Monastic Wales.








Event detail for site: Goldcliff

1274: Levy imposed

Bec imposed a levy on its dependencies.

This was to help with rebuilding the central tower of the church at Bec which had collapsed. The abbot of Bec came to England in person to impose this levy. During the late thirteenth and early fourteenth centuries the monks of Goldcliff and the other houses dependent on Bec were required to help finance the building of a new choir at the Norman house.

Bibliographical sources

Printed sources

Graham, Rose, 'Four alien priories in Monmouthshire', Journal of the British Archaeological Association, 35 (1930) pp. 107-108


Other events in the history of this site

1113Foundation - The priory was founded and endowed in 1113 by Robert de Chandos, at the instigation of Henry I.  [2 sources]
1143Dispute - Goldcliff was embroiled in a dispute with Bishop Uchtryd of Llandaff (1140-8). [2 sources]
1200Visitation - The abbot of Bec visited Goldcliff and other dependencies. [1 sources]
1274Levy imposed - Bec imposed a levy on its dependencies.  [1 sources]
1284Visitation - Visitation by John Pecham, archbishop of Canterbury.  [2 sources]
1290Concession - By royal command the house was permitted to hold an annual fair to combat its poverty. [2 sources]
c.1291Wealth - According to the figures recorded for the Taxatio Ecclesiastica of Pope Nicholas IV, Goldcliff’s spirtualities and temporalities totalled £171. [3 sources]
1291Dispute - The prior of Goldcliff was embroiled in a dispute with the priory's patron, Gilbert de Clare, earl of Gloucester. [2 sources]
1295 Royal custody - The house was seized by the king as an alien priory in August 1295. [2 sources]
1297Numbers - At this time numbers had fallen to fifteen. [1 sources]
1318Disputed deposition - Prior Ralph was removed from office. [1 sources]
1320-1337Debt - The priory was in debt to the sum of £63 13s 4d; its creditor was Philip de Columbariis (Columbers), patron of the house.  [1 sources]
1321Custody - Custody of Goldcliff was given to Thomas, the earl of Norfolk. [2 sources]
c.1327Custody - Following the outbreak of the Hundred Years’ War the prior of Goldcliff was permitted to retain custody of the house for the annual sum of £10. [1 sources]
1330sSuccession dispute - A long drawn-out dispute over the succession to the priorship dogged the community in the 1330s.  [1 sources]
1400Restoration - On 31 March 1400, Goldcliff was formally restored to Prior German de Sancto Vedasto. [1 sources]
1410Rejuvenation - Prior German de St Vaast (Vedasto) took steps to regenerate the priory.  [3 sources]
c.1420-45Priorship contended - Prior Laurence de Bonavilla was challenged for the headship of Goldcliff by John Twymyng, a monk of Gloucester. [2 sources]
1424Destruction - Severe storms and flooding destroyed the church. [1 sources]
1442Re-foundation - Goldcliff was annexed to Tewkesbury Abbey and refounded as a cell of the English house. [3 sources]
1450x70Dissolution - Monastic life was seriously impeded from c. 1445 but was formally terminated in 1467 and the church was left to ruin. [1 sources]
1451 (2 April)Custody - The king granted Goldcliff to Eton College.  [2 sources]
1462 (1 Feb)Custody - Goldcliff was granted once more to Tewkesbury. [2 sources][1 archives]
1467Custody - King Henry reconsidered the custody of Goldcliff and gave it once more to Eton college. [1 sources]

 
Graphic.