4. THE PRIORY OF STANLEY ST. LEONARD
In or about 1131 Roger of Berkeley II
founded on his manor of Stanley a small house
of canons which was dedicated to St. Leonard. (fn. 1)
Nothing is known of the foundation except that
it was a college of secular canons. In 1146,
with the consent of the prior and canons, Roger
of Berkeley III gave the church of Stanley
St. Leonard to the Benedictine abbey of
St. Peter at Gloucester, (fn. 2) and it became a cell to
that house. The endowment of the priory
consisted of the churches of Ozleworth, Coaley,
Arlingham, Slimbridge and Uley, (fn. 3) and in 1156
he added the church of Cam, (fn. 4) the church of
Easton Grey, (fn. 5) a mill and messuage in Coaley, (fn. 6)
and Fyfacre Wood. (fn. 7) In 1224 a dispute arose
between Thomas of Berkeley, and Thomas,
abbot of Gloucester, about the church of Slimbridge. The abbot renounced his rights in
exchange for a grant of the hospital of Lorwing
with its lands and appurtenances. (fn. 8)
There is no evidence as to the number of
monks who were usually at the priory, but
probably it did not exceed three or four. Monks
usually disliked being sent to a cell. After his
visitation of Gloucester in 1301, Winchelsey,
archbishop of Canterbury, decreed that the
brethren should be sent to dwell for a time at
any of the cells, and also recalled, by a council
consisting of the abbot, prior, sub-prior, third
prior, precentor and five of the older monks
who held no office. (fn. 9) Their stay should not exceed a year, and until they had spent a year in
the monastery after their return, they could not
again be sent to a cell unless they were contentious or out of health. The priors of the cells
were bound to provide all things for the monks
except clothes and boots. Like the other cells of
Gloucester, Stanley St. Leonard was at no time
wealthy, and in 1317, on account of a general
complaint of poverty from the priors, Abbot
Thoky decreed that they should receive a mark
a year from the mother house for each of their
brethren. (fn. 10) The prior was doubtless appointed
by the abbot and convent. He was summoned
to be present at the election of an abbot, (fn. 11) and in
1510 (fn. 12) and 1514 (fn. 13) the two monks who were
with him at the cell, also recorded their votes.
The house was subject to the visitation of the
bishop of Worcester. (fn. 14)
In 1361, at the urgent petition of the abbot
and convent of Gloucester, Reginald Brian,
bishop of Worcester, appropriated the church of
Cam to their use. (fn. 15) According to an ordinance
of Abbot Horton, the custody of the church was
left to the prior of Stanley St. Leonard, but he
was bound to pay over a fixed sum out of the
issues to the obedientiars of Gloucester for the
provision of cakes, wines and a pittance of fruit
on the abbot's anniversary. (fn. 16)
In 1535 the clear yearly value of the cell was
£106 17s. (fn. 17) Its possessions included rents in the
vill of Stanley St. Leonard, in Slimbridge,
Stinchcombe, Easton Grey and elsewhere, the
manor of Lorwing, the rectories of Cam,
Arlingham, Coaley, Stanley St. Leonard and
other tithes and pensions. (fn. 18) At that time there
were only three monks at the priory. (fn. 19) As the
revenues were under £200 a year the priory was
visited by the commissioners who were appointed
under the Act of 1536 for the suppression of
the lesser monasteries. The prior showed that
his house was appropriated to St. Peter's,
Gloucester. The commissioners gave him an
injunction to appear before the chancellor and
council of the Court of Augmentations on
16 June, 1536, upon pain of a fine of 500
marks. (fn. 20) On 11 June, 1538, Henry VIII sent
an imperative request to the abbot and convent
of Gloucester to recall the monks from Stanley
St. Leonard and grant a lease of the priory to
Sir William Kingston. (fn. 21) They had no choice,
and on 18 July the lease was drawn up at a rent
of £36 13s. 4d., and a payment of king's tenths
of £8 2s. 4d. (fn. 22) On the surrender of the
monastery of Gloucester on 2 January, 1540,
the rent passed to the crown. (fn. 23)
Priors of Stanley St. Leonard
Tabrith, occurs 1146 (fn. 24)
Thomas of Tyringham, occurs 1284 (fn. 25)
John Crosse, occurs 1449 (fn. 26)
Peter, occurs circa 1494 (fn. 27)
William Monynton, occurs 1510 (fn. 28)
Richard Wolryge, occurs 1514 (fn. 29)
John Rodley, 1535 (fn. 30) and 1538 (fn. 31)