyneham,
near the village of Bradenstoke-cum-Clack, on a
high ridge of land overlooking the Avon valley.
The site was well chosen, for there were abundant
springs, and near by, a holy well. (fn. 1) There is some
17th-century evidence that a chapel occupied the
site as early as the reign of Henry I. (fn. 2) If so it may
have been incorporated into the priory church,
and may have accounted both for the narrowness of
the nave (24 ft. against a length of 126 ft.) and
also for the fact that the church was on the south
side of the cloister although the site itself was a
north—south one. The founder was Walter 'le
Eurus', son of Edward of Salisbury, and father of
Patrick, first Earl of Salisbury. He gave the vill
of Bradenstoke and the church (i.e. Lyneham)
with all their appurtenances to found a convent
of canons regular, which was to be a daughter
house of St. Mary's Abbey, Cirencester. His
charter was confirmed by his wife, Sybil, and his
sons, William and Patrick, in the presence of
Roger, Bishop of Salisbury, probably shortly before
June 1139. (fn. 3) Walter also granted a hide of land at
Etchilhampton in pure alms, 10 librates of land in
Wilsford in Underditch hundred, and the chapel
of Lake. (fn. 4) Probably he also promised the church of
Canford (Dors.) and the chapel of St. Andrew at
Chitterne, because Earl Patrick gave instead to the
priory the church of Wilcot, with its dependent
chapel at Draycot Fitz Payne, as well as a portion
of the manor of Wilcot. Patrick exchanged the
Wilsford property, given by his father, for the rest
of the manor of Wilcot, then worth £12 yearly,
and also gave a salt pit at 'Waldfleta' in Canford.
He confirmed other gifts to the priory, including
a virgate in Lake granted by Richard Cotel, quit
of all secular service except danegeld to the Crown,
an estate called 'Dene' near Bradenstoke given by
William de Litelcote, a grant of land from William
Malcovenaunt, and the church of North Aston
(Oxon.), given by William de Eston with 50 acres
of land there. The canons bought three houses and
a virgate in North Aston from Reynold St. Paul,
which Patrick confirmed. (fn. 5) His wife, the Countess
Ela, gave land and rents in Hatherop (Gloucs.)
worth 100s. yearly. (fn. 6) Their son, Earl William,
gave Canford church with its dependent chapel of
St. James at Poole (Dors.), also the chapel of St.
Andrew at Chitterne, and pasture there for 100
sheep, one oak yearly from his woods, and pasture
on his Dorset demesnes for 100 ewes and their
offspring, 10 oxen, 10 cows, 1 bull, and in his
woods 12 pigs and 1 boar. His wife, Eleanor, gave
the advowson of Cooling church (Suff.) with a
rent of 40s. there, but these properties were not
long in the possession of Bradenstoke. (fn. 7)
The connexion between the priory and the
family and descendants of the founder was long
and intimate. Walter himself became a canon of
the house after the death of his wife, who was
buried in the choir of the church. On his death
in 1147 he was buried in the same grave. (fn. 8) His son
Walter became a canon of Bradenstoke, as did two
sons of Earl Patrick, Patrick and Philip. William,
the 2nd Earl, was buried at Bradenstoke in 1196,
also his daughter Pernella, and the heart of his
son Stephen. (fn. 9) William Longespée, the 3rd Earl,
gave the priory the advowson of the church of
Rogerville (Seine-Inférieure) with a pension in it,
as well as land and rents there and in Sandouville
(Seine-Inférieure), and a virgate of land in Chitterne and one in Amesbury. (fn. 10) By his will in 1225
the priory had a gift of 300 ewes, 10 cows, and
7 ploughbeasts. (fn. 11) His steward, Belingar, gave to
Bradenstoke ½ hide of land with pasture for 100
sheep in one of the Winterbourne vills in Dorset,
but there is no evidence of this land belonging
to the priory later than 1207. He also gave 300
sheep, 10 oxen, 10 cows, 20 pigs, 2 ploughbeasts,
40 goats, and 20 other animals. (fn. 12) When the dowager Countess Eleanor died in 1232-3 the prior,
Simon, was one of the executors of her will. (fn. 13)
The last William Longespée gave the priory some
land held in villeinage, with its 24 tenants and
their offspring, in 'Kyngstanton', to maintain two
chantry priests in the chapel of Canford Manor
house. His son-in-law Henry de Lacy, Earl of
Lincoln, gave more land there, with eleven tenants
in villeinage, for a third chantry priest to serve in
the same chapel. The chantries were maintained
until the Dissolution and in 1535 each priest was
receiving £5 annually. (fn. 14) The patronage of Bradenstoke eventually passed by marriage to Thomas,
Earl of Lancaster. A letter which the prior wrote
to him about 1300 in reply to his request for help
with transport shows the friendly relations existing
between priory and patron. In 1353 Edward the
Black Prince was patron, but by 1412 the patronage had been recovered by the Duchy of Lancaster,
which retained it until the Dissolution. (fn. 15)
The early Angevin kings showed special favour
toward Bradenstoke in several ways, perhaps because of the devotion of Earl Patrick to the cause
of the Empress Matilda. It is indeed notable how
many of the early benefactors of the priory were
partisans of the empress, including members of the
families of Bohun, Basset, Marshal, Berkeley, and
Lovel.
The first royal charter known to have been
granted was the one by which Henry II, between
1173 and 1179, confirmed the spiritual and temporal endowments of Bradenstoke. (fn. 16) Richard I
gave valuable aid to the priory in its final attempt
to throw off the domination of Cirencester. The
profession, subjection, and obedience which Cirencester demanded from its daughter house seem to
have become irksome very soon after the foundation of the priory. In the 13th-century cartulary
of Cirencester there is the text of a bull of Innocent II of 1141 granting papal protection of the
possessions of the abbey. The only endowments
particularly named are the vill of Bradenstoke
and its church, which the bull says were given
to Cirencester by Walter of Salisbury, with the
agreement of Bishop Roger. The particular mention of only these properties gives reason to suspect
that these words were interpolated into the original
text by Cirencester, especially as Walter did not
make such a grant by his foundation charter to
Bradenstoke. (fn. 17) If it is an interpolation then some
controversy may have already begun between the
two houses. Two bulls of Lucius III, of 15 December 1182 and of 13 May 1184, granted to
Bradenstoke, show that it still possessed these
endowments. (fn. 18) The first bull confirmed the priory
in its possession of the vill of Bradenstoke and its
church (Lyneham), with the rest of the endowments given by Walter and his son Patrick and
by Earl William, as well as by other early donors.
Some more recent grants were included: a hide of
land at Costow Farm in Wroughton, ½ hide in
Chitterne, and a virgate in 'Langforde', and 3
solidates of land in Wilton. The second bull, of
13 May 1184, repeated these confirmations, including a virgate in Wilton. But the text of this
bull, as given in the Stowe cartulary of Bradenstoke, has also an interpolation in which Bradenstoke granted itself complete autonomy, and Earl
William of Salisbury was said to have procured it.
