Priory of St. Andrews of the Ards
Encyclopedia
The Priory of St. Andrews of the Ards (Blackabbey) was a Benedictine
Abbey at Stogursey
in Somerset
.
Originally the area was known as Stoke and by 1086 was owned by William de Falaise following the Norman Conquest. He who had recently married Geva, daughter of Serlo de Burci
, and widow of Martin "de Wallis". Early in the 12th century, William and Geva's daughter, Emma, was betrothed to William Fitz Humphrey, and the couple received the manor of Stoke upon their wedding. The manor was renamed Stoke Courcy, and is now known as Stogursey.
To preserve the Falaise family's association with Normandy
the priory was donated as a cell to the Benedictine Abbey of St Mary at Lonlay
. Within a few years, a group of monks were living in Stogursey and had built their own Priory around 1100-1107, which was known as "The Priory of St. Andrews in Stogursey".
The descendants of Emma and William took their name from the village, and became known as de Gursey, de Curci, or de Courcy. The most well-known member of the family was John de Courcy
, who made himself virtual Prince of Ulster
after conquering it in 1177. He captured the Counties of Antrim
and Down
. Around 1183-84, he granted to the Priory of St. Andrews in Stogursey "Ten Caracutes of land and all its appurtances in the Country of Lart or The Ardes".
In 1204 the Benedictine Priory
was built and was called "The Priory of St. Andrews of the Ards". Over the years this Priory became better known as Blackabbey on account of the colour of the clothes worn by the Monks.
The abbey dwindled over the years and was repeatedly taken into the king's hands, at one time let to one of the burgesses, Johannes Bakeler (the town's MP
). It was appropriated by the crown around 1440 and Henry VI
presented the endowments of Stogursey to "the College of the Blessed Mary of Eton
beside Windsor
" (Eton College
) which he had founded a few years earlier.
Today virtually nothing remains of the abbey, apart from the Church of St Andrew
, which also served the village, and the dovecote. The church has been designated by English Heritage
as a grade I listed building. The site may overlie an earlier Saxon establishment, and is one of the largest in West Somerset. The church retains elements of the Norman architecture (notably the tower and transepts), and the
original apsidal ends to the transepts and chancels. The thatched, circular medieval dovecote was rebuilt in 1925 apart from the steps.
Benedictine
Benedictine refers to the spirituality and consecrated life in accordance with the Rule of St Benedict, written by Benedict of Nursia in the sixth century for the cenobitic communities he founded in central Italy. The most notable of these is Monte Cassino, the first monastery founded by Benedict...
Abbey at Stogursey
Stogursey
Stogursey is the name of a small village and civil parish in the Quantock Hills in Somerset, England. It is situated from Nether Stowey, and west of Bridgwater...
in Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
.
Originally the area was known as Stoke and by 1086 was owned by William de Falaise following the Norman Conquest. He who had recently married Geva, daughter of Serlo de Burci
Serlo de Burci
Serlo de Burci was a Norman of the eleventh century. After the Norman Conquest of England, he became a tenant-in-chief and major landowner in south-west England. His estate centred on Blagdon in Somerset...
, and widow of Martin "de Wallis". Early in the 12th century, William and Geva's daughter, Emma, was betrothed to William Fitz Humphrey, and the couple received the manor of Stoke upon their wedding. The manor was renamed Stoke Courcy, and is now known as Stogursey.
To preserve the Falaise family's association with Normandy
Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
the priory was donated as a cell to the Benedictine Abbey of St Mary at Lonlay
Lonlay-l'Abbaye
-References:*...
. Within a few years, a group of monks were living in Stogursey and had built their own Priory around 1100-1107, which was known as "The Priory of St. Andrews in Stogursey".
The descendants of Emma and William took their name from the village, and became known as de Gursey, de Curci, or de Courcy. The most well-known member of the family was John de Courcy
John de Courcy
John de Courcy was a Anglo-Norman knight who arrived in Ireland in 1176. From then until his expulsion in 1204, he conquered a considerable territory, endowed religious establishments, built abbeys for both the Benedictines and the Cistercians and built strongholds at Dundrum Castle in County...
, who made himself virtual Prince of Ulster
Ulster
Ulster is one of the four provinces of Ireland, located in the north of the island. In ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for administrative and judicial...
after conquering it in 1177. He captured the Counties of Antrim
County Antrim
County Antrim is one of six counties that form Northern Ireland, situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland. Adjoined to the north-east shore of Lough Neagh, the county covers an area of 2,844 km², with a population of approximately 616,000...
and Down
County Down
-Cities:*Belfast *Newry -Large towns:*Dundonald*Newtownards*Bangor-Medium towns:...
. Around 1183-84, he granted to the Priory of St. Andrews in Stogursey "Ten Caracutes of land and all its appurtances in the Country of Lart or The Ardes".
In 1204 the Benedictine Priory
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...
was built and was called "The Priory of St. Andrews of the Ards". Over the years this Priory became better known as Blackabbey on account of the colour of the clothes worn by the Monks.
The abbey dwindled over the years and was repeatedly taken into the king's hands, at one time let to one of the burgesses, Johannes Bakeler (the town's MP
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
). It was appropriated by the crown around 1440 and Henry VI
Henry VI of England
Henry VI was King of England from 1422 to 1461 and again from 1470 to 1471, and disputed King of France from 1422 to 1453. Until 1437, his realm was governed by regents. Contemporaneous accounts described him as peaceful and pious, not suited for the violent dynastic civil wars, known as the Wars...
presented the endowments of Stogursey to "the College of the Blessed Mary of Eton
Eton, Berkshire
Eton is a town and civil parish in Berkshire, England, lying on the opposite bank of the River Thames to Windsor and connected to it by Windsor Bridge. The parish also includes the large village of Eton Wick, 2 miles west of the town, and has a population of 4,980. Eton was in Buckinghamshire until...
beside Windsor
Windsor, Berkshire
Windsor is an affluent suburban town and unparished area in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead in Berkshire, England. It is widely known as the site of Windsor Castle, one of the official residences of the British Royal Family....
" (Eton College
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
) which he had founded a few years earlier.
Church of St Andrew, Stogursey
The Church of St Andrew in Stogursey, Somerset, England which dates from the early 12th century and has been designated as a Grade I listed building....
, which also served the village, and the dovecote. The church has been designated by English Heritage
English Heritage
English Heritage . is an executive non-departmental public body of the British Government sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport...
as a grade I listed building. The site may overlie an earlier Saxon establishment, and is one of the largest in West Somerset. The church retains elements of the Norman architecture (notably the tower and transepts), and the
original apsidal ends to the transepts and chancels. The thatched, circular medieval dovecote was rebuilt in 1925 apart from the steps.