Monastic Wales.








Event detail for site: Goldcliff

1330s: Succession dispute

A long drawn-out dispute over the succession to the priorship dogged the community in the 1330s.

Moreover the community suffered a number of robberies and break-ins by rebels and petitioned Edward III for help.
In 1332 Goldcliff's problems were exacerbated when a monk from Tintern Abbey, Dan William Martel, falsified a papal bull and claimed he had been appointed prior by apostolic authority. However, he was duly removed from office when his deceit was uncovered and the former prior, Philip de Goupillariis, was restored to office.

People associated with this event

Priors of Goldcliff

Bibliographical sources

Printed sources

The Heads of Religious Houses in England and Wales, II, 1216-1377, ed. D. M. Smith and V. London (CUP: Cambridge, 2001) pp. 162-3

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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