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  3. Timeline of Religious Foundations
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Timeline of Religious Foundations

907

...
Romsey Abbey founded
According to medieval accounts the abbey for nuns was founded at Romsey by Edward the Elder in this year.

910

...
Abbey of Cluny founded
The abbey of Cluny was founded by William I, Duke of Aquitaine (d.918). The abbey became the founding member of a new Order of Monks known as the Cluniacs. All of Cluny's daughter houses sent money back to the abbey and it became very rich.

999

...
Durham Cathedral consecrated
Bishop Aldhun, the first Bishop of Durham, consecrated a cathedral at the location where the remains of St. Cuthbert had been relocated to. The remains were at Lindisfarne and were moved because of the danger of Viking raids.

1043

...
Leofric founds Coventry Abbey
Leofric and his lady Godgifu found the Abbey on the site of Coventry Cathedral. Godgifu may have been the famous Lady Godiva who rode naked through the streets of Coventry to save the townsfolk from paying high taxes.

1044

...
Abbotsbury Abbey refoundation
The abbey was refounded by Orc, a steward of Canute who expelled the canons and installed Benedictine monks in their place.

1049

...
Mount Vesuvius eruption
Mount Vesuvius the large volcano in southern Italy erupted.

1050

...
See of Devon and Cornwall moved to Exeter
The See of Devon and Cornwall had been located at Crediton in Devon but in 1050 Edward the Confessor moved the See to Exeter. This moved the cathedral from an obscure location to a more important one. Edward gave the new Bishopric to Leofric.

1065

Dec
Dedication of Westminster Abbey
Work on the Abbey at Westminster was either complete or very nearly so at its dedication. Edward the Confessor who had devoted himself to creation was to die less than two weeks later.

1070

...
Dunfermline Abbey founded
The Abbey of Dunfermline was founded by Malcolm III, King of the Scots and his wife Margaret.

1075

...
Chichester founded as a see
Chichester was made a bishopric in this year when the bishop moved there from Selsey.
...
Council of London
At the Council of London Archbishop Lanfranc instigated the movement of many English Bishoprics to more important locations. Amongst these were the Bishopric of Sherborne and Wilton which moved to Old Sarum and Selsey which moved to Chichester.

1088

...
Refoundation of Bath Abbey
Bath Abbey was refounded by John de Villula and populated by Benedictine monks.
...
Foundation of Blyth Priory
The Benedictine Blyth Priory was founded by Roger de Busli and was an alien house dependent on a foreign mother-house in France.

1091

...
Foundation of Binham Priory
Binham Priory was founded in Norfolk by Benedictine monks from St. Albans. (Possibly 1093). The priory was built on the lands of Peter de Valognes which were granted after the Norman Conquest.

1092

...
Tewkesbury Abbey Founded
Robert FitzHamon, the cousin of William Rufus, together with Abbot Giraldus, founded the present Abbey at Tewkesbury.
...
Collegiate church founded at Carlisle.
A collegiate church was founded at this time at Carlisle and a Norman church was built.
...
Carlisle Collegiate church founded
Secular canons founded a collegiate church at Carlisle.

1095

...
Monastery at Chester founded
Hugh 'Lupus' d'Avaranches, the first Earl of Chester, founded a monastery at Chester. Later to become Chester Cathedral.

1098

...
Abbey of Citeaux founded
The abbey of Citeaux in Burgundy was founded by Robert of Mosleme. The abbey did not prosper until around 1113 when Stephen Harding became abbot and a couple of years later St. Bernard became the abbot of Clairvaux its daughter house. The abbey of Citeaux was the start of the massively important Cistercian Order.

1101

...
Foundation of Fontevraud Abbey
This abbey near the Loire Valley in Anjou was founded by Robert of Arbrissel, a preacher.

1110

...
Haughmond Abbey Founded
Situated a few miles to the north east of Shrewsbury, an Augustinian priory called Haughmond Abbey was founded by William, a Lord of Clun.

1115

...
Clairvaux Abbey founded
The Cistercian abbey of Clairvaux was founded in 1115 by Bernard of Fontaines who became Clairvaux's abbot until his death in 1153.

1122

...
Kenilworth Abbey Founded
A priory of Austin Canons was founded in Kenilworth by Geoffrey de Clinton, the Chamberlain of King Henry I. The Priory was raised to the status of an abbey in the reign of Henry VI.

