Leicester Abbey
Encyclopedia
Leicester Abbey, the Abbey of Saint Mary de Pratis ("St Mary of the Meadows"), standing about a mile (2 km) north of the city of Leicester
in the riverside meadows on the west bank of the River Soar
, was built under the patronage of Robert le Bossu
, Earl of Leicester
. It was founded as a community of Augustinian Canons, the canons regular of the Order of Saint Augustine
. Canons regular follow a similar, but perhaps less rigid rule than monks, following a rule set down by Saint Augustine
in a letter to a convent in his diocese.
The abbey was one of the largest and most influential land owners in Leicestershire
, thanks to contributions by important patrons such as the Earl of Winchester
, Simon de Montfort
, Alan la Zouche, Ernard de Bosco and, finally, the Crown. The abbey certainly held more manors than any lay lord.
Thomas Wolsey, Archbishop of York
and Lord Chancellor
of England, who was for a time the most powerful man in England, second only to the King. In spiritual terms, his power even surpassed that of the Archbishop of Canterbury
(the Primate of All England). Wolsey, at one part, was a candidate for the papacy on the death of Leo X, when Adrian VI
was elected.
Wolsey fell out of the King’s favour in 1529 and went north to visit his Archdiocese of York. A year later he was accused of high treason
and ordered to return to London
. On the way, he stopped at Leicester Abbey. As he arrived, he told the abbot, "I am come to leave my bones among you.” Wolsey died at the abbey on 29 November 1530 and was buried within the walls of the Abbey church, where today a monument stands on his supposed resting place. From the disgrace of Wolsey, the path to schism from Rome was short, and the inevitable fall of the Abbey of St Mary de Pratis of Leicester.
The clothes manufacturers Wolsey
is based nearby in Leicester and the company is named in honour of Cardinal Wolsey.
of the King, and the abbey would have become the cathedral of Leicester. However, it had problems of its own, far from the reaches of spiritual politics. The Abbey was in debt. The canons owed £411 10 s 0 d (£411.50). The last abbot, John Bourchen, surrendered the abbey to Thomas Cromwell, Wolsey’s old secretary. He set up what was believed to be a scheme to save the Abbey (despite his firm belief in the dissolution of the monasteries)—the sale of the abbey’s land and possessions. The scheme (unsurprisingly) failed. The canons disbanded, and the land was granted to the Marquess of Northampton
, who later sold it to the Earl of Huntingdon
, who built a house in the grounds of the abbey, using the Abbey's stone. The Abbey's main gatehouse, which gave access to the cloister that flanked the abbey church, some boundary walls and later farm buildings have survived.
In 1613, William Cavendish, the first Earl of Devonshire, acquired the property, and it became known as Cavendish House. It was used as the headquarters of Charles I after his forces occupied the town in late May 1645, shortly before the Battle of Naseby
. The house was burnt down following the royalist defeat at Naseby (though it is unclear who set fire to it) and never re-built.
In 1931 the precinct of the abbey was incorporated into the Victorian park called Abbey Park
, which had previously been confined to the area between the river and the canal. All of the former mediaeval abbey precinct is now a Scheduled monument. The scheduled area includes not only the footprint of the abbey church and the main abbey buildings (The outline of which was set out in stone once it had been identified in the 1920s) the older parts of the precinct wall which are in stone and line the northern, north-eastern and north-western sides of the precinct, and the brick part the precinct wall, known as Abbot Penny's Wall (which was erected around a southern extension to the precinct c.1500) and the remains of Cavendish House.
Leicester
Leicester is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England, and the county town of Leicestershire. The city lies on the River Soar and at the edge of the National Forest...
in the riverside meadows on the west bank of the River Soar
River Soar
The River Soar is a tributary of the River Trent in the English East Midlands.-Description:It rises near Hinckley in Leicestershire and is joined by the River Sence near Enderby before flowing through Leicester , Barrow-on-Soar, beside Loughborough and Kegworth, before joining the Trent near...
