28. THE PRIORY OF WOODBRIDGE
The small priory of Austin canons at Woodbridge, in honour of the Blessed Virgin, was
founded about the year 1193, by Ernald Rufus.
It was endowed at the outset with lands at
Woodbridge and in the neighbourhood, and with
the advowson of Woodbridge church, and to
these were soon added the advowsons of
Brandeston and St. Gregory, Ipswich. (fn. 1)
There were no appropriations to this priory at
the time when the taxation roll of 1291 was
drawn up, but the temporalities brought in an
income of £23 11s. 8½d. This amount was
chiefly derived from lands and rents in Woodbridge parish, namely, £12 10s. 10d., and the
next largest item was £6 13s. 4d. from lands at
Layer de la Hay, Essex. (fn. 2)
The Valor of 1535 showed a considerable
increase. The prior and canons at that time
held the rectory of Woodbridge (£8), whilst
a portion of Brandeston Rectory produced
£2 13s. 4d. The temporalities came chiefly
from Woodbridge, Alnesbourn, Lyndeley, and
Aspall. The total clear annual value of the
priory was £50 3s. 5½d. (fn. 3)
The alliance of the small priory of Alnesbourn with that of Woodbridge, in 1466, has
been previously described.
Licence was granted by Edward II, in 1318,
to the prior and convent of Woodbridge to
acquire in mortmain lands and rents to the value
of 100s. a year. (fn. 4) But there was no ready
response of benefactors to avail themselves of
this licence. It is not until the year 1344 that
we find a gift made under shelter of the licence
of 1318, and then it was only land and rent,
the gift of John de Brewon, clerk, to the value
of two out of the hundred shillings that were
sanctioned. (fn. 5)
Bishop Nykke personally visited Woodbridge
priory on 2 August, 1514. The prior and one
of the canons stated that all was well, but two
other canons said that the prior was remiss in
the collecting of rents to the detriment of the
house. It was also reported that the manor
house of Alnesbourn was in complete ruin, but
not through the fault of the then prior. The
bishop enjoined on the prior to be more particular and diligent in collecting rents due to the
priory. (fn. 6)
At the visitation of the same bishop in 1532,
William Lucham, sub-prior, deposed that the
prior was remiss and a poor administrator; that
the priory gates were not shut at proper times;
that the house was in debt £10; and that they
had neither corn nor barley in store for the next
autumn. Canon Goodall stated that the south
porch of the conventual church was in ruins on
account of defects in the timber, and that the
house was overburdened with the pension to
ex-prior Coke. Canon Penderley, the curate of
Woodbridge, said that there was not sufficient
income to discharge the burdens and to do the
repairs of the priory. Canon Pope considered
that the prior had incurred too great expense in
making a water-mill. Canon Daneby said that
the priory suffered from penury and want, and
that both house and mill were in bad repair, but
that otherwise all was well, and in this Canon
Houghton agreed. The bishop admonished the
prior to use all diligence in repairing the defects
and dilapidations of the priory. (fn. 7)
Henry Bassingborne, the prior, and six
canons signed their acknowledgement of the royal
supremacy on 21 August, 1534. (fn. 8)
The house was suppressed in February,
1536-7, and a pension was assigned to Prior
Henry. (fn. 9) The rest of the canons went out
unpensioned.
The site of the priory and its possessions
were granted to Sir John Wingfield and Dorothy
his wife.
Priors of Woodbridge
Ambrose, (fn. 10) occurs 1267
Thomas, (fn. 11) occurs 1286
Henry de Ocklee (Eccles), (fn. 12) 1305
John de Athelyngstone, (fn. 13) 1326
John Brundish, 1342
William Bast, 1345
John de Hadeley, (fn. 14) 1349
William Halton, 1349
Henry de Brom, (fn. 15) 1371
Thomas de Croston, (fn. 16) 1372, died 1394
William de Melton, (fn. 17) 1394
Thomas Parham, (fn. 18) 1432
Nicholas Foster, (fn. 19) occurs 1447-52
Thomas Pakkard, (fn. 20) 1467
John Hough alias Hadley, (fn. 21) 1493
Augustus Rivers, (fn. 22) 1507
Richard Bool, 1509
Thomas Cooke, (fn. 23) 1516
Henry Bassingborne, (fn. 24) 1530
The first seal of the priory, early fourteenth
century, bears the crowned Virgin seated on a
throne with a footboard, the Holy Child on the
left knee, and a sceptre in the right hand.
Legend:—
. . OMUNE: CAPITULI: ECC'E: DE:
WODEBRE. . . . (fn. 25)
The later seal, fifteenth century, represents
the Annunciation under a canopied niche. The
Blessed Virgin and the Archangel Gabriel have
a pot of lilies between them; a scroll from the
latter bears 'Ave gracia ple.' In the base is a
Latin cross on a shield. Legend:—
+ SIGILLU: COE: CAP'LI: BTE:
MARIE: DE: WODEBREGGE (fn. 26)