The next bull of Lucius III to Bradenstoke was
issued six days later, on 19 May 1184, and confirmed the election of a new prior, Matthew. It
also declared the priory free from all subjection to
Cirencester. There is no reason to suspect that this
was an interpolation. But the Cirencester cartulary has another bull of Lucius III, dated 7 January 1185, confirming to this house among other
grants 'the church of Bradenstoke with all pertaining to it'. (fn. 19) This passage must be another
interpolation, devised by Cirencester in order to
continue to maintain its claims. The controversy
was not settled until Clement III appointed
the abbots of Reading and Tewkesbury and the
Bishop of Worcester as papal judges delegate to
hear and determine it. In 1189 Cirencester agreed
to abandon its claims, the surrender being greatly
due to the intervention of Richard I, its patron,
and of Earl William Longespée, patron of Bradenstoke. All charters and muniments relating to the
case were returned by Cirencester to the Bishop
of Salisbury, who confirmed the agreement and
sent on the documents to Earl William. (fn. 20) In 1207
King John confirmed the emancipation of Bradenstoke. (fn. 21)
John conferred many other favours on the
priory, showing his fondness for it by his frequent
visits. (fn. 22) A tun of wine was sent from Bristol to
Bradenstoke by royal order during 1204, and gifts
of wine and cattle were made in 1207. (fn. 23) In the
15th century and until 1588 there were some
buildings in the priory called the king's lodgings,
standing west of the prior's hall. Probably the
prior had been a supporter of John in his rebellion
against Richard I. (fn. 24) In a will which he made at
Marlborough in 1203, in the presence of the Prior
of Bradenstoke, the Abbot of Ford, and the Earl
of Essex, John left many valuable gifts of jewels
and furnishings to the priory, but it is not known
whether these were ever received. (fn. 25) In 1205 the
king granted to Bradenstoke some pasture in the
royal enclosures in Chippenham Forest for 40
cows and their one-year-old calves, and 2 bulls.
A place called 'la Hildebir' or 'Aldebir' was also
given for the erection of cattle sheds of timber
supplied by the Crown. (fn. 26) In 1215 John granted
2 loads of ash, or birch, alder, or willow, from
Chippenham Forest daily, to be used as the canons
wished. (fn. 27) John's impressive charter to Bradenstoke,
of 17 September 1207, confirmed the spiritual and
temporal property of the priory, which by now
possessed a large and wealthy endowment. (fn. 28)
Henry III was an equally generous benefactor
to Bradenstoke. The priory was put under royal
protection and defended from all impleading of the
prior, canons, and their men for any tenement
before the king and his chief justice in December
1216, and again in January 1226 for two years,
and in March 1231. (fn. 29) Three royal charters of
1232 confirmed its property and gave additional
privileges. (fn. 30) In the first one Henry granted the
site on which the priory was built, also soc and sac,
toll and team, 'infangthef' and 'utfangthef', quittance from all geld, and from suit in shire, hundred, and wapentake courts, from sheriffs' aids,
wardship, castle and bridge works, from ward
penny, overpenny, and tithing penny, and from
'henigwite, flemenwyte, leirwyte, blocwyte, grithbreche, fremenwite, forstall, hamsoc, heiborum
and frankpledge'. But when frankpledge was taken
in any court of the prior a royal official was to
be present. Woods, old and new, were to be quit
of waste and regard, and the canons might course
with their hounds over all their lands. Throughout
the king's realm they were quit of toll, and their
goods were to be free from passage tolls by land
and by sea. The second charter confirmed some of
the endowments, and the third granted an annual
fair to be held at Bradenstoke for five days from
the eve of the Nativity of the Virgin (5 Sept.).
The sheriffs of the eight counties in which the
lands of the priory lay were ordered on 26 June
to read in full shire court the first royal charter
granted on 21 June. On 20 July 1232 Henry
granted another charter confirming all the properties as confirmed in John's charter of 1207. (fn. 31)
Henry III stayed at Bradenstoke on 5 August
1235. (fn. 32) Other royal gifts included 18 old oaks for
fuel from Chippenham Forest in 1223, 2 more in
1235, and 5 good oaks in 1236, In 1247 Henry
gave 6 oaks from Chippenham to make new choir
stalls for the priory church, 6 more for stalls in
1248, 4 oaks for roof laths in 1251, and 6 for
roofing the church in 1253. (fn. 33) The Sheriff of
Wiltshire was ordered by royal writ of 20 November 1265 to relax his distraint upon the priory and
to remember that Bradenstoke was now exempt
from any suit in shire court or hundred where its
demesne lands were, particularly in the hundred
of Kingsbridge by reason of the manor of Tockenham. (fn. 34) Edward I granted in 1285 free warren to
the prior and canons in their property at Bradenstoke, Lyneham, and Wilcot. In 1291 he gave
ten oaks with their strippings, fit for use as timber. (fn. 35)
Edward III gave licence in 1361 for a weekly
market to be held at Bradenstoke on Fridays, and
a yearly fair for three days from the vigil of St.
