369:, and other property of the priory; but it was at the election of a prior that William's conduct at last brought him under episcopal censure. The charter of Simon had provided that the convent should have the right of free election, only asking his consent as patron: William wished to do the part of both bishop and patron. There was some unpleasantness over an election in 1247; but in 1254 William came in person to the priory with his wife, and compelled the new prior, Stephen, to come outside the gate to him to receive the temporalities; then, taking him by the hand, he led him into the church, and installed him in his place in choir. This, however, was too much for the bishop: he at once visited the priory and made William apologise for his invasion of the liberties of the church. It is possible that the great charter of Newnham, in which William confirmed all the gifts of his father and others, including the licence for free election, belongs to this time. The next of the Beauchamps, another William, made some reparation for the misdeeds of his father.
62:
34:
483:, Goldington; portions of land in many places which had belonged to the old canons; the tithes of all his markets, assarts and woods; the castle mill and another with some lands and water attached; the free use of all waters belonging to the castle, as far as Fenlake, for fishing, navigation and breeding swans; and the right to pasture a certain number of cattle with his own free of cost. These gifts are rehearsed with much detail and some additions in the Great Charter of William de Beauchamp. At the time of the
306:
prebends for the term of their lives; perhaps being presented to or left in possession of churches in the gift of the house. The priory was specially rich in churches: fourteen are named in the first charter of Simon de
Beauchamp, and eleven of these were still the property of the house in 1535. Simon's endowment was a generous one; his mother and other benefactors added to it, but his own title to the name of founder is unquestionable.
286:, summoned him to a new trial. On receiving the summons, Philip broke out into such angry words and insults against the justiciar that the king considered his own authority slighted in the person of his delegate; and the archbishop, fearing that a very severe punishment would follow, interposed and passed sentence upon the offender in his own court. This sentence—the loss of his
69:
41:
290:, and further some penance for two years only—was considered by the king as a glaring instance of the failure of the ecclesiastical courts in dealing with serious crimes; it contributed something towards the estrangement between him and the archbishop, and also made it advisable for the canons to change their place of residence.
294:
inevitable. All that Simon de
Beauchamp says is that prudent and religious men had often counselled him to turn the gifts and endowments of his ancestors to a use more productive of reverence to God and honour to true religion, and that he was at last convinced of the wisdom of their advice. He names the king, Henry II,
615:
There is a seal of
William of Woughton, prior 1395, pointed oval, representing St. Paul seated in a canopied niche, pinnacled and crocketted, holding a sword in the right hand and a book in the left, between two shields, one with a lion and the other a cross paty; and a prior below, half length, with
469:
The prior, John
Ashwell, with fourteen canons and two lay brothers, signed an acknowledgement of the royal supremacy in 1535. It is probable that these seventeen were but a small proportion of the original number. Nothing is known of the circumstances of the surrender of the house, except that it was
607:
The conventual seal was large and elaborate. It represents St. Paul seated on a throne, under a trefoiled canopy, with sword in his right hand; an angel above on either side, and groups of votaries under arches to the right and left, with the moon above one group and the sun above the other. Legend:
506:
In 1302 the prior of
Newnham held half a knight's fee in Sharnbrook, several fractions in Goldington, and half a knight's fee in Salpho. In 1316 half a fee in Goldington, a quarter in Salpho, one seventh in Biddenham, one quarter in Southill. In 1346 half a fee in Cotes and half a fee in Sharnbrook.
305:
The transference of all the endowments of the secular canons to
William, first prior of Newnham, was solemnly made in the church of St. Paul in the presence of many witnesses. The old canons were six in number: Nicholas archdeacon of Bedford, was one of them. They probably kept some portion of their
510:
A comparison of the Valor and the
Taxatio shows however that the property of the priory was almost the same in extent at both dates, varying very little in the course of history. It was all within the county of Bedford. Not one of the churches of the original endowment was quite lost, though three
453:;' it would be interesting to know what was the matter in dispute, as there was usually so much goodwill between the various houses of Austin canons in this county. A year later a brother was received back, who had become an apostate through discontent and was now repentant. At the visitation of
293:
This story has quite good authority, but it has probably no causal connection with the foundation of
Newnham Priory. The change from secular to regular canons was going on in many religious houses at this time; the scandal of Philip de Broi can only at the most have hastened an event already
349:
to the church of
Dunstable, his charter being confirmed by Simon de Beauchamp and by Robert Bishop of Lincoln. The prior of Newnham pleaded that Guy de St. Walery and Aubreye his wife had given the church to St. Paul's, Bedford, their gift being confirmed by Simon de Beauchamp and
277:
However the foundation of the priory of
Newnham was the work of Simon de Beauchamp, son of Payn, about 1166. Tradition ascribes the change to the scandal caused by the affair of Philip de Broi, one of the canons, whose name has become famous in connection with the quarrel between
461:
undertook to reform the whole Augustinian order, it seems that Newnham was still amongst the more satisfactory houses. At the great general chapter summoned at Reading in June 1518 (the first after the lapse of more than a century) the prior of Newnham was chosen as one of the
611:
Counter-seal: three niches. In the middle St. Paul kneeling with an executioner behind him; above his head PAULV and possibly a hand of blessing. St. Luke and St. Titus on the left and right, with their names above them. Legend: MUCRO . FUROR . SAULI . FUIT . ENSSIO . PAULI.
