St Clears- details of Custody, 1294x1414

Following the outbreak of war with France, Edward I took St Clears into royal custody. The prior on occasion retained custody of the house for a payment of £2 but it was often entrusted to experienced royal officials.
Hugh de Cressingham was custodian from August 1294 until September 1297 when Walter Hackelut assumed responsibility until March 1303. During Richard II’s reign the payment rose to £7 and the custodian was required to maintain the buildings, gardens, woods and enclosures. In 1412 the prior of Lewes claimed that while St Clears was seemingly in the hands of seculars in reality it was well managed by a monk of the Order ‘as far as the malice of the times permits.’

1147-1184: Foundation - The priory was founded in the second half of the twelfth century. [1 sources]
1279: Monastic observance - The prior of St Clears was summoned to Barnstaple Priory, another of St Martin's dependencies, to answer questions regarding the state of monastic observance. [2 sources]
1288: Debts - The prior of St Clears (William Arraines) reputedly absconded with debts outstanding to the bishop of St David’s who duly seized the priory. [3 sources]
c.1291: Wealth - According to the Taxatio the house had only twelve acres of arable land and its spiritualities and temporalities totalled £15 19s 2d. [2 sources]
1294x1414: Custody - During these years the house was generally in royal custody. [2 sources][1 archives]
1305: Wealth - The royal officials valued the cell at £8 10s [1 sources][1 archives]
c.1333: Resignation - By September 1333 John Seyer had resigned as prior of St Clears on account of his dissolute conduct. [1 sources]
1339: Custody - On 16 July 1339, Pontius, a monk of St Clears, was granted the keeping of St Clears during the French Wars. [1 sources]
1377: Poll tax - Only the prior is listed. [1 sources][1 archives]
1378-1409: Papal Schism - Contact between Cluny and her houses in England and Wales was severed. [1 sources]
1378: Valuation - By 1378 the value of the priory had increased to £19 6s 8d. [1 archives]
c.1414: Dissolution - St Clears was dissolved c. 1414. [1 sources]
1442: Custody - St Clears was granted to All Souls College, Oxford [1 sources]

Event detail for site: St Clears

1294x1414: Custody

Bibliographical sources

Printed sources

Archival sources

Other events in the history of this site


Home dershane Project team Project News Future plans Contact us Search the database Browse list of sites Browse list of orders Browse bibliography & archives Browse people Browse articles Glossary of terms Monastic Wales is not responsible for the content of external internet sites	Event detail for site: St Clears 1294x1414: Custody During these years the house was generally in royal custody. Following the outbreak of war with France, Edward I took St Clears into royal custody. The prior on occasion retained custody of the house for a payment of £2 but it was often entrusted to experienced royal officials. Hugh de Cressingham was custodian from August 1294 until September 1297 when Walter Hackelut assumed responsibility until March 1303. During Richard II’s reign the payment rose to £7 and the custodian was required to maintain the buildings, gardens, woods and enclosures. In 1412 the prior of Lewes claimed that while St Clears was seemingly in the hands of seculars in reality it was well managed by a monk of the Order ‘as far as the malice of the times permits.’ Bibliographical sources Printed sources Cowley, F. G., The Monastic Order in South Wales 1066-1349 (Cardiff, 1977) p. 221 Graham, Rose, 'The Cluniac priory of St Martin des Champs, Paris, and its dependent priories in England and Wales', Journal of the British Archaeological Association, 3rd series, 11 (1948) pp. 47-48 Archival sources The National Archives, 'Writ and inquisition relating to priory of St Clears', (Document), (View website) Other events in the history of this site 1147-1184: Foundation - The priory was founded in the second half of the twelfth century. [1 sources] 1279: Monastic observance - The prior of St Clears was summoned to Barnstaple Priory, another of St Martin's dependencies, to answer questions regarding the state of monastic observance. [2 sources] 1288: Debts - The prior of St Clears (William Arraines) reputedly absconded with debts outstanding to the bishop of St David’s who duly seized the priory. [3 sources] c.1291: Wealth - According to the Taxatio the house had only twelve acres of arable land and its spiritualities and temporalities totalled £15 19s 2d. [2 sources] 1294x1414: Custody - During these years the house was generally in royal custody. [2 sources][1 archives] 1305: Wealth - The royal officials valued the cell at £8 10s [1 sources][1 archives] c.1333: Resignation - By September 1333 John Seyer had resigned as prior of St Clears on account of his dissolute conduct. [1 sources] 1339: Custody - On 16 July 1339, Pontius, a monk of St Clears, was granted the keeping of St Clears during the French Wars. [1 sources] 1377: Poll tax - Only the prior is listed. [1 sources][1 archives] 1378-1409: Papal Schism - Contact between Cluny and her houses in England and Wales was severed. [1 sources] 1378: Valuation - By 1378 the value of the priory had increased to £19 6s 8d. [1 archives] c.1414: Dissolution - St Clears was dissolved c. 1414. [1 sources] 1442: Custody - St Clears was granted to All Souls College, Oxford [1 sources]

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