George (22 Apr.). (fn. 36)
The chief spiritual and temporal properties of
Bradenstoke were situated in Wiltshire. Others
of great value were in Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, and Dorset. The spiritual properties in
Wiltshire earliest given to the priory were the
churches of Lyneham and Wilcot. They were
each worth £10 in 1291. (fn. 37) Their complete appropriation, with the chapels of Lake and St. Andrew
at Chitterne and the churches of Canford and
North Aston, was confirmed by Lucius III on
15 December 1182 and 13 May 1184. (fn. 38) Clement
III confirmed to Bradenstoke the churches of
Lyneham, Wilcot, and North Aston on 12 March
1188. (fn. 39) The value of Canford church in 1291
was £13 6s. 8d., and of North Aston £6 13s. 4d. (fn. 40)
In 1291 Bradenstoke had a portion of £5 in the
church of Chitterne (fn. 41) The church of Seagry, given
to the priory between 1188 and 1205 by Alexander de Segre, was valued at £5 in 1291. (fn. 42) The
maintenance of vicars in the appropriated churches
with reasonable sustenance and with due regard
to episcopal rights was insisted upon by Archbishop
Hubert Walter when about 1205 he confirmed
Bradenstoke in its spiritual possessions. (fn. 43) The advowson of Marden church was given by Philip
Basset before 1207 together with some claim upon
the rectory. The Bishop of Salisbury confirmed
the complete appropriation to the priory in 1267,
with the assent of the rector, John de Ore. In
1291 Marden church was worth £6 13s. 4d. (fn. 44)
Walter Croc gave to Bradenstoke before 1207 the
chapel of Hazelbury in Box, with a messuage, a
croft, his demesne tithes, and those of his men. (fn. 45)
The quarry in Hazelbury, which Walter also
gave, probably supplied the beautiful stone for the
building of Bradenstoke Priory. William Marshall,
Earl of Pembroke, gave to Bradenstoke the church
of Easton, near Marlborough, (fn. 46) but the gift was
not long enjoyed owing to the claim to the advowson made by the abbey of Mont-Ste-Catherine
(Seine-et-Marne), by reason of the grant from
Anselm, William's brother. When the abbey presented a young clerk, Stephen, to the church about
1210, Bradenstoke asserted its rights by disturbing
his possession; But the priory surrendered most of
its claims in 1236, retaining only the tithes of hay,
grain, and cheese from its demesne in Easton. The
agreement between the two houses was ratified in
1246 by the Bishop of Salisbury. (fn. 47) Between 1184
and 1191 John the Marshal, brother of William,
gave the church of Cheddar (Som.) to Bradenstoke. But the priory soon released it to the chapter of Wells in exchange for the church of Chilcompton (Som.). Wells retained a pension of a
'besant' in the latter church. In 1291 the church
was valued at £5 and the pension at 2s. (fn. 48) Bradenstoke had a portion worth 16s. in 1291 in the
church of Orcheston St. George, representing the
original grant of two parts of the demesne tithes
given by William de Litelcote before 1207. (fn. 49) In
Maddington church the priory had a pension
worth 13s. 4d. in 1291. (fn. 50)
In Gloucestershire Bradenstoke had a portion
in Dodington church valued at 25s. in 1291, a gift
from one of the de Berkeleys, lords of the manor. (fn. 51)
In Hertfordshire the advowson of Offley church
was given to the priory by Amicia de Mara, or
Delamare, with, as her charter says, 'as much
right as the lord of the foundation can have in
presentation to his church'. It was confirmed by
her grandson Geoffrey.de St. Leger before 1207,
and also by William Marshal, Earl of Pembroke, (fn. 52)
but a dispute arose between Prior Simeon and
William St. Leger in January 1239. The right of
advowsori was then adjudged to belong to the
priory, and again in 1332 when Richard St. Leger
contested it. (fn. 53) By 1406 Bradenstoke had lost the
advowson for good. (fn. 54) An exchange of spiritual and
temporal property between Bradenstoke and the
Norman abbey of St. Wandrille (Seine-Inférieure)
was of advantage to both parties. In November
1285 Bradenstoke surrendered to the abbey the
advowson of Rogerville with all its other property
there and in Sandouville, receiving instead the
advowson of Towcester church (Northants.), and
a pension therein, the advowson of Burton Bradstock (Dors.), as well as temporal property in both
places. (fn. 55) The pension in Towcester church was
worth 35s. in 1291. (fn. 56)
Certain endowments in Wiltshire were granted
for particular spiritual purposes. In Hullavington
the priory had a rent of 2s. to maintain 'the service
of the Virgin' in the parish church. It had an acre
of meadow in Corston to find a light for the daily
mass of the Virgin. (fn. 57) A rent of 10s. from Ewell
Mill was reserved for a lamp to burn before the
altar of the Holy Trinity, the Virgin, and All
Saints in the priory church. (fn. 58) Bradenstoke maintained a chaplain in the chapel of Draycot Fitz
Payne to say mass at regular hours out of a yearly
subsidy of 2½ marks given by Elias Cotel and his
heirs, lords of the manor. (fn. 59) In Westcot (Gloucs.)
a rent of 10s. was given by Robert de Berkeley for
a lamp to burn perpetually before the high altar
of the priory church. (fn. 60)
Bradenstoke strengthened its title to its spiritual
properties by the early acquisition of papal confirmations and other papal privileges. Lucius III
took the priory under papal protection by his
bull of 15 December 1182, and granted that the
prior and canons might choose the priests for their
churches to present to the diocesan, who, if they
were suitable, would commit to them the cure of
souls. (fn. 61) New lands of the priory, freshly broken for
tillage, were not to be tithed, nor any produce for
feeding its animals. The priory had free right of
burial of those wishing to be buried within its
precincts, provided the parish churches thus deprived received due mortuary fees. (fn. 62) In time of
interdict it could celebrate in low voice, and without ringing of bells. It could freely receive clerks
and freemen for the canonical profession and all
the canons were to remain under the discipline of
the rule for life. The prior was to be elected by
common consent of the canons, or of those of
wiser judgement. The bull of Lucius III of
13 May 1184 confirmed the same rights with
a few significant additions. In the appropriated
churches two, three, or four canons might serve,
one only having the cure of souls. A canon might
now leave the priory with the consent of the prior
and join a community of stricter religious life. The
priory and its churches were to be wholly exempt
from new exactions levied by any ecclesiastics, and
from sentences of interdict and excommunication,
unless there were reasonable causes for their
imposition. (fn. 63)
The most valuable of the temporal possessions
of Bradenstoke in Wiltshire were in the hundred
of Kingsbridge in which the priory was situated.
The manor of Lyneham comprised its property
in Lyneham, Bradenstoke, Clack, Littlecote, and
Preston, and was worth £18 6s. in 1291. (fn. 64) By
1535 the Bradenstoke-cum-Clack property alone
was worth £12 18s., and from Lyneham with
Littlecote the rents of the customary tenants were
then valued at £27. (fn. 65) At 'Cowych' (now Cowage
Farm) Philip Basset gave the priory an estate in
1264-5, valued at 50s. in 1291 and at £7 6s. 8d.