478:
The original endowment of the priory by Simon de Beauchamp comprised the tithes of fourteen churches—St. Paul's Bedford, Renhold, Ravensden, Great Barford, Willington, Cardington, Southill, Hatley, Wootton, Stagsden, Lower Gravenhurst, Aspley,
511:
were only paying small pensions in 1535. Besides divers parcels of land the prior held the manors of Stotfold and Cardington. The total valuation in 1535 was £284 12s. 11¾d.; in 1541 the ministers' accounts give only a total of £200 17s. 8¾d.
244:, but it may fairly claim to be the most ancient religious foundation in Bedfordshire, in so far as it still held the church of St. Paul's and succeeded to the endowments of the secular canons there. It is implied in the
444:
some time before 1322. The prior at that time, John of Astwick, was very unpopular, and anxious in consequence to resign; but the bishop thought it sufficient to urge the brethren to be more exact in their obedience.
365:, son of the founder; who, encouraged by his wife Ida, proved himself quite as much an enemy to the religious of the neighbourhood as Fawkes de Bréauté had been. The first difficulty was connected with the church of
784:
470:
made by a prior who had not been long in office, and took place on 2 January 1540-1. A pension of £60 was granted to the prior, John Burne, and pensions of other sums to fifteen canons besides.
457:
the discipline of the house was still good; all that the bishop enjoined was that the sub-prior should do the work of the prior, now grown old and feeble. Later, when
376:
passed to the Mowbrays the advowson of the priory went with it. An attempt was made in 1347, at the death of John of Astwick, to prove that it was held of the king in
358:), and that Guy de St. Walery had recovered Aspley against him by fine. Therefore his gift was invalid, and Newnham was assigned the church under St. Walery's gift.
256:
records the tradition that they lived in houses 'round about the Church.' How long they had been there, and whether they were in any way descended from the original
420:
Of the internal history of the priory we know very little. It seems to have had a good reputation at all times. Hervey, the prior in 1228 (previously prior of
794:
789:
774:
61:
282:
and Henry II. This man was accused of homicide, and cleared himself by oath; but the evidence was so much against him that Simon Fitz Peter, the king's
354:. It was proved that Roger had only held Aspley as baillee until he was assigned land to the value of £10 elsewhere (which he afterwards received in
330:. The losses of the canons were partly made good to them by the gift of the church of Tinden, and by a present of stones from the dismantled castle.
392:, confirmed the charter of William de Beauchamp. The foundation charter, charter of transference to Newnham and others were confirmed by Henry II.
779:
628:
33:
385:
183:
769:
314:
During the first century of their existence the canons of Newnham had a good deal to endure. They had first to suffer from the violence of
424:), was commissioned in that year, with Richard de Morins of Dunstable, to visit all the houses of their order throughout the dioceses of
381:
652:
454:
266:, it is difficult now to discover: all we know is that they were living at the Conquest as secular canons, and had property at
270:
and Bedford. Their patron at this time must have been Hugh de Beauchamp, who first held the barony of Bedford; a little later
507:
In 1428 the same as in 1346 with the addition of half a knight's fee in Salpho, and a quarter in Blunham and Moggerhanger.
176:
362:
333:
It was in the same year (Easter term 1223) that the priory was involved in a very interesting suit for the church of
249:
326:; he was probably an oppressive neighbour all the time he lived there, until the capture of the castle in 1223 by
253:
440:
of 1235 and 1249 no charge was laid against this house; and no other visitation is recorded until that of
380:; but the jury then called proved conclusively that it was held always of the barony of Bedford, and that
480:
405:
401:
366:
271:
262:
619:
The seal of Henry de Newnham (1493) is the same. Legend: s. F'RIS HENRIC' NEWNAM PRIORIS DE NEWEHAM.
