10. KIRBY BELLAIRS (fn. 1)
The first step towards the foundation of Kirby
Bellairs Priory was taken in 1316, when Sir
Roger Beler (fn. 2) granted 4 messuages, 4 virgates,
and certain revenues, all at Kirby Bellairs, to a
chaplain, who. was with a second chaplain provided by himself to celebrate daily in the chapel of
St. Peter at Kirby, for the souls of Roger Beler,
his wife Alice, and others. (fn. 3) This modest chantry
was soon enlarged. In 1318 or 1319 Roger
granted to the chantry the manor of Buckminster, the advowson of Kirby Bellairs, (fn. 4) and
other property, (fn. 5) In 1319 the chaplains were
granted exemption from aids, tallages, and other
royal levies. (fn. 6) The chantry also acquired twothirds of the advowson of Clipston (Northants.) (fn. 7)
and the advowson of Stapleford (Leics.), with
licence to appropriate Stapleford church. (fn. 8) As
established in 1319 the chantry, with these
additional endowments, was to consist of a
warden and twelve chaplains. (fn. 9) Thirteen separate
freehold benefices were created for the warden
and chaplains, and the patronage of the benefices
was divided between several, patrons, of whom
the Dean and Chapter of Lincoln were the most
important. (fn. 10) Careful regulations were made for
the common life of the warden and chaplains, (fn. 11)
and for the celebration of the divine offices. (fn. 12)
After Roger Beler's murder, in 1326, (fn. 13) difficulties
arose through the continual changes which took
place amongst the chaplains disturbing the orderly
celebration of services, and in 1359 the college of
secular clergy was transformed into an Augustinian
priory, with a prior and twelve canons. (fn. 14) The
regular canons would, of course, be unable to
leave their house in the way that the secular
canons had been able to do. Roger Beler's heirs
were the patrons of the priory. (fn. 15)
The priory was granted licence, in 1363, to
transfer its share of the advowson of Clipston to
the Hospitallers, and at the same time the priory
was authorized to appropriate the church of
Buckminster, which was acquired from the
Hospitallers in exchange for Clipston. (fn. 16) The
appropriation was duly carried out. (fn. 17) In 1392
royal licences were obtained for the alienation to
Kirby Bellairs of the advowson of Garthorp, with
some other property, (fn. 18) and in 1412 licence was
similarly granted for the priory to acquire the
advowson of Twyford, and to appropriate the
church. (fn. 19) The rectories of both Twyford and
Garthorp were subsequently appropriated. (fn. 20)
When visited by Bishop Alnwick in 1440, the
priory was found to be in a satisfactory state; the
bishop only found it necessary to correct minor
faults in the canons' dress and in their celebration
of the divine offices. There was then the full
number of thirteen canons, including the prior,
in the house. (fn. 21) In 1511 the prior and convent
were authorized to declare indulgences and
collect gifts, as their monastery was in great decay
and its buildings had been destroyed by fire. (fn. 22)
When the priory was visited by the bishop's
commissary in 1518 the buildings still needed
repair. At the same time the sub-prior was found
to be possessed of private property, two of the
canons were suspected of immorality, and there
were complaints about the food provided for the
canons. (fn. 23) At another visitation, ten years later, it
was disclosed that the canons were in the habit
of going out of the priory singly to take exercise. (fn. 24)
In 1536, however, it was reported that the prior
and the eight (fn. 25) canons of the house were all of
good conversation, though two wished to return
to secular life, and that the priory buildings were
in good repair. (fn. 26) As the clear yearly revenue was
assessed at little more than £140 in 1535, (fn. 27) the
priory was dissolved, with the other small
monasteries, in 1536; the prior obtained a pension of £17. (fn. 28) One of the canons of Kirby Bellairs
went to Launde, (fn. 29) which as one of the larger
religious houses continued to exist for some time.
The First Minister's Account shows a total net
revenue of £50. 3s. 11½d. (fn. 30)
Wardens of The College
William Spigurnel, first warden, (fn. 31) occurs
1319. (fn. 32)
John Cosyn. (fn. 33)
John of Kirby, died 1338. (fn. 34)
Edmund of Coston, presented 1338, (fn. 35) died
1359. (fn. 36)
Roger Wiseman, presented and removed,
1359. (fn. 37)
Priors of Kirby Bellairs
Roger of Cotes, appointed 1359. (fn. 38)
Alexander Thurgarton, occurs 1416, died
1418 or 1419. (fn. 39)
Henry Dalby, elected 1419, (fn. 40) occurs to 1444. (fn. 41)
William Leicester, resigned 1461. (fn. 42)
William Burton, elected 1461, (fn. 43) died 1480. (fn. 44)
William Kirby, elected 1480, (fn. 45) died 1488. (fn. 46)
Richard Sewstern, elected 1488, (fn. 47) died
1526. (fn. 48)
Thomas Kirby, elected 1526. (fn. 49)
William Kyrkeby, last prior, occurs 1534 and
1535. (fn. 50)
Two seals of the priory, both of them vesicas
of the 14th century, are known. One (fn. 51) shows
St. Peter, the patron saint of the house, wearing
a mitre and seated on a canopied throne. The
saint's right hand is raised in blessing, while in his
left he holds the keys. In the lower part of the
seal is a shield bearing the arms of Sir Roger
Beler, the founder. The seal measures 2½ by
1½ in. The legend reads:
S' ECCLESIE BEATI P . . . KIRKEBI SUPER WRETHEK
The other seal (fn. 52) shows a standing figure holding
a staff and book, with the legend:
SIGILLUM PRIORIS DE KIRKEBI
The seal measures 1⅜ by 1 in.