115. THE PRIORY OF HAUGHAM
The priory of Haugham was built upon land
granted by Hugh, earl of Chester, towards the
end of the eleventh century, to the Benedictine
abbot and convent of St. Severus in the diocese
of Coutances. (fn. 1) It is probable that it was only
intended for the support of one or two monks to
manage the temporalities and sing masses for the
soul of the founder. Priors were, however, regularly appointed and admitted by the bishops of
Lincoln until 1329, when the wars with France
created the same difficulties here as in other
small cells of aliens.
In 1337 the prior, on the plea of poverty,
obtained the restitution of his possessions, which
had been seized by the king's officers; and then,
finding it hard to support himself, let the priory to
one John of St. Paul to farm for seven years.
In 1342 John complained that though he paid
the sum agreed upon for the prior's maintenance,
he had been forcibly ejected; and yet he was
now expected to pay the issues and profits of the
house to the king, as its nominal occupant. The
demand upon John was withdrawn; (fn. 2) but the
king let the priory out again to the bishop of
Carlisle to farm. In 1346 he in his turn complained of trespasses committed upon the lands
entrusted to him, and assaults upon the servants
he had placed there. (fn. 3) It is not strange to find
that in 1385 it was alleged that much of the
property of the house had been wasted by the
rule of the various farmers. (fn. 4) It was still let out
in 1403; (fn. 5) there seems to have been no prior
since 1346. In 1397 it was granted to the
Carthusian priory of St. Anne, Coventry. (fn. 6)
The value of the revenue in 1380 was returned as £19 0s. 5d., including the church of
Haugham; (fn. 7) in 1387 as £27 11s. 4d., when the
waste of past years was computed at £73 6s. 8d. (fn. 8)
Priors of Haugham
Nicholas, (fn. 9) resigned 1227
John, (fn. 10) appointed 1229
Adam, (fn. 11) appointed 1229
William de Beaulieu, (fn. 12) appointed 1276
William Lovel, (fn. 13) died 1299
William le Vavassour, (fn. 14) appointed 1299
John Baunevilla, (fn. 15) presented 1319, recalled
1319
Henry de Landulo, (fn. 16) presented 1319
Nicholas de Hamaro, (fn. 17) presented 1329