437:
397:
327:
315:
322:
actually pulled down the greater part of the church of St. Paul to strengthen the fortifications of
429:
409:
393:
241:
433:
425:
295:
373:
341:
and of Newnham. The last parson, Nicholas, has been presented by Roger de Salford, who held a
299:
730:
677:
648:
499:
are lands, etc., at Goldington, Salpho, Stotfold and Sharnbrook; and these are found in the
488:
449:
sent an order in 1387 that 'peace should be established between the priories of Newnham and
338:
220:
157:
450:
441:
319:
94:
342:
492:
446:
351:
323:
491:
the income of the priory appears as £164 10s. 8d., of which £92 6s. 8d. is made up of
337:. There were three claimants in the field, namely Fawkes de Bréauté and the priors of
763:
496:
458:
279:
257:
245:
389:
334:
237:
161:
99:
421:
240:
priory of Newnham was not actually built until some time after the accession of
616:
hands folded in prayer. Legend: S. FRATRIS WILTĪ DE WOKETONE PRIORIS DE NEWED.
678:"Houses of Austin canons: The priory of Newnham | British History Online"
500:
287:
198:
185:
463:
283:
267:
355:
346:
484:
377:
274:, son of Hugh, and his sister Ellen are both named as benefactors.
361:
But new troubles soon arose through the tyrannical behaviour of
345:
of Simon de Beauchamp in 1166. This Roger had then given the
754:
The Victoria History of the County of Bedford: Volume 1
732:
The Victoria History of the County of Bedford: Volume 1
785:
Christian monasteries established in the 12th century
608:SIGILL' PRIORIS ET CONVENTUS SBĪ PAULI DE NEWEHAM.
175:
167:
153:
148:
134:
126:
121:
113:
105:
93:
88:
556:Adam of Sherborne, elected 1300, resigned 1300
550:Michael of Goldington, elected 1272, died 1283
568:John of Amersham, elected 1347, resigned 1348
562:William of Thorp, elected 1307, resigned 1315
559:William of Biddenham, elected 1300, died 1307
544:William le Fraunceys, elected 1264, died 1271
248:that these latter were in Bedford before the
8:
565:John of Astwick, elected 1315, resigned 1347
553:John of Bedford, elected 1283, resigned 1300
21:
532:Harvey, elected 1225, died or resigned 1238
725:
723:
721:
719:
717:
715:
713:
711:
580:John of Biddenham, elected 1369, died 1395
571:Henry of Woodford, elected 1348, died 1349
302:of Lincoln as having given their consent.
20:
729:Page, William; Doubleday, Herbert Arthur
709:
707:
705:
703:
701:
699:
697:
695:
693:
691:
577:Nicholas Baldock, elected 1362, died 1369
432:; two priors resigned in consequence. In
640:
629:List of monastic houses in Bedfordshire
547:William le Ros, elected 1271, died 1272
318:, who with the consent and approval of
68:
40:
657:Research records (formerly PastScape)
466:, and made visitor for two counties.
408:; the last royal charter was that of
7:
523:William, first prior, appointed 1166
144:John Burne, last prior (occurs 1540)
795:Buildings and structures in Bedford
76:Newnham Priory (the United Kingdom)
790:1540s disestablishments in England
775:Augustinian monasteries in England
586:John Bromham, occurs 1437 and 1441
14:
583:William of Woughton, elected 1395
574:William of Woodford, elected 1349
139:
541:Stephen, elected 1254, died 1264
538:Walter of Chawston, elected 1247
495:. The largest items amongst the
298:, Blessed Thomas the Martyr and
67:
60:
39:
32:
535:Walter, elected 1238, died 1247
529:Eustace, occurs 1214, died 1225
780:1166 establishments in England
503:as portions of knights' fees.
79:Show map of the United Kingdom
1:
592:Henry of Newnham, occurs 1493
384:was at that time the patron.
519:The priors of Newnham were:
412:. dated 15 February 1408-9.
48:Location within Bedfordshire
770:Monasteries in Bedfordshire
526:Ralph, occurs 1198 and 1205
811:
653:"Monument No. 360153"
589:John, occurs 1477 and 1490
16:Priory in Bedford, England
748:This article is based on
682:www.british-history.ac.uk
595:John Ashwell, occurs 1535
223:, Bedfordshire, England.
