16. THE PRIORY (fn. 1) OF BICKNACRE (fn. 2) OR WOODHAM FERRERS
It appears from an early charter of Henry II
that here was originally a hermitage, occupied
by one Jordan before Hugh, monk of Westminster, became abbot of St. Edmunds (1157).
About the end of 1175 it was converted into a
priory by Maurice FitzGeoffrey of Tiltey. He
had been sheriff of Essex, and in the Pipe Rolls
of 10 and 11 Henry II is mentioned as owing
£280 6s. 7d. to the king, which entry is repeated each year from the twelfth to the twentyfirst, with the addition that he had undertaken
to make an abbey. The Pipe Roll of 22 Henry
II records that he has paid £5 5s. 10d. into the
treasury and has been pardoned the remaining
£275 0s. 9d. for the church of the canons or
Woodham, which henceforth is a royal foundation. The name Bicknacre does not occur till
about the beginning of the next century. The
priory was dedicated to St. Mary and St. John
the Baptist.
Henry II confirmed the possessions of the
canons, and Richard I also granted a charter to
them. Henry III on 22 March, 1255, granted (fn. 3)
to them licence to hunt the hare, fox and cat
in the forest and free warren in their demesne
lands in it. All these charters were confirmed
by Henry VI in 1449. (fn. 4)
The church of Woodham Ferrers was granted
to them by the earl of Derby, though they
do not appear ever to have presented to it.
They also had half of the church of Steeple, and
shared the presentation to the vicarage with
Stanesgate Priory. Bicknacre is not mentioned
in the Taxation of 1291. Its possessions were
not extensive, and it was often in difficulties, in
1311 (fn. 5) and 1313 (fn. 6) being sequestrated on account
of its indebtedness. The canons had licence to
enclose 60 acres in the forest in Woodham Ferrers and Danbury in 1285. (fn. 7) Some of the lands
belonging to them were taken into the king's
hands in 1320 and 1321 as having been alienated without licence, but were restored, (fn. 8) as they
were not held of him, on petition being made in
Parliament. (fn. 9) In 1368 the pope granted certain
indulgences to penitents visiting the church at
certain times. (fn. 10)
In 1337 Richard de Badewe had licence to
grant land in Woodham Ferrers to the prior and
convent to find a canon as chaplain to celebrate
divine service daily in the chapel of St. Mary in
the priory for the souls of his father and mother,
ancestors, and heirs. (fn. 11) Apparently, however, this
was not exactly carried out at once, for an indenture (fn. 12) made in 1352 recites that they held land
called 'Lache Leghes' in Woodham Ferrers at
farm of him for the maintenance of a secular
chaplain in the chapel of Holy Trinity in the
parish church of Great Baddow; but as they
found themselves on many accounts oppressed by
the tenancy they surrendered all to him saving a
rent of 42s. for the maintenance of a canon
as chaplain in the chapel of St. Mary in the
priory.
In 1286 the prior and convent undertook (fn. 13) to
grant to John son of Hugh de Swanesheth
victuals for life in their house befitting a clerk in
food, clothing, and shoe-leather and 10d. a week
for his commons when he should go to the University, and necessaries as before when he returned. He was to serve them faithfully as long
as he remained in secular habit, or until he took
the habit of religion.
In the fifteenth century the house appears to
have gradually fallen into decay. The last five
priors were appointed by the bishop; in three
cases, and probably in all, because the numbers
were insufficient for election. The end came
early in the next century. On 10 February,
1507, it was found by inquisition (fn. 14) that Edmund
Godyng, late prior, died on 20 January seised of
the priory, monastery, house and church of
Bicknacre, the manor of Bicknacre, and thirty
messuages, 300 acres of land, 40 acres of
meadow, 60 acres of wood, 500 acres of pasture, 62 acres of marsh and £5 rent in
Woodham Ferrers, Danbury, Norton, Steeple,
Chelmsford, Mayland, Stowe, East Hanningfield,
Hanningfield, Purleigh, Burnham and Downham, held of the king in chief in frankalmoin, and
worth in all £40 10s. 0d. yearly; and that there
were at the time no canons in the monastery, so
that it was dissolved and terminated. The priory
accordingly reverted to the king, who granted (fn. 15) it
with all its possessions for the sum of £400 to
the prior and convent of the hospital of St. Mary
without Bishopsgate, London, to hold from
20 January. It was united (fn. 16) to the hospital
by the bishop on 9 November, 1509. The
prior and convent of the hospital were to maintain a chaplain resident at Bicknacre, where
he was daily to offer up prayers for the souls of
Henry VII and Henry II and Maurice de Tiltey
and other benefactors, and for the good estate of
Henry VIII; and on 26 and 27 October in
each year certain masses were to be said for the
above both in the hospital and in the priory,
and twenty pence distributed among the poor
at each place.
After the suppression of the hospital the priory
and all its possessions, including the advowsons of
the churches of Woodham Ferrers and Steeple,
were granted (fn. 17) in fee on 23 February, 1540, to
Henry Polsted, of London, and Alice his wife
for £540 at a rent of £3 yearly.
Bicknacre was one of the four Essex houses
which regularly sought licence for election from
the king; and the elections of the priors are
consequently recorded on the Patent Rolls. The
following list is almost, if not quite, complete:—
Priors of Bicknacre
Thomas. (fn. 18)
Robert. (fn. 19)
Ralph, (fn. 20) died 1237. (fn. 21)
Andrew, elected 1237, (fn. 22) resigned 1255. (fn. 23)
Ralph, elected 1255, (fn. 24) resigned 1268. (fn. 25)
John de Sancto Edmundo, elected 1268, (fn. 26)
resigned 1272. (fn. 27)
Ralph de Dunham, elected 1272, (fn. 28) died
1273. (fn. 29)
William de Wilburgham, elected 1273, (fn. 30)
died 1281. (fn. 31)
Alan de Bercking, elected 1282, (fn. 32) died
1288. (fn. 33)
Benedict de Roffen', elected 1288, (fn. 34) died
1300. (fn. 35)
Robert de Blakenham, elected 1300, (fn. 36) resigned 1315. (fn. 37)
Robert de Ramesdene or Burre, (fn. 38) elected
1315, (fn. 39) resigned 1321. (fn. 40)
Matthew de Graftone or Langeton,
elected 1321, (fn. 41) died 1324. (fn. 42)
Reginald de Theyden, collated 1325, (fn. 43) resigned 1341. (fn. 44)
Ralph de Chishull, elected 1341, (fn. 45) died
1361. (fn. 46)
William de Purle, elected 2361, (fn. 47) died
1375. (fn. 48)
John de Thaxstede, elected 1375, (fn. 49) died
1386. (fn. 50)
John Gosfeld, elected 2386, (fn. 51) died 1396. (fn. 52)
William Wynchestre, elected 1396, (fn. 53) died
1418. (fn. 54)
John Horewode, elected 1418, (fn. 55) resigned
1421. (fn. 56)
John Ocle, elected 1421, (fn. 57) died 1436. (fn. 58)
John Colman, elected 1436, (fn. 59) occurs 1449. (fn. 60)
John Cradock, resigned 1479. (fn. 61)
William Chevyngton, collated 1479, (fn. 62) resigned 1490. (fn. 63)
Richard Petyrton, collated 1490, (fn. 64) resigned
1499. (fn. 65)
William Bowland, collated 1499, (fn. 66) died
1504. (fn. 67)
Thomas Wellys, collated 1504, (fn. 68) resigned
1505. (fn. 69)
Edmund Godyng, collated 1505, (fn. 70) died
1507, (fn. 71) the last prior.