in 1535. It had a grange there at the Dissolution. (fn. 66)
At Bupton in Clyffe Pypard the priory had arable,
meadow, and pasture before 1232, and in Clevancy
a house with a messuage, a virgate with common
of pasture, some meadow, and 2s. in rents. (fn. 67) Its
arable land and meadows in Thornhill, near
Broadtown, were worth 6s. 8d. in 1291. (fn. 68)
Bradenstoke acquired the manor of Tockenham
between 1232 and 1265 by grant of Thomas de
Tockenham, its lord. (fn. 69) This property became by
the gradual accumulation of adjacent estates, mainly in the late 13th and 14th centuries, one of its
most valuable manors. Although the royal charters
of 1207 and 1232 confirmed no property here the
priory had built a mill in Tockenham, to the detriment of a certain free tenant, between 1189 and
1194. (fn. 70) In 1262 Henry de Beynton gave to the
priory 31½ acres of arable, ¼ acre of meadow, I
messuage, a croft called 'Benecroft', and common
of pasture in Tockenham. (fn. 71) The manor was worth
£4 6s. 8d. in 1291. (fn. 72) More land and tenements
were given in West Tockenham by Robert Russel,
and by Henry de Buntesdon in 1302 and Robert
Brut in 1303. (fn. 73) In 1344 Simon, Vicar of Seagry,
gave a messuage and 4 virgates in Little Tockenham, valued at £3 a year. (fn. 74) A large estate comprising 2 messuages, 1 carucate, and 40 acres of
arable, 13 of meadow, 20 of pasture, and 24 of
wood in West Tockenham, Lyneham, and Littlecote were given in 1413 by John Elcumbe and his
wife Joan. By 1535 the manor of Tockenham
was worth £15. (fn. 75)
Bradenstoke held the manor of Chaddington in
the parish of Lydiard Tregoze, Blackgrove hundred. It was valued at £2 10s. 8d. in 1291. (fn. 76) It
had been acquired partly by gift, and also by purchase of land at 'Estchadyndon', and included some
arable and meadow at Salthrop. (fn. 77) In Lydiard
Millicent in 1283 Geoffrey de Asphale gave a
messuage, 73 acres of arable, 8 of meadow, and
16 of wood, then valued at 26s. 8d. a year. The
property in 1291 was assessed at 30s. (fn. 78) Bradenstoke had rents in Wanborough, and from his
demesne there Sewale d'Oseville gave a load of
grain which the priory was to have every Michaelmas. (fn. 79) At Draycot Foliat the priory had 4 acres of
arable valued at 2s. in 1291. (fn. 80) It had arable land at
Costow and the tithes of sheaves from 5 hides there
until 1247 when the priory ceded to Stanley Abbey
the tithes from 4 of the hides except 2 acres. (fn. 81) The
main estates of Bradenstoke in Scipe hundred were
in Stratton St. Margaret and Upper Stratton. In
the former the priory had ½ hide, with some
meadow, and rents, granted by Ralph de Arguges
before 1232. His son Everard gave more rents
and land, and also sold land to the priory because
he needed money. Bradenstoke had a windmill in
Stratton St. Margaret and received grants of land
from other donors both here and in Upper Stratton.
The manor was worth 25s. in 1291. (fn. 82) In Haydon
a virgate given before 1207 remained the sole
possession of the priory there; it was valued at
6s. 8d. in 1291 and the rent from the property in
1535 was the same. (fn. 83) Bradenstoke had originally
a large estate of 5 hides and a messuage in Blunsdon St. Andrew, but some of it was lost and much
of it decayed and without tenants by 1362. (fn. 84) At
Somerford Keynes in Cricklade hundred the
priory had a rent of 5s. in 1232. (fn. 85) Its manor in
Shorncote was worth 16s. in 1291. (fn. 86) In Cricklade
itself the priory had land, rents, and ½ burgage, the
property being assessed at 7s. 2d. in 1291. (fn. 87) The
land and rents of the priory in Minety were worth
3s. in 1291 and at Hankerton 2 messuages with
2 crofts were then worth 8s. (fn. 88) In Brokenborough
it had 2s. in rents in 1232. (fn. 89)
Bradenstoke had a rent of 7½d. from a house
near the Gildhall in Malmesbury and rent from
a burgage in Westport by 1232. (fn. 90) About 1252
William le Porter gave to the priory his tenement opposite to All Saints Church, in 'the great
street', which was let at a rent of 20s. and was
exempt from the service of making the king's
wall. It had other property in 'Estret' and in
'Kyngestret'. (fn. 91) At Corston the priory had free
chace through the manor of the chief lord for
1d. a year. (fn. 92) Some arable land in the open fields
of Clapcote in Grittleton with some rents there
came into the possession of Bradenstoke probably
after 1232. (fn. 93)
In Startley hundred the priory held considerable
property, of which the most valuable was the
manor of Seagry, acquired by gift, mainly from the
Cokerel family, and by purchase. The earliest
grant was of a place called 'Sechdewell', where
formerly stood a mill and fishpond, given by Alexander de Segre, who had given the church to the
priory. John Cokerel granted all his demesne in
Upper Seagry. The priory acquired also meadow
land in Lower Seagry, hear Dodford Farm, and by
gift of Elias Burel all his fee in Upper and Lower
Seagry. (fn. 94) Humphrey Bohun, first Earl of Hereford,
granted exemption from all dues at his court of
Farleigh for the manor of the priory in Seagry, and
from John Russel Bradenstoke bought the rights of
free way and of chace over his property. (fn. 95) In 1291
the Seagry manor was valued at £3. (fn. 96) Bradenstoke.
held a virgate in Christian Malford of Glastonbury
Abbey by knight service before 1189. (fn. 97) By 1207
it had also two mills, the hamlet of 'Milesham'
(now Melsome Wood), and a messuage near one
of the mills, the gifts of Ralph Luvel de Clivel.
His son Sylvester gave meadows near the mills and
a flagbed there. (fn. 98) In 1338 Richard atte More gave
another 9 acres of meadow also near the mills to
the priory. (fn. 99) In Little Somerford it had property
comprising arable, meadow, and rents, assessed at
2s. in 1291. (fn. 100)
In Chippenham hundred Bradenstoke had
meadows near Burrow Farm in Langley Burrell,
and at Cocklebury both arable and meadow. (fn. 101) The
land in Tytherton Lucas which belonged to the
priory was assessed at 1s. 6d. in 1291. (fn. 102) Bradenstoke bought from Thomas de Culerne all his land
at 'Chalvecroft' in Colerne, probably between
1207 and 1232, and acquired other property in
rents and land there from him and other donors. (fn. 103)
By 1232 the priory had rents and arable land at
Stanley in Bremhill. (fn. 104) In Chippenham town an
acre of land was given to the priory in the reign
of Henry II, and by 1232 it had several messuages
and houses as well as more land, the whole being
assessed at 6s. 8d. in 1291. (fn. 105) In Calne 2 closes of
meadow near a fountain called 'Chanie', a house
in Patford Street, and a shop and messuage belonged to the priory in 1232. It had also some
land in Blackland. The Calne property was worth
6s. 8d. in 1291. (fn. 106) At Studley the priory held 2 acres
in 1232, and its property at Compton Bassett was
valued at 1s. in 1291. (fn. 107)
In Avebury Bradenstoke had a rent of 2s. in
1232 and in 1291. (fn. 108) Its property in Marlborough
was first acquired about 1245 when Arnald le
Fader gave 1½ burgage, yielding a rent of 20s.