, was built under the patronage of Robert le Bossu
Robert de Beaumont, 2nd Earl of Leicester
Robert de Beaumont, 2nd Earl of Leicester was Justiciar of England 1155–1168.The surname "de Beaumont" is given him by genealogists. The only known contemporary surname applied to him is "Robert son of Count Robert"...
, Earl of Leicester
Earl of Leicester
The title Earl of Leicester was created in the 12th century in the Peerage of England , and is currently a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom, created in 1837.-Early creations:...
. It was founded as a community of Augustinian Canons, the canons regular of the Order of Saint Augustine
Augustine of Hippo
Augustine of Hippo , also known as Augustine, St. Augustine, St. Austin, St. Augoustinos, Blessed Augustine, or St. Augustine the Blessed, was Bishop of Hippo Regius . He was a Latin-speaking philosopher and theologian who lived in the Roman Africa Province...
. Canons regular follow a similar, but perhaps less rigid rule than monks, following a rule set down by Saint Augustine
Augustine of Hippo
Augustine of Hippo , also known as Augustine, St. Augustine, St. Austin, St. Augoustinos, Blessed Augustine, or St. Augustine the Blessed, was Bishop of Hippo Regius . He was a Latin-speaking philosopher and theologian who lived in the Roman Africa Province...
in a letter to a convent in his diocese.
The abbey was one of the largest and most influential land owners in 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...
, thanks to contributions by important patrons such as the Earl of Winchester
Earl of Winchester
Earl of Winchester was a title that was created three times in the Peerage of England during the Middle Ages. The first was Saer de Quincy, who received the earldom in 1207/8 after his wife inherited half of the lands of the Beaumont earls of Leicester. This creation became extinct in 1265 upon the...
, Simon de Montfort
Simon de Montfort, 6th Earl of Leicester
Simon de Montfort, 6th Earl of Leicester, 1st Earl of Chester , sometimes referred to as Simon V de Montfort to distinguish him from other Simon de Montforts, was an Anglo-Norman nobleman. He led the barons' rebellion against King Henry III of England during the Second Barons' War of 1263-4, and...
, Alan la Zouche, Ernard de Bosco and, finally, the Crown. The abbey certainly held more manors than any lay lord.
Cardinal Wolsey
The abbey is perhaps most famous for its connection to CardinalCardinal (Catholicism)
A cardinal is a senior ecclesiastical official, usually an ordained bishop, and ecclesiastical prince of the Catholic Church. They are collectively known as the College of Cardinals, which as a body elects a new pope. The duties of the cardinals include attending the meetings of the College and...
Thomas Wolsey, Archbishop of York
Archbishop of York
The Archbishop of York is a high-ranking cleric in the Church of England, second only to the Archbishop of Canterbury. He is the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of York and metropolitan of the Province of York, which covers the northern portion of England as well as the Isle of Man...
and Lord Chancellor
Lord Chancellor
The Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain, or Lord Chancellor, is a senior and important functionary in the government of the United Kingdom. He is the second highest ranking of the Great Officers of State, ranking only after the Lord High Steward. The Lord Chancellor is appointed by the Sovereign...
of England, who was for a time the most powerful man in England, second only to the King. In spiritual terms, his power even surpassed that of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Archbishop of Canterbury
The Archbishop of Canterbury is the senior bishop and principal leader of the Church of England, the symbolic head of the worldwide Anglican Communion, and the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Canterbury. In his role as head of the Anglican Communion, the archbishop leads the third largest group...
(the Primate of All England). Wolsey, at one part, was a candidate for the papacy on the death of Leo X, when Adrian VI
Pope Adrian VI
Pope Adrian VI , born Adriaan Florenszoon Boeyens, served as Pope from 9 January 1522 until his death some 18 months later...
was elected.
