Monastic Wales.








Event detail for site: St Clears

1279: Visitation

Visitation of the house by the prior of Mont-Didier, France, and the English prior of Lenton.

It was reported that at this time St Clears was greatly impoverished and that religious observance was far from satisfactory; the priory’s goods had been alienated and wasted and the monastery was not worth seventy-two marks. The visitors noted that the prior behaved more like a chaplain than a superior and that he and his colleague fought, and were guilty of incontinence and immorality.

Bibliographical sources

Printed sources

'Monasticon Cluniacense Anglicanum or Charters and Records of the Ancient Abbey of Cluni 1077-1534' 2 vols ed.G. F. Duckett(Lewes 1888) vol. 2, p. 136

'Visitations of English Cluniac Foundations in 47 Henry III (1262), 4 Edward I (1275-6), 7 Edward 1 (1279)' London ed.George F. Duckett(1890) p. 26

Other events in the history of this site

c.1150: Foundation - The priory was founded in the second half of the twelfth century. [1 sources]
1279: Visitation - Visitation of the house by the prior of Mont-Didier, France, and the English prior of Lenton. [2 sources]
1288: Debts - The prior of St Clears reputedly absconded with debts outstanding to the bishop of St David’s who duly seized the priory.  [1 sources]
c.1291: Wealth - According to the Taxatio the house had only twelve acres of arable land and its spiritualities and temporalities totalled £15 19s 2d.  [2 sources]
1294x1414: Custody - During these years the house was generally in royal custody. [2 sources][1 archives]
1305: Wealth - The royal officials valued the cell at £8 10s  [1 sources][1 archives]
c.1333: Resignation - By September 1333 John Seyer had resigned as prior of St Clears on account of his dissolute conduct.  [1 sources]
1339: Custody - On 16 July 1339, Pontius, a monk of St Clears, was granted the keeping of St Clears during the French Wars.  [1 sources]
1377: Poll tax - Only the prior is listed. [1 sources][1 archives]
1378-1409: Papal Schism - Contact between Cluny and her houses in England and Wales was severed.  [1 sources]
c.1414: Dissolution - St Clears was dissolved c. 1414  [1 sources]
1442: Custody - St Clears granted to All Souls College, Oxford [1 sources]
 
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