Eustace, a royal bailiff, gave 3 shops and some land
near the cemetery of St. Mary's Church. Other
tenements belonging to Bradenstoke were in High
Street, 'Baronestret', and on 'la Grene'. The
whole of the property in Marlborough belonging
to the priory was worth 22s. in 1291. (fn. 109) John the
Marshal gave half the vill of Easton, near Marlborough, to the priory before 1164. At the time
of donation it was worth £12, and in 1291
£7 4s. 8d. (fn. 110) In Devizes Bradenstoke held 2 crofts
in 1207, one being outside the walls in the street
called 'Reawe'. (fn. 111) It had a rent of 5s. in Marston
in 1232 and in 1291. (fn. 112) In Coate a virgate belonging to the priory about 1230 was leased at a rent
of 30s., and was assessed at this sum in 1291. (fn. 113)
Bradenstoke had a messuage and land in Melksham in 1232, given by Sylvester Luvel, some
arable land at Shaw near Melksham, in 1207,
given by Ralph Luvel, and a tenement in Bradford-on-Avon in 1232. (fn. 114)
The manor of Chitterne in Heytesbury hundred belonged to Bradenstoke and included by
1232 extensive pastures for sheep. (fn. 115) The manor
grew from the ½ hide given by Stephen de Langford before 1184, and as in other places where the
priory had rectorial rights in the church or chapel
the manorial estate appears to have been purposefully developed. It was valued in 1291 at
£3 5s. 6d. (fn. 116) In Imber Bradenstoke had a rent of
27s. in 1207, and its property there was valued
at £1 in 1291. (fn. 117) In Horningsham it had a rent of
13s. 4d. given by Robert de Ewias. (fn. 118) Its property
in Upton Lovell, consisting of a virgate and a
messuage, was worth £1 in 1291. (fn. 119) At Fisherton
de la Mere the priory held 1 hide of land in 1291,
worth 30s. (fn. 120)
The most valuable manor after Lyneham was
Wilcot in Swanborough hundred given by Earl
Patrick. (fn. 121) This manor probably included the estates
of the priory in Stowell and in Etchilhampton in
1291, when it was valued at £27 17s. (fn. 122) The prior
had assize of bread and ale, view of frankpledge
and gallows in his manor of Wilcot. (fn. 123) In Oare a
hide of land belonged to Bradenstoke in 1232 and
was held by Elias Cotel in 1246 for a rent of 1 lb.
of cinnamon. (fn. 124) , The priory had rents in Rushall
valued at 3s. in 1291. (fn. 125) In Wilsford the priory had
a virgate and 6 acres of land about 1182, a legacy
from Humphrey de Bohun, assessed in 1291 at
16s. (fn. 126) At Little Langford the Bradenstoke estates
were mainly pastoral for sheep farming and were
given by Stephen de Langford before 1182. In
1291 they were valued at 2s. (fn. 127) The manor of the
priory in Shrewton in Dole hundred included its
property in Winterbourne Stoke and was valued
in 1291 at £3 14s. (fn. 128) In Amesbury Bradenstoke
had a rent from the mill and other rents there and
in West Amesbury. They were worth 9s. 2d. in
1291. (fn. 129) In Ludgershall the priory had property
valued at 3s. 4d. in 1291. (fn. 130) It had 8½ virgates in
North Tidworth in 1232, and the property in
1291 was worth 6s. 8d. (fn. 131) In Underditch hundred,
at Wilsford, the property belonging to Bradenstoke was rented by the Prebendary of Wilsford
and Woodford at 14s. a year about 1409, and in
Lake the priory had ½ hide of land which was
leased at a rent of 16s. a year. (fn. 132) In Wilton Bradenstoke had a messuage near 'Westgate', rents and
tenements in Minster Street, and others in the
street called 'Marsh', the total value in 1291 being
2s. (fn. 133) In Salisbury in 1232 Bradenstoke had a rent
of 6d. (fn. 134) It had a manor in Winterbourne Earls
valued in 1291 at £2 17s., and at Hurdcott its
lands and rents were then worth 18s. 6d. (fn. 135) William
Longespée (II) released the tenants of the priory
in Hurdcott from suit of court and view of frankpledge at his court at Winterbourne Earls, except
for robbery committed within the prior's fee. But
in those cases the prior received the amercement
and chattels of the felon. Until 1232 the prior's
tenants had to contribute to sheriff's geld due from
the tithings of Whaddon and Grimstead. (fn. 136)
The earliest temporal property which Bradenstoke had in Gloucestershire was in Hatherop, the
gift of the first Countess Ela of Salisbury. Other
grants of land here were given before 1232 by
William Boterell and Ralph de Parco. (fn. 137) Roger de
Berkeley gave to the priory arable and meadow in
Dodington, in 1273 Henry de Berkeley gave
pasture there for 200 sheep and a virgate of arable
land. (fn. 138) Thomas de Berkeley gave land in Uley,
and Robert de Berkeley gave pasture, meadow,
and rents at Westcot in Lasborough. (fn. 139) At Tormarton Bradenstoke held in 1291 2 carucates,
each worth 20s., rents of assize worth 2s. 6d., and
common of pasture for sheep, oxen, cows, and
pigs. (fn. 140) In Fairford the priory had a dovecot worth
2d. in 1291, 53s. 4d. from rents of assize (including
the rent from 1 burgage), and 2 carucates each
worth 30s. The manor of Fairford included also
the property of Bradenstoke at Milton End,
originally a hide of land given by Hugh de Chaworth before 1207. (fn. 141) At Hamsted in Old Sodbury
the priory had 1 carucate in 1291, valued at 12s.,
and stock worth 40s. (fn. 142) In Great Sodbury 32 acres
of pasture were given to Bradenstoke in 1337. (fn. 143)
The priory had land and rents in Cirencester from
4 houses near 'Goseditch', and in Ampney Crucis
it had tenements, pastures, and meadows. (fn. 144)
In Oxfordshire Bradenstoke gradually acquired
by gift and by purchase a valuable manor at North
Aston, beginning with the grants made by William
de Eston. (fn. 145) In 1279 the priory of Bradenstoke was
said to hold 2 virgates in frankalmoin of the fee of
William Trivat, a hide of land of the same fee by
knight service, with 11d. a year to the king as
'hidage', a virgate in villeinage, and another at a
rent of 2s. in lieu of ail services. (fn. 146) At Burford a
virgate belonging to the priory rendered 10s. in
rent in 1275. Its property here was valued at
10s. 4d. in 1291. (fn. 147) In Banbury in the 14th century the priory had a rent of 2d. and at Wootton
a rent of 9d. and of a half pound of pepper for land
lying towards Woodstock Park. (fn. 148)
The most valuable manor belonging to Braden-stoke in Somerset was in Limington, granted by
Godfrey St. Martin, and confirmed by royal charter in 1232. It was worth £5 10s. in 1291. (fn. 149) The
prior was allowed in 1232 to erect a gallows here. (fn. 150)
In Kilmersdon near Radstock the property of the
priory, consisting of land, rents, and services, was
valued at 3s. in 1291. (fn. 151) Soon after its foundation
the priory acquired land, rents, and privileges
in Bristol which may have served to expedite
the export of its wool. William, the 2nd Earl of
Gloucester, gave to Bradenstoke freedom from
toll in buying and selling anything in Bristol which
pertained to the demesne of the priory, and William de Neufmarché gave quittance from tolls and
from passage dues for its wagons as they passed
through Hinton Charterhouse. Walter, the harpist
of Earl William, gave land in the street in Bristol
'where harrows are made', for a nominal rent of
a full dish of beans paid in to the exchequer of the
earl as chief lord. John, son of William the priest
and chaplain of St. Mary Redcliffe, gave land lying
next the belfry of St. Mary's. The priory acquired
other rents and tenements in 'Radeclive' street and
in the fair of Bristol. (fn. 152) In Bath Bradenstoke had
rents and 1 burgage by 1232. (fn. 153)
The temporal property belonging to Bradenstoke in Dorset first consisted of the manor of Canford Prior, the grant of which was confirmed by
the royal charter of 1207. It was valued at £2 in
1291. (fn. 154) William de Lillington gave one-third of
his manor in Lillington to Bradenstoke in 1215,
and in 1291 it was worth £1. (fn. 155) The priory was
granted the valuable manor of Burton Brad-,
stock in 1285 by the abbey of St. Wandrille in
their exchange of properties. (fn. 156) It was assessed at
£4 6s. 8d. in 1291. (fn. 157) Burton eventually passed
into the possession of the collegiate chapel of
St. Stephen's, Westminster, and in exchange
Bradenstoke received, either from the Crown
between 1435 and 1437, or from St. Stephen's a
little later, probably after 1469, the manor called
Framptons in East Hendred (Berks.). It was
formerly a part of the possessions of the alien
priory of Frampton (Dors.) which had been given
to St. Stephen's. (fn. 158) Bradenstoke was in possession
of Framptons by 1516 and in 1535 this manor
was valued at £8 6s. 8d. (fn. 159) The priory had land at
Watchfield (Berks.), in 1232, valued at 6s. 8d. in
1291 and in 1535. (fn. 160) In the Isle of Wight Bradenstoke had arable and pasture land in Briddlesford
in 1232, but no later record of it has been found.
