Perth Charterhouse
Encyclopedia
Perth Charterhouse or Perth Priory, known in Latin
as Domus Vallis Virtutis ("House of the Valley of Virtue"), was a monastic house
of Carthusian
monks based at Perth
, Scotland
. It was the only Carthusian house ever to be established in the Kingdom of Scotland
, and one of the last non-mendicant houses to be founded in the kingdom. The traditional founding date of the house is 1429. Formal suppression of the house came in 1569, though this was not actualised until 1602.
in the Alps
; Carthusian houses were small, and limited in number. Carrying the motto "Never reformed because never deformed", the Carthusians were the most ascetic and austere of all the European monastic orders, and the Order was regarded as the pinnacle of religious devotion to which monks from other orders were attracted when they were in need of greater spiritual challenges. In the first half of the 15th century, the Order experienced a renewal of secular patronage, including an attempted foundation by Archibald Douglas, 4th Earl of Douglas in 1419.
at least was buried there. The first Prior of Perth
, Oswald de Corda, was in office by March 31, 1429.
and William Hay of Errol gave, "through fear" it was said by his grandson, the church of Errol
in Gowrie
; Coupar Angus had been the former rector
and Hay the patron of the church of Errol, and both the abbey and the Hays of Errol tried to recover their rights after James I's death. There were also grants from Perth burgesses, perhaps under the same pressure. By 1434, the priory had control of the Hospital
of St Mary Magdalene and the Augustinian nunnery of St Leonard
, both in Perth. The king also had plans to take Glen Dochart
from the Earl of Atholl
and give it to the house.
and twelve brothers, following the example of Jesus Christ and his twelve apostles. It is likely therefore that the community of Perth Charterhouse usually consisted of this; however, a document from 1478 shows that at that time it consisted of a prior
, fourteen choir-monks, two lay brothers and one novice
. This was probably an aberration, and by 1529 the house was back down to the standard size. By 1558 there were only ten brothers.
As the house was the only Carthusian establishment in Scotland, Perth's place in the international Carthusian system was awkward. It was part of the Carthusian province of Picardy
; between 1456 and 1460 it was part of the English province, but it was placed in the province of Geneva
thereafter.
, who for some time styled himself "Prior". King James VI of Scotland granted the buildings and the gardens of the house to the burgh
of Perth on August 9, 1569, though the house remained in notional operation, being held by commendators until 1602. The final suppression of the monastery in that year probably relates to the reissuing of King James VI's 1569 charter in 1600.
Of the Priory buildings, said to be 'of wondrous cost and greatness', nothing survives above ground. The name Pomarium Flats, for a modern housing scheme near the site of the medieval buildings, recalls the site of the house's orchard.
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
as Domus Vallis Virtutis ("House of the Valley of Virtue"), was a monastic house
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 Carthusian
Carthusian
The Carthusian Order, also called the Order of St. Bruno, is a Roman Catholic religious order of enclosed monastics. The order was founded by Saint Bruno of Cologne in 1084 and includes both monks and nuns...
monks based at Perth
Perth, Scotland
Perth is a town and former city and royal burgh in central Scotland. Located on the banks of the River Tay, it is the administrative centre of Perth and Kinross council area and the historic county town of Perthshire...
, 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...
. It was the only Carthusian house ever to be established in the Kingdom of Scotland
Kingdom of Scotland
The Kingdom of Scotland was a Sovereign state in North-West Europe that existed from 843 until 1707. It occupied the northern third of the island of Great Britain and shared a land border to the south with the Kingdom of England...
, and one of the last non-mendicant houses to be founded in the kingdom. The traditional founding date of the house is 1429. Formal suppression of the house came in 1569, though this was not actualised until 1602.
