Croxton Abbey
Encyclopedia
Croxton Abbey, near Croxton Kerrial
, Leicestershire
, was a Premonstratensian
monastery founded before 1160 by William, Count of Boulogne
.
Croxton was the mother house of the monasteries of Blanchland Abbey
in County Durham
and Cockersand Abbey
in Lancashire
.
to hear his final confession, and to subsequently prepare his body for burial. The King's heart was buried in the abbey church, which later inspired his son, Henry III
, to grant gifts to the abbey in commemoration.
In 1326, a fire destroyed most of the abbey buildings including the church and one of the canons died in the catastrophe. Later in the century, further disasters included the destruction by the Scots of property held in the north of England, and, many deaths within the community brought about by the plague or black death
. Towards the end of the 14th century, now unknown problems may have led to an abbot being deposed, but within a century the monastery is described as being "in an exemplary state."
Towards the end of monastic life at the abbey, there was a serious disagreement between its patron, Lord Berkeley, concerning the election for a new abbot which the patron tried to prevent by force until his demands for payment of £500 by the monastery were met. The election was finally allowed to occur, despite the refusal to pay this money. The new (and last) abbot of Croxton was however forced to pay £160, plus hand over a bond for a further £160.
A private house on the site contains elements of a monastic building, probably part of the former guest house once used for wealthy visitors to the abbey. Otherwise, there are no visible remains.
Croxton Kerrial
Croxton Kerrial is a village and civil parish in the Melton borough of Leicestershire, England. It is to the southwest of Grantham and northeast of Melton Mowbray— west of Leicestershire's boundary with Lincolnshire...
, Leicestershire
Leicestershire
Leicestershire is a landlocked county in the English Midlands. It takes its name from the heavily populated City of Leicester, traditionally its administrative centre, although the City of Leicester unitary authority is today administered separately from the rest of Leicestershire...
, was a Premonstratensian
Premonstratensian
The Order of Canons Regular of Prémontré, also known as the Premonstratensians, the Norbertines, or in Britain and Ireland as the White Canons , are a Catholic religious order of canons regular founded at Prémontré near Laon in 1120 by Saint Norbert, who later became Archbishop of Magdeburg...
monastery founded before 1160 by William, Count of Boulogne
William of Blois
William I of Blois was Count of Boulogne and Earl of Surrey jure uxoris . He was the third son of King Stephen of England and Matilda of Boulogne....
.
Croxton was the mother house of the monasteries of Blanchland Abbey
Blanchland Abbey
Blanchland Abbey at Blanchland, in the English county of Northumberland, was founded as a premonstratensian priory in 1165 by Walter de Bolbec II, and was a daughter house of Croxton abbey in Leicestershire. It became an abbey in the late 13th century...
in County Durham
County Durham
County Durham is a ceremonial county and unitary district in north east England. The county town is Durham. The largest settlement in the ceremonial county is the town of Darlington...
and Cockersand Abbey
Cockersand Abbey
Cockersand Abbey is a former abbey near Cockerham in the City of Lancaster district of Lancashire, England. It was founded before 1184 as the Hospital of St Mary on the marsh belonging to Leicester Abbey. It was refounded as a Premonstratensian priory and subsequently elevated to an abbey in 1192...
in Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
.
History
An early notable event was the summoning of the abbot of Croxton by the dying King JohnJohn of England
John , also known as John Lackland , was King of England from 6 April 1199 until his death...
to hear his final confession, and to subsequently prepare his body for burial. The King's heart was buried in the abbey church, which later inspired his son, Henry III
Henry III of England
Henry III was the son and successor of John as King of England, reigning for 56 years from 1216 until his death. His contemporaries knew him as Henry of Winchester. He was the first child king in England since the reign of Æthelred the Unready...
, to grant gifts to the abbey in commemoration.
In 1326, a fire destroyed most of the abbey buildings including the church and one of the canons died in the catastrophe. Later in the century, further disasters included the destruction by the Scots of property held in the north of England, and, many deaths within the community brought about by the plague or black death
Black Death
The Black Death was one of the most devastating pandemics in human history, peaking in Europe between 1348 and 1350. Of several competing theories, the dominant explanation for the Black Death is the plague theory, which attributes the outbreak to the bacterium Yersinia pestis. Thought to have...
. Towards the end of the 14th century, now unknown problems may have led to an abbot being deposed, but within a century the monastery is described as being "in an exemplary state."
Towards the end of monastic life at the abbey, there was a serious disagreement between its patron, Lord Berkeley, concerning the election for a new abbot which the patron tried to prevent by force until his demands for payment of £500 by the monastery were met. The election was finally allowed to occur, despite the refusal to pay this money. The new (and last) abbot of Croxton was however forced to pay £160, plus hand over a bond for a further £160.
The dissolution and beyond
The abbey was dissolved in 1538, with the abbot and eighteen canons in residence.A private house on the site contains elements of a monastic building, probably part of the former guest house once used for wealthy visitors to the abbey. Otherwise, there are no visible remains.
See also
- Abbeys and priories in EnglandAbbeys and priories in EnglandAbbeys and priories in England lists abbeys, priories, friaries and other monastic religious houses in England.-Article layout:The list is presented alphabetically by ceremonial county...