North Berwick nunnery
Encyclopedia
St. Mary's Priory, North Berwick
, was a monastery
of nun
s in medieval East Lothian
, Scotland
. Founded by Donnchad I, Earl of Fife
(owner of much of northern East Lothian) around 1150, the priory lasted for more than four centuries, declining and disappearing after the Scottish Reformation
. It had been endowed by the Earls of Carrick as well as the Earls of Fife, but over time lost its dependence on these and came to be controlled by the more locally-based Home (or Hume) family, who eventually acquired the priory's lands as a free barony.
allege that the founder of the house was Máel Coluim I, Earl of Fife
(died ca. 1228), it is clear from Charter
evidence that it was founded by his grandfather, Earl Donnchad I
(died 1154). A Charter of Donnchad I's son and successor Earl Donnchad II
mentions that Donnchad I had granted land to the priory. Máel Coluim I however confirmed all of North Berwick's possessions in a Charter of 1199. The date of the house's foundation is unclear. A date between 1147 and 1153 is probable, perhap 1150.
The Fife family's kinsman, Donnchad, Earl of Carrick, also patronised the house. He gave that house the Rectorship of the Church of St Cuthbert of Maybole sometime between 1189 and 1250. Donnchad of Carrick also gave the Church of St Brigit at Kirkbride to the nuns, as well as a grant of 3 marks from a place called Barrebeth.
North Berwick appears to have been a Cistercian house, but the relationship between the Cistercian Order and communities of nuns was complicated, and it may originally have been founded as a simple Benedictine house. Gervase of Canterbury
c. 1207 described it as such in a list of religious houses. Such switching to the Cistercians occurred often in England, whose nuns found the privileges of that Order attractive.
A papal bull
of Pope Clement VII
, dated 18 February, 1384, said that the monastery (described as not using the Cistercian habit) had been the victim of war and had its church burned down. Monasteries of Cistercian women usually had thirteen nuns: the prioress and twelve Sisters, but North Berwick had 21 Sisters and a prioress in 1544, and still had a similar number on the eve of the Scottish Reformation
. The hospitals of Ardross and North Berwick had been dependent on the priory.
In 1565 the priory lands were leased to Alexander Home, 5th Lord Home
by his kinswoman, the last Prioress, Margaret Home. On March 20 1588 King James VI turned these lands into a free barony for Home. The buildings of the priory were said to be ruinous in 1587.
North Berwick
The Royal Burgh of North Berwick is a seaside town in East Lothian, Scotland. It is situated on the south shore of the Firth of Forth, approximately 25 miles east of Edinburgh. North Berwick became a fashionable holiday resort in the 19th century because of its two sandy bays, the East Bay and the...
, was a monastery
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
of nun
Nun
A nun is a woman who has taken vows committing her to live a spiritual life. She may be an ascetic who voluntarily chooses to leave mainstream society and live her life in prayer and contemplation in a monastery or convent...
s in medieval East Lothian
East Lothian
East Lothian is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland, and a lieutenancy Area. It borders the City of Edinburgh, Scottish Borders and Midlothian. Its administrative centre is Haddington, although its largest town is Musselburgh....
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. Founded by Donnchad I, Earl of Fife
Donnchad I, Earl of Fife
Mormaer Donnchad I , anglicized as Duncan or Dunecan, was the first Gaelic magnate to have his territory regranted to him by feudal charter, by David I in 1136. Donnchad I, as head of the native Scottish nobility, had the job of introducing and conducting King Máel Coluim IV around the Kingdom upon...
(owner of much of northern East Lothian) around 1150, the priory lasted for more than four centuries, declining and disappearing after the Scottish Reformation
Scottish Reformation
The Scottish Reformation was Scotland's formal break with the Papacy in 1560, and the events surrounding this. It was part of the wider European Protestant Reformation; and in Scotland's case culminated ecclesiastically in the re-establishment of the church along Reformed lines, and politically in...
. It had been endowed by the Earls of Carrick as well as the Earls of Fife, but over time lost its dependence on these and came to be controlled by the more locally-based Home (or Hume) family, who eventually acquired the priory's lands as a free barony.