Carthusian Order
The Carthusian Order had its origin in the 11th century at La Grande ChartreuseGrande Chartreuse
Grande Chartreuse is the head monastery of the Carthusian order. It is located in the Chartreuse Mountains, north of the city of Grenoble, in the commune of Saint-Pierre-de-Chartreuse , France. Originally, the château belonged to the See of Grenoble...
in the Alps
Alps
The Alps is one of the great mountain range systems of Europe, stretching from Austria and Slovenia in the east through Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Germany to France in the west....
; Carthusian houses were small, and limited in number. Carrying the motto "Never reformed because never deformed", the Carthusians were the most ascetic and austere of all the European monastic orders, and the Order was regarded as the pinnacle of religious devotion to which monks from other orders were attracted when they were in need of greater spiritual challenges. In the first half of the 15th century, the Order experienced a renewal of secular patronage, including an attempted foundation by Archibald Douglas, 4th Earl of Douglas in 1419.
Foundation
The traditional founding date of the house is 1429. However, it was three years back, on August 19, 1426, that the Prior of La Grande Chartreuse, having received the consent of the General Chapter of the Carthusian Order, authorised the foundation of a house at Perth.King James used much of his own revenue as well as part of the ransom payment owed to the English crown, to begin work on the new house, as well as pressurising others to make grants; the Cistercian monk John of Bute was given responsibility for overseeing the construction of the priory. The priory may have been intended as a royal mausoleum, and King James I of ScotlandJames I of Scotland
James I, King of Scots , was the son of Robert III and Annabella Drummond. He was probably born in late July 1394 in Dunfermline as youngest of three sons...
at least was buried there. The first Prior of Perth
Prior of Perth
The Prior of Perth was the head of Perth Charterhouse, the Carthusian monastic house located near Perth. It was founded ion 1429, and finally suppressed in 1602...
, Oswald de Corda, was in office by March 31, 1429.
Property
The monastery was founded at the instigation of King James, who on March 31, 1429, granted the proposed house a series of privileges. Coupar Angus AbbeyCoupar Angus Abbey
Coupar Angus Abbey was a Cistercian monastery near Coupar Angus, in central Scotland, on the boundary between Angus and Gowrie.It was founded on the old royal manor of Coupar in 1161 x 1162 with the patronage of Máel Coluim IV , King of Scots, by Cistercian monks from Melrose Abbey...
and William Hay of Errol gave, "through fear" it was said by his grandson, the church of Errol
Errol
Errol or Erroll is an English male given name that is synonymous to Earl. It may refer to:-People:*Errol Barnett , anchor and correspondent for CNN International*Errol Étienne , prominent Scottish artist...
in Gowrie
Gowrie
Gowrie may refer to several places:* Gowrie, a province in Scotland** Carse of Gowrie, the southern part of Gowrie noted for its farmlandGowrie may also refer to:* Gowrie, Australian Capital Territory, a suburb of Canberra, Australia...
; Coupar Angus had been the former rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
and Hay the patron of the church of Errol, and both the abbey and the Hays of Errol tried to recover their rights after James I's death. There were also grants from Perth burgesses, perhaps under the same pressure. By 1434, the priory had control of the Hospital
Hospital
A hospital is a health care institution providing patient treatment by specialized staff and equipment. Hospitals often, but not always, provide for inpatient care or longer-term patient stays....
of St Mary Magdalene and the Augustinian nunnery of St Leonard
St. Leonards Nunnery, Perth
St. Leonards Nunnery was a former Augustinian convent at Perth, Scotland. After King Edward I of England's foray in Scotland in 1296, the Prioress swore fealty to him. The convent was annexed to the Carthusian Monastery at Perth by 1434 and was suppressed in 1438.Elizabeth Dunbar, daughter of...