Certain rents and tenements in London were confirmed to the priory by the charters of 1207 and
1232 and of these no later evidence is known. (fn. 161)
The temporal property of the priory in Towcester (Northants.) was acquired by the exchange
in 1285 which Bradenstoke made with St. Wandrille. It included houses, rents, and mills, worth
£2 17s. 4d. in 1291. (fn. 162) Before 1285 the lord of
the main manor in Towcester, William de Munchensi, had allowed the tenants of St. Wandrille to
use his bakehouse, as that belonging to the abbey
was very decayed. Bradenstoke repaired it and in
1288 recovered the furnage of all its tenants. (fn. 163)
Bradenstoke had property in Burton Latimer
(Northants.) by 1222, including a mill called
'Byggemull'. Hillaria de Godervilla, her brother
Nicholas de Malesmains, and others of the same
family gave land here to Bradenstoke, and the
manor of Burton was valued at £8 in 1291. (fn. 164) In
1330 the prior admitted that he had not yet erected
pillory, tumbrel, nor gallows as he should have
done. The Crown confiscated his liberty, but it was
shortly restored on payment of a fine of 6s. 8d. The
prior also declared that he held no assize of bread,
nor of ale, as there were no bakers nor brewers
within his view. (fn. 165)
Bradenstoke had property at Wales St. John in
south Yorkshire, held of the barony of Laughton.
Its manor of Wales and Waleswood began with
the grant of 2 carucates of land by William Gras
between 1207 and 1219. In 1238 Roger Mody
gave 14 acres of arable and 4 of meadow, and by
1291 the whole manor was worth £4 10s. 8d.
From Wales moor the canons got both stone and
coal. The priory had a gallows in Wales St. John
by 1276. (fn. 166)
Bradenstoke acquired in 1406 the advowson
and possessions of the Hospital of St. John, Wootton Bassett. The advowson was granted by Edward, Duke of York, and the possessions, then
worth about 6 marks yearly, by the master of the
hospital, to whom licence was granted by the
Crown to effect the alienation. Bradenstoke became responsible for all future charges pertaining
to the hospital. (fn. 167) Robert de Careville, Treasurer
of Salisbury Cathedral, left a legacy of 40s. in
1267 to the Prior of Bradenstoke, and in 1400
they received another of 40s. from John Chelsey,
Canon of Wells and Rector of Great Somerford. (fn. 168)
The early charters of Bradenstoke comprise
many grants of pastures and of sheep, and there are
other indications of its economic interest in sheep
farming and in the sale of wool. In 1339 the
Crown acknowledged a debt of £12 15s. 9d. due
to the priory for 2½ sacks and 3 cloves of wool
collected from its Wiltshire estates. (fn. 169) In 1227 the
prior was listed among those of the clergy whom
the king asked to give him an aid in wool as a loan. (fn. 170)
A policy of leasing or farming many of the estates
of the priory was continuously pursued during the
13th century, and on the eve of the Dissolution all
its temporal and spiritual property appears to have
been farmed, for its revenues as given in the Valor
of 1535 proceeded entirely from assized rents and
the farms of its rectories. (fn. 171) The administrative
officials in 1535 were a chief steward, a substeward, and three other stewards, one each for
Canford, Limington, and Waleswood. (fn. 172)
There was considerable increase of the temporal
property of Bradenstoke during the 13th century
by purchase of land, particularly of pasture and of
meadow, often at a high price, chiefly in places
where it already had a manor and where the
pasture and meadow were valuable. (fn. 173) Under the
rule of priors Simon, William, and Geoffrey, who
besides buying property appear to have induced
gifts of land, the priory secured its title in many
of the newly granted or purchased estates by fines.
In the Stowe cartulary 20 fines in various courts
between 1203 and 1262 are recorded. (fn. 174) The first
of these secured the claim of the priory to a hide
of land at North Aston by payment of a fine of
3½ silver marks (fn. 175) in 1203. North Aston church
occasionally involved Bradenstoke in litigation.
As owner of the rectory the priory claimed a right
to a tithe portion of the sheaves in Nethercott
which the Rector of Steeple Aston was reluctant
to acknowledge. In 1225, by the verdict of the
papal judges delegate appointed by Honorius III,
a half of the tithe portion was allotted to Bradenstoke. (fn. 176) The Rector of Steeple Aston concurred,
but in 1313 when Thomas de Somerton was
rector he was sued by the Prior of Bradenstoke for
spoliation of the tithe portion, then said to be
worth 5s. (fn. 177) The final judgement is not known.
In 1226 Simon the miller of North Aston was
sued by the Prior of Bradenstoke for the recovery
of the tithes of the mill. Again the Pope appointed
judges to decide the case, who gave a verdict in
favour of the prior. (fn. 178) A tithe case between Bradenstoke and Merton Priory concerning certain hay
tithes from meadows lying within the fee of Duns
Tew but in the parish of North Aston was heard
before papal judges delegate in 1229. Bradenstoke
agreed to resign half the tithes of Duns Tew to
Merton for the sake of peace. (fn. 179)
A bill of complaint was brought about 1509
before the court of Star Chamber by Prior Thomas
Walshe against John Anne, to whose grandfather
the manor of North Aston had been demised at
farm for 33 years in 1485. (fn. 180) This bill, the only
evidence extant of a most interesting case, charged
John Anne with the conversion of tillage to pasture and with the decay of 12 houses and of 7
ploughs in the vill of North Aston. The prior
stated that his manor formerly comprised 300
acres of arable, 20 of pasture, and 20 of meadow,
and that now 142 acres of arable had been 'inclosed
and diched' by John Anne, to be converted into
pasture. Also he complained of arrears of rent for
seven years from John, and for two years from his
father William Anne who, although the prior had
sued him between 1494 and 1503 and won his
case with damages, had remained recalcitrant.
