Barnwell Priory was an Augustinian

priory A priory is a monastery of men or women under religious vows that is headed by a prior or prioress. They were created by the Catholic Church. Priories may be monastic houses of monks or nuns (such as the Benedictines, the Cistercians, or t ...

at Barnwell in

Cambridgeshire Cambridgeshire (abbreviated Cambs.) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in the East of England and East Anglia. It is bordered by Lincolnshire to the north, Norfolk to the north-east, Suffolk to the east, Essex and Hertfor ...

, founded as a house of

Canons Regular The Canons Regular of St. Augustine are Catholic priests who live in community under a rule ( and κανών, ''kanon'', in Greek) and are generally organised into Religious order (Catholic), religious orders, differing from both Secular clergy, ...

. The only surviving parts are 13th-century claustral building, which is a Grade II* listed, and remnants found in the walls, cellar and gardens of Abbey House. The priory was home to the

Barnwell chronicler The ''Barnwell Chronicle'' is a thirteenth-century Latin chronicle named after Barnwell Priory, near Cambridge, where the manuscript was kept. Its anonymous author is well-regarded by historians. J. C. Holt described the Chronicler as "The most ...

, an anonymous

chronicler A chronicle (, from Greek ''chroniká'', from , ''chrónos'' – "time") is a historical account of events arranged in chronological order, as in a timeline. Typically, equal weight is given for historically important events and local events, ...

who wrote about the reign of King John.

History

The priory was founded in c.1092 by

Picot of Cambridge Picot of Cambridge (c. 1022–after 1090) was a Norman landowner and Sheriff of Cambridgeshire. Born in Saye, Normandy, Picot rose from obscurity to become Sheriff of Cambridgeshire as early as 1071 until at least 1090. He treated Cambridge (then ...

High Sheriff of Cambridgeshire This is a list of sheriffs and since 1974 high sheriffs of Cambridgeshire. The Sheriff is the oldest secular office under the Crown. Formerly the Sheriff was the principal law enforcement officer in the county but over the centuries most of the ...

, as a house of

canons regular The Canons Regular of St. Augustine are Catholic priests who live in community under a rule ( and κανών, ''kanon'', in Greek) and are generally organised into Religious order (Catholic), religious orders, differing from both Secular clergy, ...

in St Giles' Church by

Cambridge Castle Cambridge Castle, locally also known as Castle Mound, is located in Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England. Originally built after the Norman conquest of England, Norman conquest to control the strategically important route to the north of England, ...

. The ''Liber Memorandorum Ecclesie de Bernewelle'' (the Book of Things to do with Barnwell) says that Picot's wife, Hugolina, had been gravely ill and vowed that if she recovered, she would found a religious house. She recovered: although Picot endowed the priory, it could well have been on his wife's instructions. Two other East Anglian houses of canons regular were founded around this time: Colchester Priory and Huntingdon Priory. It is likely that Picot's foundation was established using canons from one of these houses, probably Huntingdon (whose canons later went to found

Merton Priory Merton Priory was an English Augustinian priory founded in 1114 by Gilbert Norman, Sheriff of Surrey under King Henry I (1100–1135). It was situated within the manor of Merton in the county of Surrey, in what is today the Colliers Wood ...

). Canons regular followed the

Rule of St Augustine The Rule of Saint Augustine, written in about the year 400, is a brief document divided into eight chapters and serves as an outline for religious life lived in community. It is the oldest monastic rule in the Western Church. The rule, develop ...

. Picot endowed the six brethren with an income from tithes and with a number of rectories. After Picot and Hugolina's death, the priory fell into the hands of

Henry I Henry I or Henri I may refer to: :''In chronological order'' * Henry I the Fowler, King of Germany (876–936) * Henry I, Duke of Bavaria (died 955) * Henry I of Austria, Margrave of Austria (died 1018) * Henry I of France (1008–1060) * Henry ...

, who then gave it to Pain Peverel. Not much is known about Pain Peverel, but he had ambitions for the priory, and persuaded Henry to grant him land on the eastern edge of Cambridge so that he could move and expand the priory, which now became Barnwell Priory. These lands increased by donations from local landowners, and over time the priory itself grew in size and strength until there were 30 canons in residence. Barnwell held an annual fair, the Barnwell or

Midsummer Fair Midsummer Common is an area of common land in Cambridge, England. It lies northeast of the city centre on the south bank of the River Cam. The common borders the River Cam and houseboats are often moored on the common's bank. The boathouse ...

, which added to its income. Having an active scriptorium, well-stocked library and, because of its role as landlord, plenty of business for attorneys, Barnwell seems to have helped the early

University of Cambridge The University of Cambridge is a Public university, public collegiate university, collegiate research university in Cambridge, England. Founded in 1209, the University of Cambridge is the List of oldest universities in continuous operation, wo ...

become established. Much of what we know of the details of English Augustinian life come from the Barnwell Observances, written in the 13th century. The priory was wealthy, and its position as local landowner meant that it was a target during the

Peasants' Revolt The Peasants' Revolt, also named Wat Tyler's Rebellion or the Great Rising, was a major uprising across large parts of England in 1381. The revolt had various causes, including the socio-economic and political tensions generated by the Black ...

(1381). The

English Parliament The Parliament of England was the legislature of the Kingdom of England from the 13th century until 1707 when it was replaced by the Parliament of Great Britain. Parliament evolved from the great council of bishops and peers that advised th ...

met here for the only time between 10 September and 17 October 1388. The priory was dissolved on 11 November 1538 as part of the general Dissolution of the Monasteries and granted to Anthony Brown c.1546 and Edward, Lord Clinton c.1552. The buildings became ruinous and were almost thoroughly destroyed in 1810.

Gallery

cmglee_Cambridge_Barnwell_Priory_from_west.jpg , Exterior from the west cmglee_Cambridge_Barnwell_Priory_from_east.jpg , Exterior from the east cmglee_Cambridge_Barnwell_Priory_inside_south.jpg , Interior from the south cmglee_Cambridge_Barnwell_Priory_inside_north.jpg , Interior from the north cmglee_Cambridge_Barnwell_Priory_inside_detail.jpg , Column capital and ceiling cmglee_Cambridge_Barnwell_Priory_inside_coffins.jpg, Coffins stored inside

References

''Proceedings of the Cambridge Antiquarian Society'', ...
Volume 7, Cambridge Antiquarian Society (Cambridge, 1893). See pages 222-251.

John Bowtell John Bowtell (1753–1813) was an English topographer. Life Bowtell was born in the parish of Holy Trinity, Cambridge, in 1753, became a bookbinder and stationer there. He compiled a history of the town to include the university and Barnwell Pr ...

recorded the final description of the priory remains in 1812.

External links

*http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=40001 {{Authority control Augustinian monasteries in England Monasteries in Cambridgeshire Grade II* listed churches in Cambridgeshire Grade II* listed monasteries

History

Gallery

See also

References

External links