History
Although later medieval sources, such as the Scotichronicon of Walter BowerWalter Bower
Walter Bower , Scottish chronicler, was born about 1385 at Haddington, East Lothian.He was abbot of Inchcolm Abbey from 1418, was one of the commissioners for the collection of the ransom of James I, King of Scots, in 1423 and 1424, and in 1433 one of the embassy to Paris on the business of the...
allege that the founder of the house was Máel Coluim I, Earl of Fife
Maol Choluim I, Earl of Fife
Mormaer Máel Coluim of Fife , or Maol Choluim anglicised as Malcolm, was one of the more obscure mormaers of Fife.He married Matilda, the daughter of Gille Brigte, the mormaer of Strathearn. He is credited with the foundation of Culross Abbey...
(died ca. 1228), it is clear from Charter
Charter
A charter is the grant of authority or rights, stating that the granter formally recognizes the prerogative of the recipient to exercise the rights specified...
evidence that it was founded by his grandfather, Earl Donnchad I
Donnchad I, Earl of Fife
Mormaer Donnchad I , anglicized as Duncan or Dunecan, was the first Gaelic magnate to have his territory regranted to him by feudal charter, by David I in 1136. Donnchad I, as head of the native Scottish nobility, had the job of introducing and conducting King Máel Coluim IV around the Kingdom upon...
(died 1154). A Charter of Donnchad I's son and successor Earl Donnchad II
Donnchad II, Earl of Fife
Mormaer Donnchad II , anglicized as Duncan II or Dunecan II, succeeded his father Donnchad I as a child. As a child of the previous Mormaer, he was entitled to succeed his father through primogeniture, but not to lead his kin-group, Clann MacDuib. That probably fell to his cousin, Aed mac Gille...
mentions that Donnchad I had granted land to the priory. Máel Coluim I however confirmed all of North Berwick's possessions in a Charter of 1199. The date of the house's foundation is unclear. A date between 1147 and 1153 is probable, perhap 1150.
The Fife family's kinsman, Donnchad, Earl of Carrick, also patronised the house. He gave that house the Rectorship of the Church of St Cuthbert of Maybole sometime between 1189 and 1250. Donnchad of Carrick also gave the Church of St Brigit at Kirkbride to the nuns, as well as a grant of 3 marks from a place called Barrebeth.
North Berwick appears to have been a Cistercian house, but the relationship between the Cistercian Order and communities of nuns was complicated, and it may originally have been founded as a simple Benedictine house. Gervase of Canterbury
Gervase of Canterbury
Gervase of Canterbury was an English chronicler.- Life :...
c. 1207 described it as such in a list of religious houses. Such switching to the Cistercians occurred often in England, whose nuns found the privileges of that Order attractive.
A papal bull
Papal bull
A Papal bull is a particular type of letters patent or charter issued by a Pope of the Catholic Church. It is named after the bulla that was appended to the end in order to authenticate it....
of Pope Clement VII
Pope Clement VII
Clement VII , born Giulio di Giuliano de' Medici, was a cardinal from 1513 to 1523 and was Pope from 1523 to 1534.-Early life:...
, dated 18 February, 1384, said that the monastery (described as not using the Cistercian habit) had been the victim of war and had its church burned down. Monasteries of Cistercian women usually had thirteen nuns: the prioress and twelve Sisters, but North Berwick had 21 Sisters and a prioress in 1544, and still had a similar number on the eve of the Scottish Reformation
Scottish Reformation
The Scottish Reformation was Scotland's formal break with the Papacy in 1560, and the events surrounding this. It was part of the wider European Protestant Reformation; and in Scotland's case culminated ecclesiastically in the re-establishment of the church along Reformed lines, and politically in...
. The hospitals of Ardross and North Berwick had been dependent on the priory.
In 1565 the priory lands were leased to Alexander Home, 5th Lord Home
Alexander Home, 5th Lord Home
Alexander Home, 5th Lord Home was the son of George Home, 4th Lord Home and Mariotta Haliburton. He became Lord Home on the death of his father who was injured in a skirmish with the English two days before the Battle of Pinkie Cleugh.-Marriages:...
by his kinswoman, the last Prioress, Margaret Home. On March 20 1588 King James VI turned these lands into a free barony for Home. The buildings of the priory were said to be ruinous in 1587.
List of known prioresses
- Beatrice, fl. 1375
- Ellen of Carrick, fl. 1379–x1401
- Matilda of Leys, fl. 1401–1434
- Mariot Ramsay, fl. 1463
- Elspeth Forman, el. 1473
- Alison Home, 1473–1525
- Isabel Home, 1525–1544
- Margaret Home, 1543–1562
- Mariot Cockburn, 1566–1568
- Margaret Home (again), 1568–1596x1597