14. THE PRIORY OF ST. MARY, POULTON (fn. 1)
Sir Thomas Seymour, lord of the manor of
Poulton, founded and endowed a chantry in the
parish church in 1337, and in 1348 he built the
future priory church as a chapel for five chaplains. (fn. 2)
In 1350, under an agreement between Seymour
and the king, the manor and advowson of Poulton
(except a messuage and 10 acres of land) were
granted to the Prior and Canons of Sempringham
to found a priory of St. Mary, and licence was
given to appropriate Poulton church; a charter
of liberties, privileges, and protection followed in
1354. (fn. 3) It is clear that the priory, which was for
canons only, was founded in substitution for the
college of chaplains originally proposed; and in
1361 the prior and convent were confirmed in
possession of the chantry of 1337. (fn. 4) The appropriation was authorized by the Bishop of Salisbury in
1355, (fn. 5) and a canon was presented in 1366. (fn. 6)
Alice Seymour had licence in 1389 to move the
bones of her progenitors and predecessors from the
parish church to the priory church. (fn. 7) For the next
130 years there seems to be no record of the priory,
except that in 1397 John, the prior, was summoned
to Convocation. (fn. 8) Another prior, John Orrey, obtained in 1522 confirmation of the charter of
1354. (fn. 9)
The official return of 1535 gave the gross
income as £21 15s. 2d. and the 'allocations' as
£1 11s. 4d. (fn. 10) The prior, Thomas Lynwood, met
the county commissioners on 28 June 1536, and
was told to appear at the Court of Augmentations
on 6 July. (fn. 11) Whatever course the second interview
may have taken, Poulton was reprieved, with the
other Gilbertine houses; but next year it was said
by a neighbour that 'they think not to continue'. (fn. 12)
On 16 January 1539 the Bishop of Llandaff,
'perpetual commendatory of the office of master
or prior general' of the Order of Sempringham,
and Thomas, Prior of Poulton, surrendered the
house; two canons added their signatures in the
margin. (fn. 13) The prior obtained a pension of £5, one
canon a pension of £2, and the other the cure of
Poulton with £5 6s. 8d. a year (or a pension
of £2 if he waxed unable or were removed). (fn. 14)
The prior took £2 18s. 9d. for expenses between
Michaelmas 1538 and the surrender. (fn. 15)
The priory church was used as the parish church
of Poulton from the Dissolution until its demolition in 1873. (fn. 16) The site of the house, the manor,
the demesne, and the rectory, with six named fields
and 'the Park', were let to Richard Tomyow, and
granted in 1544 to Thomas Strowde and two
others. (fn. 17)
It may be noted that a canon of Poulton was
ordained deacon in 1418, and priest, as a canon of
the sister Gilbertine house of Marlborough, in
1419. (fn. 18)
Priors of Poulton
John, occurs 1397. (fn. 19)
Thomas Evesham, occurs 1434. (fn. 20)
Robert, occurs before 1522. (fn. 21)
John Orrey, occurs 1522. (fn. 22)
Thomas Lynwood, occurs 1536-9. (fn. 23)
The seal now attached to the instrument of
surrender seems to be a signet used either by the
Bishop of Llandaff or by the prior; it measures
5/8 by 3/8 in (fn. 24) But the Devizes Museum holds a cast,
described as that of the seal used at the surrender:
it shows a figure in a niche, over a shield of arms
resembling that of the Howards.