Bradenstoke Priory contributed 100s. to the aid
of the prelates in 1235-6 and in 1242-3 10 marks
in aid of the French war. (fn. 181) In 1256 a subsidy of
100s. was paid in fulfilment of a promise given to
the king when he crossed to Gascony in 1253. (fn. 182)
The priory contributed 100s. again in January
1271, toward a fine of £10 to which it agreed as
its share of the tax of one-twentieth on movables.
Later in 1271 the prior paid toward this fine
19s. 6d. to the collectors in London, 13s. 4d. to
those in Wiltshire, and 67s. 2d. to those in Dorset. (fn. 183) The contribution of the priory to the tenth
granted in 1273 for the expenses of Edward I's
crusade was assessed at 20 marks for its temporalities in the dioceses of Salisbury, Lincoln, Bath and
Wells, Worcester, and York. The money was
paid during 1274. (fn. 184) In 1283 the goods and chattels of Bradenstoke in Wiltshire, Gloucestershire,
Dorset, and Yorkshire were declared exempt from
assessment to the thirtieth granted to Edward I. (fn. 185)
The Prior of Bradenstoke was the collector of the
tenth in the archdeaconry of Wiltshire levied in
1298 for the Scottish war. (fn. 186) In 1312 the prior and
convent were appointed by the Bishop of Salisbury
to be receivers of 4d. in the mark from benefices
in the archdeaconry of Wiltshire, but the money
was not fully paid in until 1315. (fn. 187) The prior was
the collector for the diocese of Salisbury in 1348
of the biennial tenth granted by the clergy of the
southern province. (fn. 188) A loan of 100s, was granted
to the king by the priory in 1347 for the French
war. (fn. 189) In 1485 and in 1487 Bradenstoke was
exempted from contribution to a clerical tenth. (fn. 190)
In contributions to papal taxation the prior paid
16d. to William de Testa in 1309 as part of his
arrears of procuration for the third year, and in
1412 he was cited in a papal letter to the Bishop
of Salisbury as having paid nothing at all of his
assessment. (fn. 191)
Few events in the general history of Bradenstoke have left any record. The priory of Cartmel
(Lanes.), founded about 1190 by William Marshal, later Earl of Pembroke, was first colonized
by canons from Bradenstoke. It is significant that
Cartmel from its foundation was made independent of the mother house. (fn. 192) Pope Nicholas IV
relaxed in 1291 the penances for a year and 40
days of those who should visit the priory church
of Bradenstoke on the four feasts of the Virgin
and their octaves, and on the anniversary of the
church. (fn. 193) In 1371 a certain William Upton of
Lyneham was accused of stealing from Bradenstoke church a silver gilt cup with 100s. belonging
to the prior and convent. (fn. 194) In 1403 Boniface IX
granted an indulgence to penitents visiting the
church on certain days, and giving alms for its
repair or conservation. He also gave an indult to
the prior and the sacristan, and to four priests,
either regulars or seculars, deputed by them, to
hear confessions and give absolution except in cases
reserved to the Apostolic See. Even those who,
prevented by any lawful impediment, sent alms to
Bradenstoke were to enjoy this indulgence. (fn. 195) Pope
Innocent VII granted the prior in March 1405 an
indult to have a portable altar. (fn. 196) Thomas Calne,
a canon of the house, was given a papal dispensation in 1400 to hold a benefice, with or without
cure, and to exchange it as often as he wished. (fn. 197)
Other canons received similar grants, Thomas
Felawe in 1403, and William Clyff in 1484. (fn. 198)
Bradenstoke suffered much distress during 1352
by reason of the crimes of Prior Thomas Spicer
and also by his desertion of the priory. Edward
the Black Prince, then its patron, committed his
poor priory' at this crisis to Robert Russel, Robert
Eleford, described as 'the prince's yeoman'; and to
Nicholas Ercheband, one of the canons. Although
the prior had left England one of his friends continued to persecute the canons. The prince warned
this friend in December 1352 that unless he ceased
from his misdeeds such measures would be taken
as to make him repent from the bottom of his
heart. (fn. 199) In March 1353 the bishop got Thomas
Spicer, after much difficulty, to appear before him,
and to resign. (fn. 200) The sub-prior and Geoffrey Besiles,
one of the canons, were put in temporary charge
and in April 1354 the Black Prince informed
Bishop Wyville that Besiles had been elected
prior. (fn. 201) It was not a happy choice. In 1367
Geoffrey was deprived of his office because of his
frauds and malice. Bishop Wyville of Salisbury
described him in a letter to Bishop Wykeham of
Winchester as 'that irregular denigrated canon', (fn. 202)
a description partly inspired by the bishop's horror
at a quarrel between the prior and William Byde,
a clerk of the episcopal household at Salisbury. (fn. 203)
By 1377, however, Geoffrey Besiles had been
reinstated as prior and received the royal pardon
for his felonies at the instance of Henry de Percy,
the kinsman of Edward III. (fn. 204) Some of Geoffrey's
difficulties were financial. In 1365 he owed money
to Edmund Bannoc, a citizen of London, for
which debt £43 6s. 8d. had to be levied on the
Wiltshire property of Bradenstoke. (fn. 205)
An episcopal visitation of the priory was made
by Bishop Erghum in 1385. (fn. 206) Bishop John de
Waltham visited the deanery of Wylye in 1394 and
sequestrated the fruits of a portion in Fisherton
de la Mere pertaining to Bradenstoke because the
prior failed to appear at the visitation. (fn. 207) John
Pecham, Archbishop of Canterbury, stayed at
Bradenstoke Priory on 29 June 1285. (fn. 208) In 1400
Henry Chichele, then a prebendary of Salisbury
Cathedral, was staying at the priory where, he
says, he found in an old book written in 1335 a
chronological table showing the age of the world,
which he copied in full. (fn. 209)
There is little information extant about the
priors of Bradenstoke; even the precise periods of
their rule can only be dated in two cases. Two of
the early priors were appointed papal judges delegate, Prior Henry by Celestine III, and Prior
Simeon by Gregory IX. (fn. 210) In the chapter general
of the Austin Canons, held at Osney (Oxon.) in
1443, Prior John Chynnok was elected a visitor
for the dioceses of Salisbury, Winchester, and
Chichester, and was made responsible for the contributions from houses of the canons in the diocese
of Salisbury toward the founding of St. Mary's
College, Oxford, for scholars of the order. (fn. 211) Prior
Thomas Walshe was fined in 1518 by the chapter