Wolsey fell out of the King’s favour in 1529 and went north to visit his Archdiocese of York. A year later he was accused of high treason
High treason
High treason is criminal disloyalty to one's government. Participating in a war against one's native country, attempting to overthrow its government, spying on its military, its diplomats, or its secret services for a hostile and foreign power, or attempting to kill its head of state are perhaps...
and ordered to return to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. On the way, he stopped at Leicester Abbey. As he arrived, he told the abbot, "I am come to leave my bones among you.” Wolsey died at the abbey on 29 November 1530 and was buried within the walls of the Abbey church, where today a monument stands on his supposed resting place. From the disgrace of Wolsey, the path to schism from Rome was short, and the inevitable fall of the Abbey of St Mary de Pratis of Leicester.
The clothes manufacturers Wolsey
Wolsey (Clothes)
Wolsey is a heritage British clothing brand originally founded in 1755, making it one of the oldest existing textile companies in the world. The brand sells men’s clothing and accessories, including a 'Made in Britain' range of knitwear, socks, underwear and scarves...
is based nearby in Leicester and the company is named in honour of Cardinal Wolsey.
Post-Reformation
The canons regular in fact supported the Oath of SupremacyOath of Supremacy
The Oath of Supremacy, originally imposed by King Henry VIII of England through the Act of Supremacy 1534, but repealed by his daughter, Queen Mary I of England and reinstated under Mary's sister, Queen Elizabeth I of England under the Act of Supremacy 1559, provided for any person taking public or...
of the King, and the abbey would have become the cathedral of Leicester. However, it had problems of its own, far from the reaches of spiritual politics. The Abbey was in debt. The canons owed £411 10 s 0 d (£411.50). The last abbot, John Bourchen, surrendered the abbey to Thomas Cromwell, Wolsey’s old secretary. He set up what was believed to be a scheme to save the Abbey (despite his firm belief in the dissolution of the monasteries)—the sale of the abbey’s land and possessions. The scheme (unsurprisingly) failed. The canons disbanded, and the land was granted to the Marquess of Northampton
Marquess of Northampton
Marquess of Northampton is a title that has been created twice.-William Parr:First creation, 1547–1571The title was created for the first time in the Peerage of England in 1547 in favour of William Parr, brother of Catherine Parr, the sixth and last wife of King Henry VIII. The title was forfeited...
, who later sold it to the Earl of Huntingdon
Earl of Huntingdon
Earl of Huntingdon is a title which has been created several times in the Peerage of England. The title is associated with the ruling house of Scotland, and latterly with the Hastings family.-Early history:...
, who built a house in the grounds of the abbey, using the Abbey's stone. The Abbey's main gatehouse, which gave access to the cloister that flanked the abbey church, some boundary walls and later farm buildings have survived.
In 1613, William Cavendish, the first Earl of Devonshire, acquired the property, and it became known as Cavendish House. It was used as the headquarters of Charles I after his forces occupied the town in late May 1645, shortly before the Battle of Naseby
Battle of Naseby
The Battle of Naseby was the key battle of the first English Civil War. On 14 June 1645, the main army of King Charles I was destroyed by the Parliamentarian New Model Army commanded by Sir Thomas Fairfax and Oliver Cromwell.-The Campaign:...
. The house was burnt down following the royalist defeat at Naseby (though it is unclear who set fire to it) and never re-built.
In 1931 the precinct of the abbey was incorporated into the Victorian park called Abbey Park
Abbey Park, Leicestershire
Abbey Park is a public park in Leicester, England, owned and managed by Leicester City Council through which the River Soar flows.The park contains the remains of the 12th century Leicester Abbey and the ruins of Cavendish House...
, which had previously been confined to the area between the river and the canal. All of the former mediaeval abbey precinct is now a Scheduled monument. The scheduled area includes not only the footprint of the abbey church and the main abbey buildings (The outline of which was set out in stone once it had been identified in the 1920s) the older parts of the precinct wall which are in stone and line the northern, north-eastern and north-western sides of the precinct, and the brick part the precinct wall, known as Abbot Penny's Wall (which was erected around a southern extension to the precinct c.1500) and the remains of Cavendish House.
External links
- Leicester City Council: Abbey history
- Leicester City Council: Abbey Park
- Thomas Williams and Semper Eadem : History
- University of Leicester: "Leicester Abbey revisited": recent archaeology