, both in Perth. The king also had plans to take Glen Dochart
Glen Dochart
Glen Dochart in Perthshire, Scottish Highlands is a glen which runs from Crianlarich eastwards to Killin, following the course of the River Dochart as it flows through Loch Dochart and Loch Iubhair. It is met by Glen Ogle at Lix Toll....
from the Earl of Atholl
Earl of Atholl
The Mormaer of Earl of Atholl refers to a medieval comital lordship straddling the highland province of Atholl , now in northern Perthshire. Atholl is a special Mormaerdom, because a King of Atholl is reported from the Pictish period. The only other two Pictish kingdoms to be known from...
and give it to the house.
Development
The model house of the Carthusian Order was one priorPrior
Prior is an ecclesiastical title, derived from the Latin adjective for 'earlier, first', with several notable uses.-Monastic superiors:A Prior is a monastic superior, usually lower in rank than an Abbot. In the Rule of St...
and twelve brothers, following the example of Jesus Christ and his twelve apostles. It is likely therefore that the community of Perth Charterhouse usually consisted of this; however, a document from 1478 shows that at that time it consisted of a prior
Prior
Prior is an ecclesiastical title, derived from the Latin adjective for 'earlier, first', with several notable uses.-Monastic superiors:A Prior is a monastic superior, usually lower in rank than an Abbot. In the Rule of St...
, fourteen choir-monks, two lay brothers and one novice
Novitiate
Novitiate, alt. noviciate, is the period of training and preparation that a novice monastic or member of a religious order undergoes prior to taking vows in order to discern whether they are called to the religious life....
. This was probably an aberration, and by 1529 the house was back down to the standard size. By 1558 there were only ten brothers.
As the house was the only Carthusian establishment in Scotland, Perth's place in the international Carthusian system was awkward. It was part of the Carthusian province of Picardy
Picardy
This article is about the historical French province. For other uses, see Picardy .Picardy is a historical province of France, in the north of France...
; between 1456 and 1460 it was part of the English province, but it was placed in the province of Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
thereafter.
Reformation and dissolution
In the following year, on May 11, 1559, the Charterhouse and the other religious houses of Perth were attacked and destroyed by Protestant "reformers"; one of the brothers was killed, four others fled abroad, while six monks chose to remain; two of those, the prior Adam Forman and a brother, fled in to foreign Carthusian houses in 1567. Of the four who remained in 1567, one was Adam Stewart, illegitimate son of King James V of ScotlandJames V of Scotland
James V was King of Scots from 9 September 1513 until his death, which followed the Scottish defeat at the Battle of Solway Moss...
, who for some time styled himself "Prior". King James VI of Scotland granted the buildings and the gardens of the house to the burgh
Burgh
A burgh was an autonomous corporate entity in Scotland and Northern England, usually a town. This type of administrative division existed from the 12th century, when King David I created the first royal burghs. Burgh status was broadly analogous to borough status, found in the rest of the United...
of Perth on August 9, 1569, though the house remained in notional operation, being held by commendators until 1602. The final suppression of the monastery in that year probably relates to the reissuing of King James VI's 1569 charter in 1600.
Of the Priory buildings, said to be 'of wondrous cost and greatness', nothing survives above ground. The name Pomarium Flats, for a modern housing scheme near the site of the medieval buildings, recalls the site of the house's orchard.
See also
- Prior of PerthPrior of PerthThe Prior of Perth was the head of Perth Charterhouse, the Carthusian monastic house located near Perth. It was founded ion 1429, and finally suppressed in 1602...
, for a list of priors and commendators - Adam of DryburghAdam of DryburghAdam of Dryburgh was a late 12th and early 13th century Anglo-Scottish theologian, writer and Premonstratensian and Carthusian monk. He entered Dryburgh Abbey as a young man, rising to become abbot , before converting to Carthusianism and moving to Witham...
- Bruno of CologneBruno of CologneSaint Bruno of Cologne , the founder of the Carthusian Order, personally founded the order's first two communities...
- Witham FriaryWitham FriaryWitham Friary is a small village and civil parish located between the Somerset towns of Frome and Bruton. It is in the Cranborne Chase and West Wiltshire Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the ancient Forest of Selwood.- History :...