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December 20, 2023Burials at Llanthony Secunda Priory by Dr Chris Barnes
February 29, 2024Llanthony Priory’s Deed of Surrender by Dr Chris Barnes
Surrendered Ink:
Llanthony Priory's Deed of Surrender (Signed 10 March 1538). Ref: The National Archives, Kew, ref. E322-121
The signatures of Llanthony’s final canons were as follows:
Richard [Hart], prior
Humfrey Jheram, subprior
Thomas Hale, senior of the house
John Newland, sacristan
William Crettynge
John Hone
John Kellam, kitchener
George Dene
William Worcester
Richard Wesbury
William Henlow, chaplain
John Ambrose
Roger Brockworth, priest
Owen Lenton
Maurice Barckley, deacon
William Presbery, deacon
Edmund Burforde
William Gloucester
William Gregory, subdeacon
Matthew Eden
David [Kemp alias Mathew], prior of the cell in Wales
William Alvington
Gerald Aylbaurton
William Barytun
John Hempstede
An informed interpretation of Llanthony Secunda Priory c.1530
The Dissolution of the Monasteries
The Dissolution of the Monasteries refers to a series of events initiated by King Henry VIII in the 16th century. Starting in 1536, through the influence of Henry’s Chief Minister, Thomas Cromwell, monastic institutions throughout England, Wales, and Ireland were disbanded, and their wealth taken for the Crown. The whole process took until 1541.
The motivations behind the dissolution of the monasteries were both political and economic. After splitting from the Catholic Church and declaring himself the Supreme Head of the Church of England in 1534, Henry VIII wished to consolidate his power and further break away from the authority of the Pope in Rome. By dissolving the monasteries, he could further weaken the influence of the Catholic Church in England through getting rid of the very large reminder of the power of the Catholic Church. It is also true that Henry’s lavish lifestyle and his costly wars had left the country strapped for cash. When monasteries were the wealthiest institutions in the country, owning over a quarter of all cultivated land within England, Henry grabbed the opportunity to acquire all their wealth and property whilst removing their Papist influence.
The process involved the appointment of commissioners to assess the value of monastic properties, followed by the suppression of religious houses and the redistribution of their assets to the Crown. Llanthony Priory was quick to surrender its possessions, surrendering seven days before the King’s commissioners had even asked for it!
The dissolution had profound consequences, leading to the destruction of many monastic buildings, the dispersal of religious communities, and the redistribution of land and wealth. In 1540, Llanthony Secunda Priory’s site was sold to Arthur Porter, a local gentleman who was previously under-steward to the priory. The church and inner precinct would become his private mansion house, whilst the rest of the site was split up and leased out.
An engraving of the West Gatehouse by John Coney (1823) and a coloured print of the same by Samuel Ireland (1824).
The Canon’s Fortunes…
Despite the closure of the priory, life continued for the canons once resident here. Forced out of their home and religious order, they had to adapt to the ever-changing religious policies throughout the remainder of their lives. For some this meant retirement or a change in vocation, whilst others adapted even more in continuing their ministry within the community.
Richard Hart, as the former Prior, had evidently negotiated himself a good deal at the dissolution. He received an annual pension from the Crown of £100 (equivalent to around £42,000 today), fuel from Buckholt Wood, and a residence at Brockworth Court, where he lived until shortly before his death in 1545. Meanwhile the 19 canons at Llanthony Secunda received annual pensions between £4 and £8 (equivalent to around £1,700-£3,400 today).
Whilst some canons evidently used this pension to live relatively meanly throughout their life, many would seek alternative employment. Amongst those that signed the deed, some canons took relatively local positions. For example, Thomas Hale had become the Lady priest of All Saints, Gloucester by 1540. Some canons, such as George Dene, stayed within the new Diocese of Gloucester. Dene was Littledean’s chantry priest in 1548 before becoming curate there until his death in 1575. He was also the rector of Rodmarton between 1563 and his death.
Several canons clearly travelled a little further. Several went to Worcester to find employment; John Kellam could be found as parson of St. Nicholas, Worcester in 1552 and William Worcester had become a chantry priest of St. Andrew’s, Worcester by 1548. Others went even further afield: John Ambrose became vicar of Beckley in Oxfordshire and David Mathews alias Kempe became Vicar of Croydon in Surrey by 1552. Some opted for a slightly different purpose, choosing instead private chaplaincy. William Henlow, for example, became chaplain to Sir Fulke Greville of Beauchamp Court in Warwickshire.
The signatures on Llanthony Secunda Priory's Deed of Surrender offer a poignant connection to history, revealing the individual fates of canons amidst the tumultuous Dissolution of the Monasteries. The personal stories, from Richard Hart's significant pension to canons adapting to new roles, provide a nuanced understanding of the aftermath. This glimpse into the lives of those involved in 1538 underscores the profound impact of historical events on individuals and communities during a pivotal period in England's history.
The Priory’s Seal
When signing important and official documents, the head of a religious house would attach a wax seal to the document, proclaiming its authenticity. Many of these seals have disappeared, but The Seal of Llanthony Secunda Priory still exists upon this Deed of Surrender.
