Barlings Abbey,

Lincolnshire Lincolnshire (abbreviated Lincs.) is a county in the East Midlands of England, with a long coastline on the North Sea to the east. It borders Norfolk to the south-east, Cambridgeshire to the south, Rutland to the south-west, Leicestershire ...

, was a Premonstratensian monastery in England, founded in 1154, as a daughter house of the Abbey of St. Mary and St. Martial in Newsham.

History

Its founder was Ralph de Haye, son of the constable of

Lincoln Castle Lincoln Castle is a major medieval castle constructed in Lincoln, England, during the late 11th century by William the Conqueror on the site of a pre-existing Roman fortress. The castle is unusual in that it has two mottes. It is one of only ...

, and lord of Burwell and

Carlton Carlton may refer to: People * Carlton (name), a list of those with the given name or surname * Carlton (singer), English soul singer Carlton McCarthy * Carlton, a pen name used by Joseph Caldwell (1773–1835), American educator, Presbyterian ...

. It was first established at Barlings Grange but was soon moved to its present site, previously called Oxeney in Lawress wapentake of the West Riding of the Parts of Lindsey. Maud, the wife of William Longespee, gave it the manor of Caenby for the support of four more canons, in addition to the original thirteen."Houses of Premonstratensian canons: The abbey of Barlings." A History of the County of Lincoln: Vol. 2, (William Page, ed.) London: Victoria County History, 1906. 202-205. British History Online
/ref> In the Middle Ages,

was one of the most densely populated parts of England. Within the historical county there were no less than nine Premonstratensian houses. Other than Barlings Abbey, these were: Cammeringham Priory,

Hagnaby Abbey Hagnaby Abbey was an abbey and former priory in Hagnaby, Lincolnshire, England. It was founded as a house for Premonstratensian canons around 1175, by Agnes, widow of Herbert de Orreby. The priory was a dependency of Welbeck Abbey and named in ...

Newbo Abbey Newbo Abbey was a Premonstratensian house of canons regular in Lincolnshire, England, dedicated to the Assumption of Mary. In the Middle Ages, Lincolnshire was one of the most densely populated parts of England. Within the historical county there ...

, Newsham Abbey,

Orford Priory Orford Priory was a priory of Premonstratensian canonesses in Stainton le Vale, Lincolnshire, England. The priory of Orford, in Stainton-le-Vale, was probably built some time during the reign of King Henry II by Ralf d'Albini, in honour of the ...

(women), Stixwould Priory,

Tupholme Abbey Tupholme Abbey was a Premonstratensian abbey close to the River Witham some east of the city of Lincoln, England. The Witham valley in Lincolnshire is notable for its high concentration of monasteries—there were six on the east bank and th ...

and

West Ravendale Priory West Ravendale Priory was a Premonstratensian priory in North East Lincolnshire, England. The site of the priory lies south-west of Grimsby, and west of the A18. Its previous position is defined by earthworks and rubble. The ruins are Grade ...

. By the mid-14th century the canons are known to have been in considerable financial trouble and even by 1412 when there were twenty-seven in residence, they were maintained with difficulty due to continued poverty and debt. By 1497 the situation had improved with the abbot praised for his administration and the monastery remarked to be in a good state.

Dissolution

During the Dissolution of the Monasteries, the abbey became involved in the uprisings against this act and the abbot, Matthew Mackarel, said to have been one of the leaders of the

Pilgrimage of Grace The Pilgrimage of Grace was a popular revolt beginning in Yorkshire in October 1536, before spreading to other parts of Northern England including Cumberland, Northumberland, and north Lancashire, under the leadership of Robert Aske. The "most ...

in Lincolnshire, and six of the canons were subsequently hanged and quartered. The supposed complicity of Abbot Mackarel, like that of other heads of religious houses, gave Henry VIII the opportunity of laying hands upon the Abbey of Barlings and of placing it under the law of attainder. The abbey was closed and the remainder of the canons expelled with little compensation due to the activities of their condemned brethren. The abbey church was defaced, the lead torn from the roofs, and melted down under the special direction of Cromwell. The property passed to the

Duke of Suffolk Duke of Suffolk is a title that has been created three times in the peerage of England. The dukedom was first created for William de la Pole, 1st Duke of Suffolk, William de la Pole, who had already been elevated to the ranks of earl and marquess ...

Burials

Sir John Rochford (or de Rochefort) (c.1355-1410) constable of the Bishop of Ely's castle at Wisbech, Cambs and his wife Alice (daughter of Sir Hugh de Hastings) are believed to have been buried at the abbey (he left a will dated 20 October 1410, proved 14 Dec. 1410, requesting burial at Barlings Abbey, Lincolnshire, next to his late wife, Alice). see Blomefield, Hist. of Norfolk 4 (1775): 712 (wife identified as Alice, daughter of Sir Hugh de Hastings). *

Alice de Lacy, 4th Countess of Lincoln Alice de Lacy, '' suo jure'' Countess of Lincoln, ''suo jure'' 5th Countess of Salisbury (25 December 1281 – 2 October 1348) was an English peeress. Life Born on Christmas Day 1281 at Denbigh Castle, Alice was the only daughter and heir o ...

* Eubulus le Strange, 1st Baron Strange *

John Rochford Sir John Rochford or John de Rochford (died 1410) of Fenn of Boston, Lincolnshire, was an English politician. He was a Member (MP) of the Parliament of England for Lincolnshire November 1390, 1394, September 1397 and 1399 and for Cambridgeshire ...

Post-Dissolution

Sections of the cloister range stood until 1730 as did the impressive central tower of the church which finally collapsed in 1757. Its appearance was recorded in an engraving by Samuel Buck in 1726. Now only earthworks and one large chunk of nave walling remain accessible to the public. The main building outside the monastic church has been interpreted as a detached monastic household such as the abbot's lodging. This building was reformed as a post-

Dissolution Dissolution may refer to: Arts and entertainment Books * ''Dissolution'' (''Forgotten Realms'' novel), a 2002 fantasy novel by Richard Lee Byers * ''Dissolution'' (Sansom novel), a 2003 historical novel by C. J. Sansom Music * Dissolution, in mu ...

secular residence of Charles Brandon,

, who used it as a vice-regal palace. Brandon was

King Henry VIII Henry VIII (28 June 149128 January 1547) was King of England from 22 April 1509 until his death in 1547. Henry is best known for his six marriages, and for his efforts to have his first marriage (to Catherine of Aragon) annulled. His disag ...

's vice-regent in

in the wake of the

Lincolnshire Rising The Pilgrimage of Grace was a popular revolt beginning in Yorkshire in October 1536, before spreading to other parts of Northern England including Cumberland, Northumberland, and north Lancashire, under the leadership of Robert Aske. The "mo ...

.Everson, P and Stocker, D 2003. ‘The archaeology of vice-regality: Charles Brandon’s brief rule in Lincolnshire’ in eds David Gaimster and Roberta Gilchrist, The Archaeology of Reformation c 1480-1580, Society for Post-Medieval Archaeology monograph 1, 145-58.

References

* 'Houses of Premonstratensian canons: The abbey of Barlings', A History of the County of Lincoln: Volume 2 (1906), pp. 202–05. * Anthony New. 'A Guide to the Abbeys of England And Wales', p48-49. Constable.

Notes

External links

Heritage Trust of Lincolnshire
{{coord, 53.2479, -0.3685, type:landmark_region:GB, display=title Premonstratensian monasteries in England Monasteries in Lincolnshire Grade I listed buildings in Lincolnshire 1154 establishments in England 1537 disestablishments in England Christian monasteries established in the 12th century Grade I listed monasteries