The Monastic Order in Yorkshire, 1069–1215

by Janet Burton

• ISBN13: 9780521552295
• ISBN10: 052155229X
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 1999-03-28
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Summary

This book explores the dramatic growth of the monastic order in Yorkshire from the foundation of the first post-Conquest abbey at Selby in 1069, to 1215. The first half examines the dynamics of monastic expansion, discussing the influences on both its chronological development and its geographical pattern. It demonstrates that the monastic expansion owed much to the particular political and tenurial conditions which existed in the century after 1069: the establishment of Norman political ascendancy, the extension of central government under Henry I, and the civil war of the reign of King Stephen. The second part of the book explores recruitment, patronage, economy and cultural life. Particular attention is paid to the role of women in the religious life. Nunneries, so often regarded as second-class or failed monasteries, are here shown to have had a distinctive function in society, in terms both of recruitment and of interaction with the local community.

Table of Contents

Preface	ix	(2)
List of abbreviations	xi	(6)
Table of monastic foundations in Yorkshire, by order, congregation, or type	xvii	(3)
Maps: 1. The Black Monks and the Regular Canons in Yorkshire	xx	(1)
2. The Yorkshire Cistercians and their families	xxi	(1)
3. Nunneries in Yorkshire	xxii
INTRODUCTION	1	(22)
Yorkshire as a unit of study	2	(1)
The creation of English Monasticism	3	(9)
Sources	12	(11)
PART I THE DYNAMICS OF EXPANSION	23	(132)
1 FROM HERMITAGE TO ABBEY: THE BLACK MONKS IN YORKSHIRE	23	(22)
2 ALIEN MONKS AND CLUNIAC PRIORIES	45	(24)
Holy Trinity, York, and the dependencies of Marmoutier	45	(6)
Cells of Aumale, St Wandrille, and Mont St Michel	51	(4)
The coming of the Cluniacs: Pontefract and Monk Bretton	55	(14)
3 THE REGULAR CANONS	69	(29)
Founders and their charters, 1114-c. 1140	69	(17)
The later foundations, c. 1140-1215	86	(9)
Cultural, ecclesiastical, and political contacts	95	(3)
4 THE SUREST ROAD TO HEAVEN: THE COMING OF THE CISTERCIANS	98	(27)
5 RELIGIOUS WOMEN	125	(30)
The foundation of the Yorkshire nunneries	125	(14)
Motives for foundation	139	(7)
Female monastic observance: Cistercian influence	146	(9)
PART II: THE LIFE WITHIN AND THE WORLD OUTSIDE	155	(152)
6 THE MONASTIC WORLD	155	(27)
The male monastic community	155	(12)
The female monastic community	167	(10)
Monastic discipline	177	(2)
Yorkshire and the wider monastic world	179	(3)
7 FOUNDERS, PATRONS, AND BENEFACTORS	182	(34)
The founders: consolidation of baronial power, and knightly aspirations	184	(9)
Patronage and penance	193	(2)
Patronage and politics: the powers of advocacy	195	(10)
Benefactors and benefits	205	(5)
A case study: Adam son of Peter de Birkin	210	(6)
8 MONASTERIES AND THE LANDSCAPE	216	(28)
Development of estates: location	218	(5)
The nature of monastic economic assets	223	(21)
9 FINANCING THE MONASTERY: THE MANAGEMENT OF ECONOMIC RESOURCES	244	(33)
Lords of the manor	244	(9)
Urban landlords	253	(1)
The Cistercian grange	254	(15)
Monastic houses and the market place	269	(2)
Economic strengths and weaknesses	271	(3)
Appendix: Table of Cistercian granges	274	(3)
10 CULTURAL INFLUENCES AND IDENTITIES	277	(30)
Manuscripts and writers	278	(19)
Architecture	297	(10)
Conclusion	307	(3)
Select bibliography	310	(18)
Index	328