26:
51:Show map of Bedfordshire
598:John Burne, occurs 1540
260:, named in 971 in the
138:William, first prior (
750:The Priory of Newnham
263:Anglo-Saxon Chronicle
89:Monastery information
363:William de Beauchamp
258:monastery of Bedford
199:52.14076°N 0.44512°W
195: /
114:Controlled churches
23:
735:, 1904, pp.377–381
296:Pope Alexander III
204:52.14076; -0.44512
130:Simon de Beauchamp
515:Priors of Newnham
447:Bishop Buckingham
374:barony of Bedford
316:Falkes de Breauté
272:Payn de Beauchamp
214:
213:
802:
736:
727:
686:
685:
674:
668:
667:
665:
663:
649:Historic England
645:
489:Pope Nicholas IV
442:Bishop Burghersh
416:Internal history
382:Sir John Mowbray
310:External history
221:Newnham, Bedford
219:was a priory in
210:
209:
207:
206:
205:
200:
196:
193:
192:
191:
188:
158:Newnham, Bedford
141:
80:
71:
70:
64:
52:
43:
42:
36:
24:
810:
809:
805:
804:
803:
801:
800:
799:
760:
759:
745:
740:
739:
728:
689:
676:
675:
671:
661:
659:
647:
646:
642:
637:
625:
605:
517:
476:
459:Cardinal Wolsey
418:
312:
234:
229:
203:
201:
197:
194:
189:
186:
184:
182:
181:
143:
84:
83:
82:
81:
78:
77:
74:
73:
72:
55:
54:
53:
50:
49:
46:
45:
44:
17:
12:
11:
5:
808:
806:
798:
797:
792:
787:
782:
777:
772:
762:
761:
758:
757:
744:
741:
738:
737:
687:
669:
639:
638:
636:
633:
632:
631:
624:
621:
604:
601:
600:
599:
596:
593:
590:
587:
584:
581:
578:
575:
572:
569:
566:
563:
560:
557:
554:
551:
548:
545:
542:
539:
536:
533:
530:
527:
524:
516:
513:
493:spiritualities
475:
472:
417:
414:
386:Thomas Mowbray
324:Bedford Castle
311:
308:
233:
230:
228:
225:
217:Newnham Priory
212:
211:
179:
173:
172:
169:
165:
164:
155:
151:
150:
146:
145:
136:
132:
131:
128:
124:
123:
119:
118:
115:
111:
110:
107:
103:
102:
97:
91:
90:
86:
85:
75:
66:
65:
59:
58:
57:
56:
47:
38:
37:
31:
30:
29:
28:
27:
22:Newnham Priory
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
807:
796:
793:
791:
788:
786:
783:
781:
778:
776:
773:
771:
768:
767:
765:
755:
751:
747:
746:
742:
734:
733:
726:
724:
722:
720:
718:
716:
714:
712:
710:
708:
706:
704:
702:
700:
698:
696:
694:
692:
688:
683:
679:
673:
670:
658:
654:
650:
644:
641:
634:
630:
627:
626:
622:
620:
617:
613:
609:
602:
597:
594:
591:
588:
585:
582:
579:
576:
573:
570:
567:
564:
561:
558:
555:
552:
549:
546:
543:
540:
537:
534:
531:
528:
525:
522:
521:
520:
514:
512:
508:
504:
502:
498:
497:temporalities
494:
490:
486:
482:
473:
471:
467:
465:
460:
456:
452:
448:
443:
439:
435:
431:
427:
423:
415:
413:
411:
407:
403:
399:
395:
391:
387:
383:
379:
375:
370:
368:
364:
359:
357:
353:
348:
344:
340:
336:
331:
329:
325:
321:
317:
309:
307:
303:
301:
300:Bishop Robert
297:
291:
289:
285:
281:
280:Thomas Becket
275:
273:
269:
265:
264:
259:
255:
251:
247:
246:Domesday Book
243:
239:
231:
226:
224:
222:
218:
208:
180:
178:
174:
170:
166:
163:
159:
156:
152:
147:
137:
133:
129:
125:
120:
116:
112:
108:
104:
101:
98:
96:
92:
87:
63:
35:
25:
19:
753:
749:
731:
681:
672:
660:. Retrieved
656:
643:
618:
614:
610:
606:
518:
509:
505:
477:
468:
434:Grossetête's
419:
390:Earl Marshal
371:
360:
343:knight's fee
335:Aspley Guise
332:
313:
304:
292:
276:
261:
235:
216:
215:
162:Bedfordshire
18:
603:Common seal
501:Feudal aids
455:Bishop Grey
438:visitations
352:Bishop Hugh
238:Augustinian
202: /
177:Coordinates
106:Established
100:Augustinian
764:Categories
635:References
474:Endowments
464:definitors
436:unsparing
406:Richard II
402:Edward III
232:Foundation
187:52°08′27″N
127:Founder(s)
662:8 October
398:Edward II
372:When the
339:Dunstable
328:Henry III
320:King John
284:justiciar
268:Biddenham
190:0°26′42″W
623:See also
451:Caldwell
430:Coventry
410:Henry IV
394:Edward I
356:Stotfold
347:advowson
250:Conquest
242:Henry II
154:Location
485:Taxatio
481:Salford
426:Lincoln
367:Wootton
288:prebend
227:History
171:England
168:Country
109:c. 1166
756:, 1904
378:capite
254:Leland
252:; and
122:People
752:, in
743:Notes
422:Osney
142:1166)
135:Prior
95:Order
664:2015
428:and
404:and
236:The
149:Site
140:app.
487:of
766::
690:^
680:.
655:.
651:.
400:,
396:,
388:,
160:,
117:14
684:.
666:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
