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Dureford Abbey, in
Sussex Sussex (Help:IPA/English, /ˈsʌsɪks/; from the Old English ''Sūþseaxe''; lit. 'South Saxons'; 'Sussex') is an area within South East England that was historically a kingdom of Sussex, kingdom and, later, a Historic counties of England, ...
, England, was a
Premonstratensian The Order of Canons Regular of Prémontré (), also known as the Premonstratensians, the Norbertines and, in Britain and Ireland, as the White Canons (from the colour of their habit), is a religious order of canons regular in the Catholic Chur ...
monastery. It was founded by Henry Hussey, who in 1161 granted land to the abbot of
Welbeck Abbey Welbeck Abbey is an English country house near the village of Welbeck in the Bassetlaw District of Nottinghamshire. It was the site of a monastery belonging to the Premonstratensian order, and after the Dissolution of the Monasteries a residen ...
, to establish the new community near
Rogate Rogate is a village and civil parish in the Chichester district of West Sussex, England, in the Western Rother valley. The village is on the A272 road west of Midhurst and east of Petersfield, Hampshire. The civil parish includes the villages ...
,
Sussex Sussex (Help:IPA/English, /ˈsʌsɪks/; from the Old English ''Sūþseaxe''; lit. 'South Saxons'; 'Sussex') is an area within South East England that was historically a kingdom of Sussex, kingdom and, later, a Historic counties of England, ...
.


History

The founder and other local landowners granted much additional land in the area to the abbey and the unlimited use of a quarry from which to construct the monastic buildings. In 1317, the abbot complained that the abbey had been robbed. A royal visit by the King in 1324 put a further strain on the finances, as did repeated incidents of theft and malicious damage, which left the community reportedly poverty stricken by 1335. The next century was the same; in 1417, the tower of Abbey Church was struck by lightning and collapsed. Further, an abbot was forcibly ejected from his position by canons from Dureford and from
Bayham Abbey Bayham Old Abbey is an English Heritage property, located near Lamberhurst, Kent, England. Founded c. 1208 through a combination of the failing Premonstratensian monasteries of Otham and Brockley, Bayham functioned as an abbey until its dissol ...
. He apparently left in fear for his life, and additionally, the canons of Bayham stole £400 worth of goods, including vestments. In 1444, abbot Stephen Mersey was deposed for neglecting the monastery buildings and for plunging the abbey into debt. On three occasions in the 1450s, the abbey was invaded by Sir Henry Hussey (a ''patron'' of the monastery and descendant of the founder), who came with an armed band and threatened to burn the monetary and kill the abbot. As it was, he murdered one of the abbey servants.{{Citation needed, date=September 2015 By 1482, the abbey debts had been wiped out. Unfortunately, so had most of the community, who had died in an outbreak of the plague or
black death The Black Death was a bubonic plague pandemic that occurred in Europe from 1346 to 1353. It was one of the list of epidemics, most fatal pandemics in human history; as many as people perished, perhaps 50% of Europe's 14th century population. ...
. There were further burnings of the buildings, resulting in more debt, and the cloister was reportedly in a ruinous state. In 1497, the canons were criticised for being lax in their duties and for leaving the monastery grounds. By 1535, the monetary system was dilapidated and in considerable debt and was referred to mockingly as 'Dirtforde' by
Richard Layton Richard Layton or Leighton (1500?–1544) was an English churchman, jurist and diplomat, dean of York and a principal agent of Henry VIII and Thomas Cromwell in the Dissolution of the Monasteries. Life Early life He was born about 1500, son ...
, one of the king's officials, who visited it. That same year, the abbey's income was assessed in the
Valor Ecclesiasticus The ''Valor Ecclesiasticus'' (Latin: "church valuation") was a survey of the finances of the church in England, Wales and English controlled parts of Ireland made in 1535 on the orders of Henry VIII. It was colloquially called the Kings books, ...
,
Henry VIII Henry VIII (28 June 149128 January 1547) was King of England from 22 April 1509 until his death in 1547. Henry is known for his Wives of Henry VIII, six marriages and his efforts to have his first marriage (to Catherine of Aragon) annulled. ...
's great survey of church finances, at £108 13s. 9d, which meant the following year that it came under the terms of the first Suppression Act, Henry's initial move in the society. In 1536 the abbey was closed by the king, and the site was granted to Sir William Fitzwilliam. The last abbot, John Sympson, was appointed head of
Titchfield Abbey Titchfield Abbey is a medieval abbey and later country house, located in the village of Titchfield near Fareham in Hampshire, England. The abbey was founded in 1222 for Premonstratensian canons, an austere order of priests. The abbey was a minor ...
in
Hampshire Hampshire (, ; abbreviated to Hants.) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in South East England. It is bordered by Berkshire to the north, Surrey and West Sussex to the east, the Isle of Wight across the Solent to the south, ...
but resigned in less than a year. He was later given the living of
Horsted Keynes Horsted Keynes is a village and Civil parishes in England, civil parish in the Mid Sussex District, Mid Sussex District of West Sussex, England. The village is about north east of Haywards Heath, in the Weald. The civil parish is largely rur ...
.


Post Dissolution

A farmhouse built in 1784 now occupies the site, and fragments of carved stone and a coffin lid are among the few visible remnants. The only surviving building is that of a medieval barn, and there are some fragmentary remains of a watermill nearby.


See also

*
Abbeys and priories in England Monastic houses in England include abbeys, priories and friaries, among other monastic religious houses. The sites are listed by modern ( post-1974) county. Overview The list is presented in alphabetical order of ceremonial county. Foundatio ...
*
Geoffrey Pole Sir Geoffrey Pole of Lordington, Sussex (c. 1501 or 1502 – November 1558) was an English knight who supported the Catholic Church in England and Wales when Henry VIII of England was establishing the alternative Church of England with him ...


References

*'Houses of Premonstratensian canons: Abbey of Dureford', A History of the County of Sussex: Volume 2 (1973), pp. 89–92. * Anthony New. 'A Guide to the Abbeys of England And Wales', p157. Constable. Monasteries in West Sussex 1536 disestablishments in England 1161 establishments in England Premonstratensian monasteries in England Christian monasteries established in the 1160s