Ashridge Priory
Encyclopedia
Ashridge Priory was a medieval abbey
of the Brothers of Penitence
.
The seventeenth century historian Polydore Vergil
said that Edmund
(son of Richard, Earl of Cornwall
who had a palace there) founded in 1283 a monastery at Ashridge, Hertfordshire
, for a rector and twenty canons of "a new order not before seen in England, and called the Boni homines". It was finished in 1285.
At the foundation of the abbey the Earl of Cornwall donated, among other things, a phial of Christ
's blood, in honour of which the convent
adjacent to the abbey was founded. This deposit proved fruitful for the abbey and convent, as pilgrim
s from all over Europe
flocked to see the phial of blood. The abbey grew quite wealthy as a result.
One such visitor was King Edward I
. In 1290 he held parliament at the abbey while he spent Christmas
in Pitstone
.
The last rector was Thomas Waterhouse, who surrendered the house to Henry VIII
. The building ceased to be used as an abbey shortly afterwards.
The suppressed college was granted first to the king's sister Elizabeth Tudor. It later became the private residence of Princess Elizabeth
, younger daughter of King Henry VIII
. It was here that she was arrested in 1552, under suspicion of treason
.
In 1604 the priory was acquired by Sir Thomas Egerton
. A descendant of his, the Duke of Bridgewater
, demolished the old buildings in the 1760s.
Priory
A priory is a house of men or women under religious vows that is headed by a prior or prioress. Priories may be houses of mendicant friars or religious sisters , or monasteries of monks or nuns .The Benedictines and their offshoots , the Premonstratensians, and the...
of the Brothers of Penitence
Brothers of Penitence
The Brothers of Penitence or Fratres Saccati were an Augustinian order also known as Boni Homines, Bonshommes or Bones-homes. They were also known as the "Bluefriars" on account of the colour of their robes.-History:...
.
The seventeenth century historian Polydore Vergil
Polydore Vergil
Polydore Vergil was an Italian historian, otherwise known as PV Castellensis. He is better known as the contemporary historian during the early Tudor dynasty. He was hired by King Henry VIII of England, who wanted to distance himself from his father Henry VII as much as possible, to document...
said that Edmund
Edmund, 2nd Earl of Cornwall
Edmund of Cornwall of Almain was the 2nd Earl of Cornwall of the 7th creation.-Early life:Edmund was born at Berkhamsted Castle on 26 December 1249, the second and only surviving son of Richard, 1st Earl of Cornwall and his wife Sanchia of Provence, daughter of Ramon Berenguer, Count of Provence,...
(son of Richard, Earl of Cornwall
Richard, 1st Earl of Cornwall
Richard of Cornwall was Count of Poitou , 1st Earl of Cornwall and German King...
who had a palace there) founded in 1283 a monastery at Ashridge, Hertfordshire
Ashridge
Ashridge is an estate and house in Hertfordshire, England; part of the land stretches into Buckinghamshire and it is close to the Bedfordshire border. It is situated in the Chiltern Hills, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, about two miles north of Berkhamsted and twenty miles north west of...
, for a rector and twenty canons of "a new order not before seen in England, and called the Boni homines". It was finished in 1285.
At the foundation of the abbey the Earl of Cornwall donated, among other things, a phial of Christ
Christ
Christ is the English term for the Greek meaning "the anointed one". It is a translation of the Hebrew , usually transliterated into English as Messiah or Mashiach...
's blood, in honour of which the convent
St Margaret's convent Hertfordshire
St Margaret's convent, was a convent of the Benedictine order near Great Gaddesden in Hertfordshire, England. The convent was founded in 1160 and dissolved in the 1530s at the Dissolution of the monasteries....
adjacent to the abbey was founded. This deposit proved fruitful for the abbey and convent, as pilgrim
Pilgrim
A pilgrim is a traveler who is on a journey to a holy place. Typically, this is a physical journeying to some place of special significance to the adherent of a particular religious belief system...
s from all over Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
flocked to see the phial of blood. The abbey grew quite wealthy as a result.
One such visitor was King Edward I
Edward I of England
Edward I , also known as Edward Longshanks and the Hammer of the Scots, was King of England from 1272 to 1307. The first son of Henry III, Edward was involved early in the political intrigues of his father's reign, which included an outright rebellion by the English barons...
. In 1290 he held parliament at the abbey while he spent Christmas
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
in Pitstone
Pitstone
Pitstone is a village and civil parish within the Aylesbury Vale district of Buckinghamshire, England. It is located at the foot of the Chiltern Hills, about seven miles east of Aylesbury and six miles south of Leighton Buzzard...
.
The last rector was Thomas Waterhouse, who surrendered the house to Henry VIII
Henry VIII of England
Henry VIII was King of England from 21 April 1509 until his death. He was Lord, and later King, of Ireland, as well as continuing the nominal claim by the English monarchs to the Kingdom of France...
. The building ceased to be used as an abbey shortly afterwards.
The suppressed college was granted first to the king's sister Elizabeth Tudor. It later became the private residence of Princess Elizabeth
Elizabeth I of England
Elizabeth I was queen regnant of England and Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death. Sometimes called The Virgin Queen, Gloriana, or Good Queen Bess, Elizabeth was the fifth and last monarch of the Tudor dynasty...
, younger daughter of King Henry VIII
Henry VIII of England
Henry VIII was King of England from 21 April 1509 until his death. He was Lord, and later King, of Ireland, as well as continuing the nominal claim by the English monarchs to the Kingdom of France...
. It was here that she was arrested in 1552, under suspicion of treason
Treason
In law, treason is the crime that covers some of the more extreme acts against one's sovereign or nation. Historically, treason also covered the murder of specific social superiors, such as the murder of a husband by his wife. Treason against the king was known as high treason and treason against a...
.
In 1604 the priory was acquired by Sir Thomas Egerton
Thomas Egerton, 1st Viscount Brackley
Thomas Egerton, 1st Viscount Brackley PC was an English Nobleman, Judge and Statesman who served as Lord Keeper and Lord Chancellor for twenty-one years.-Early life, education and legal career:...
. A descendant of his, the Duke of Bridgewater
Francis Egerton, 3rd Duke of Bridgewater
Francis Egerton, 3rd Duke of Bridgewater , known as Lord Francis Egerton until 1748, was a British nobleman, the younger son of the 1st Duke...
, demolished the old buildings in the 1760s.