Monastic Wales.








Event detail for site: Goldcliff

1291: Dispute

The prior of Goldcliff was embroiled in a dispute with the priory's patron, Gilbert de Clare, earl of Gloucester.

There was disagreement as to whether the king or the patron had the right of presentation. Gilbert cited letters from the abbot of Bec to support his claim. Cowley (Monastic Order in South Wales) explains that while the fifteenth-century register of Tewkesbury Abbey suggests otherwise this likely reflects later practice.
Cowley argues that the very fact Goldcliff’s case was tried at the King’s Bench was helpful to Edward I who could use the prior’s complaints to contain Marcher ambitions.

Bibliographical sources

Printed sources

Cowley, F. G., The Monastic Order in South Wales 1066-1349 (Cardiff, 1977) pp. 200-1

Greenway, W., 'The election of John of Monmouth, bishop of Llandaff', Morganwg, 5 (1961), pp. 3-22

Other events in the history of this site

1113: Foundation - The priory was founded and endowed in 1113 by Robert de Chandos, at the instigation of Henry I.  [2 sources]
1143: Dispute - Goldcliff was embroiled in a dispute with Bishop Uchtryd of Llandaff (1140-8). [2 sources]
1200: Visitation - The abbot of Bec visited Goldcliff and other dependencies. [1 sources]
1274: Levy imposed - Bec imposed a levy on its dependencies.  [1 sources]
1284: Visitation - Visitation by John Pecham, archbishop of Canterbury.  [2 sources]
1290: Concession - By royal command the house was permitted to hold an annual fair to combat its poverty. [2 sources]
c.1291: Wealth - According to the figures recorded for the Taxatio Ecclesiastica of Pope Nicholas IV, Goldcliff’s spirtualities and temporalities totalled £171. [3 sources]
1291: Dispute - 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]
1297: Numbers - At this time numbers had fallen to fifteen. [1 sources]
1318: Disputed deposition - Prior Ralph was removed from office. [1 sources]
1320-1337: Debt - 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]
1321: Custody - Custody of Goldcliff was given to Thomas, the earl of Norfolk. [2 sources]
c.1327: Custody - 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]
1330s: Succession dispute - A long drawn-out dispute over the succession to the priorship dogged the community in the 1330s.  [1 sources]
1400: Restoration - On 31 March 1400, Goldcliff was formally restored to Prior German de Sancto Vedasto. [1 sources]
1410: Rejuvenation - Prior German de St Vaast (Vedasto) took steps to regenerate the priory.  [3 sources]
c.1420-45: Priorship contended - Prior Laurence de Bonavilla was challenged for the headship of Goldcliff by John Twymyng, a monk of Gloucester. [2 sources]
1424: Destruction - Severe storms and flooding destroyed the church. [1 sources]
1442: Re-foundation - Goldcliff was annexed to Tewkesbury Abbey and refounded as a cell of the English house. [3 sources]
1450x70: Dissolution - 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]
1467: Custody - King Henry reconsidered the custody of Goldcliff and gave it once more to Eton college. [1 sources]
 
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