general for not sending scholars to Oxford. (fn. 212) He
had also been fined £5 in 1509 for not appearing
at the chapter general held at Leicester. (fn. 213) His
interests were not wholly confined to the priory,
for he was probably the prior who was elected one
of the reeves of Wilton in 1482. (fn. 214) Also he held the
prebend of Usthwaite in York Minster between
1512 and 1524. (fn. 215)
The election of Prior John de Botewell in 1312
took place in the chapter house at Bradenstoke in
the face of much opposition. (fn. 216) Bishop Simon de
Ghent asked the opposers to appear before him
at Reading Abbey on 14 April 1312 to examine
their views before he confirmed the election. The
prior elect was then asked to Sonning, where the
bishop questioned him in secret as to his knowledge
of the rule of his order and as to his literary accomplishment. John proved satisfactory and his election was confirmed. (fn. 217) The election of William
Cherleton, the sub-prior, was held in the priory
chapter house on 19 February 1459. There were
twelve other canons present and the way of scrutiny was adopted for the election. (fn. 218)
Bradenstoke Priory on the eve of Dissolution was apparently a well-ordered house in its
spiritual and temporal life. One of the canons,
John Devynyshe, was nominated by the Bishop
of Salisbury in 1521 to be prior of the house of
Austin Canons at Poughley (Berks.), being 'grave,
learned, a fit person and of good fame'. (fn. 219) In August
1535 John, ap Rice, Cromwell's commissioner,
reported to his master that nothing could be found
'after diligent inquisition' against the prior, but
two or three of the convent (probably not the
canons, as he does not say so) were convicted of
incontinence. (fn. 220) There were then thirteen canons
in residence with the prior, Thomas Snowe. (fn. 221)
Dr. Legh, the other commissioner, forbade the
prior to go out at will. This restraint, and Legh's
pompous behaviour in general, annoyed ap Rice,
who complained to Cromwell that the prior of a
house like Bradenstoke, dependent upon its husbandry or sheep farming, must have more freedom
or the priory would fall into decay. In November
1536 the prior wrote to Cromwell to thank him
for his great goodness in the preservation of the
priory, adding that the convent and people of
the neighbourhood were praying for him. With the
letter the prior sent the yearly fee, which had been
20s. in 1532, and a 'poor present'. (fn. 222) Bradenstoke
Priory was dissolved on 17 January 1539. (fn. 223) Its net
income from all sources was £212 0s. 3d. in
1535, (fn. 224) The Prior William Snowe received in
1539 a life pension of £60 a year, and William
Penne, the sub-prior, one of £8. Canons Thomas
Mason, Ralph Hyll, Edward Bruer, and Richard
Tomson had each a pension of £5 6s. 8d.; George
Notyngham had one of £5, Thomas Messenger,
James Wykham, and Richard Ware had each
£4 13s. 4d.; and John Playsterer, Thomas Baker,
and John Hancocks had each 40s. (fn. 225) One canon,
James Cole, became incumbent of Lyneham
church at a yearly stipend of £6 13s. 4d., with the
small tithes. (fn. 226) William Snowe was appointed the
first dean of the new cathedral of Bristol in 1542
and the Crown gave the priory's late possessions
in Marden to the dean and chapter. (fn. 227) The site of
the priory and the house called 'le Pryors Lodging'
with all the buildings and gardens upon the site
and with messuages and lands in Clack, closes and
100 acres of woods in Lyneham parish had been
leased to Sir Henry Long but were granted in
fee, in October 1546, to Richard Pexsall, king's
servant. (fn. 228)
The prior's lodging stood between the guest
hall on the western side of the cloister and the
church, which was on the south side. It had been
rebuilt by Prior Thomas Walshe about 1490, and
was pulled down in the early 19th century. (fn. 229) But
the worst desecration occurred in 1930 when the
fine western range of the cloister, including the
guest house and the prior's lodging, was wholly
removed along with the great tithe barn, to St.
Donat's castle in Glamorgan. (fn. 230) The present state
of the site is most deplorable and there remain
above ground, in increasing decay, only two 14thcentury undercrofts and a tower. John Aubrey
described the priory as Very well built, with good
strong ribs', and having a cellar 'the stateliest in
Wiltshire'. But he added 'the very fundations of
this fair church are now, 1666, digged up'. (fn. 231)
Priors of Bradenstoke
William, occurs 1182. (fn. 232)
Matthew, papal confirmation of election,
1184. (fn. 233)
Henry, occurs temp. Popes Celestine III and
Innocent III. (fn. 234)
William, occurs from 1203 to 1205. (fn. 235)
Priory probably void in 1208 when it was committed to the keeping of the Earl of Salisbury. (fn. 236)
Simeon, or Simon, occurs from 1215 to 1241, (fn. 237)
William, occurs from 1243 to 1260. (fn. 238)
Geoffrey, occurs from 1261 to 1285. (fn. 239)
William, occurs 1287. (fn. 240)
Hugh, 9th prior, occurs from 1295 to 1307. (fn. 241)
John de Botewell, 10th prior, elected 1312. (fn. 242)
Richard le Best, occurs 1327. (fn. 243)
Richard, occurs from 1345 to 1346. (fn. 244)
Voidance 1 July 1349 to 16 Aug. 1350. (fn. 245)
Thomas Spicer, resigned 1353. (fn. 246)
Geoffrey de Besiles, elected 1354, deprived
1367. (fn. 247)
Richard, occurs from 1370 to 1372. (fn. 248)
Geoffrey de Besiles, reinstated 1377. (fn. 249)
Richard, occurs from 1380 to 1397. (fn. 250)
Thomas, occurs from c. 1400 to 1405. (fn. 251)
Robert Hatte, occurs from 1408 to 1413. (fn. 252)
John Chynnok, elected 1422, died 1459. (fn. 253)
Simon Wotton, occurs 1480. (fn. 254)
Thomas Walshe, occurs from 1483 to 1524. (fn. 255)
William Snowe, elected 1526, resigned 1539. (fn. 256)
A fine conventual seal survives on a 13thcentury deed of the time of Prior Geoffrey. It is
a pointed oval, 3 1 / 16; by 1 15 / 16; in., and shows the Virgin
holding the Child and seated on a long bench
under an elaborately pinnacled canopy, under
which are the new moon and a star. On either
side of the bench, outside the canopy shafts, stands
a censing angel. There is a head in an architectural
panel at the foot. The legend is:
SIGILL' : ECCL'IE : BEAT . . . E : BRADENESTOKA
The prior's seal was used as a counterpart to
this one. It is also a pointed oval, and measures
1 7 / 16; by 15 / 16; in. Under a trefoiled canopy there is the
half-length figure of the Virgin and Child. She
stands upon a trefoiled arch, under which is the
prior kneeling in prayer. The legend runs:
S' PRIORIS DE BRADENESTOK' (fn. 257)