HOUSE OF AUSTIN CANONS
10. THE PRIORY OF BAXTERWOOD
Towards the end of the twelfth century,
certainly after 1180, (fn. 1) Henry Pudsey, a son of
Bishop Pudsey, (fn. 2) having become possessed of the
vills of Wingate (fn. 3) and Haswell (fn. 4) (Essewell), near
Durham, founded a monastery at the latter place,
and conferred both vills upon certain religious
persons, probably canons of Gisburn, (fn. 5) for its
maintenance.
The newly founded monastery was called
'The Church of St. Mary of Haswell,' (fn. 6) but it
is doubtful whether the building of any church
or religious house was actually begun at Haswell, (fn. 7)
as almost immediately afterwards the same, together with other and more extensive possessions, (fn. 8)
were conferred by Pudsey and others upon a
newly founded monastery situated at Baxterwood,
on the River Browney, about a mile from Durham. (fn. 9) This site was probably chosen in preference
to Haswell on account of its greater natural
beauty. (fn. 10)
This second establishment, which was called
'The New Place upon the Browney,' (fn. 11) was also
dedicated to the honour of the Blessed Virgin.
It was to be occupied by a body of canons of
Gisburn, (fn. 12) sent thither from the mother-church
under the superintendence of Stephen, one of its
dignitaries. (fn. 13)
The building of the New Place does not seem
to have advanced far, as no trace can now be
discovered of wall or foundation. (fn. 14) The exact
site can however be ascertained by reference to
Bishop Pudsey's charter of confirmation. (fn. 15)
Baxterwood being so close to Durham, and
the canons being of a different order from the
monks of the priory, it was not to be expected
that peace should long prevail. The Durham
monks harassed the settlers in various ways, (fn. 16) till
at last, as Geoffrey of Coldingham tells us, they
drove Henry Pudsey to apologize for his presumption, and to make an entirely fresh arrangement. (fn. 17)
He agreed to abandon the canons, to endow the
church of Finchale with the lands previously
granted to the monastery at Baxterwood, and to
place there a certain number of Durham monks,
under the immediate authority and control of
Durham priory.
Lands in another part of the county were
granted to the church of Gisburn, (fn. 18) and at first
Stephen, the superior of the New Place, seemed
satisfied. (fn. 19) Subsequently, however, he became
restive; the pope was appealed to, and measures
were taken to force Stephen to keep his promise
of resigning the foundation charters of Baxterwood. (fn. 20) His opposition was crushed, and the
revenues of the New Place were transferred to
Finchale. (fn. 21)
The canons had a common seal, of simple but
beautiful design. The Blessed Virgin was represented seated on a curious chair or settle of very
light construction, holding on her left arm the
Infant Saviour, whose form was partially covered
by the folds of her robe. The seal was of the usual
vesica shape, and the inscription ran—
✠ Sigill . Ecclie . Sce . Marie . De . Novo
Loco . Super . Brun. (fn. 22)