1124

...
Furness Abbey founded
Founded by Stephen, the future King of England, Furness Abbey was built near Barrow in Furness. Initially the order was Savigniac but were later converted to Cistercians in 1147 when the orders were merged.

1127

...
Foundation of Furness Abbey
The abbey, a few miles to the north of Barrow-in-Furness, was founded by Stephen, the Count of Boulogne.

1128

...
First Cistercian Abbey in Britain
Waverley Abbey, the first Cistercian abbey was founded.

1131

...
Gilbertines founded
A minor order of monks and nuns was founded in this year by St. Gilbert. Most of the foundations were set up in the east of England as Gilbert came from Lincolnshire.
...
Basingwerk Abbey founded
The North Welsh Cistercian Abbey was colonised by monks from the Norman house called Savigny and was possibly founded by the Earl of Chester at the time, Ranulf de Gernon.
Mar
Rievaulx Abbey founded
The Cistercian abbey of Rievaulx was founded by Walter Espee who invited monks sent by St. Bernard from the abbey at Clairvaux. This was the earliest Cistercian abbey in Yorkshire.
May 9
Tintern Abbey founded
The second Cistercian abbey in Britain and the first in Wales was founded by the Lord of Chepstow, Walter de Clare. The buildings were constructed on the Welsh side of the Wye River that forms part of the border between England and Wales.

1133

...
Foundation of Garendon Abbey
A Cistercian abbey founded by monks from Waverley Abbey.
...
Combermere Abbey founded
Ranulf, the Earl of Chester witnessed the foundation of the new Savigny abbey in the Midlands.
...
Augustinians at Portchester
A small priory was built by Augustinian monks within the confines of Portchester Castle.

1134

...
Fountains Abbey Founded
Fountains abbey was founded.
...
Calder Abbey first founded
Colonising a new abbey at Calder was first attempted by monks from the Savigny order, but they were driven out by the Scots a few years later.

1135

...
Buildwas Abbey founded
Buildwas Abbey was founded 1135 by Roger de Clinton. It was populated by monks from Furness Abbey.

1136

...
Buckfast Abbey founded
The site of an early Benedictine abbey was taken over by the Cistercians with the permission of King Stephen. Monks from Savigny colonised the abbey.
...
Forde Abbey founded
Initially Forde Abbey was situated at Brightly in Devon, but the site proved too difficult and in 1141 it was moved to its current location 4 miles south east of Chard in Somerset. The founding Cistercian monks came from Waverly Abbey in Surrey.
...
Foundation of Melrose Abbey
Melrose Abbey was founded by King David I and was the first Cistercian foundation in Scotland. The first community of monks came from Rievaulx in Yorkshire. Construction work lasted until 1146 and its dedication to St. Mary.

1138

...
Foundation of Bordesley Abbey
Waleran, the earl of Worcester founds a new Cistercian abbey with help from monks from Garendon.

1139

...
Kingswood Abbey founded
A Cistercian abbey was founded by monks from Tintern Abbey. The location of the abbey altered several times in the first few years, but finally settled at Kingswood in Gloucestershire. A sixteenth-century gatehouse is all that remains.
...
Kirkstead Abbey founded
A daughter house of Fountains Abbey. The initial location of the abbey proved unsuitable and the a new site was chosen near Horncastle in Lincolnshire.

1140

...
Coggeshall Abbey founded
King Stephen and Matilda his wife founded Coggeshall Abbey. This was to be the last of the Savigny abbeys to be founded before the order merged with the Cistercians in 1147.
...
Whitland Abbey foundation
This Cistercian abbey in Wales was colonised by monks from Clairvaux.
...
Alcester Abbey founded
Benedictines founded Alcester Abbey several miles to the west of Stratford-upon-Avon. In around 1465 it became of priory cell and dependent upon Evesham Abbey.
...
Founding of Cambuskenneth Abbey
Cambuskenneth Abbey in Stirlingshire was founded by King David I in around 1140. The majority of the abbey no longer exists, apart from a large bell tower. The site is the burial place of King James III of Scotland and his wife.
...
Foundation of Newbattle Abbey
According to charters the Cistercian Newbattle Abbey was founded in arround 1140 by King David I of Scotland. It was populated by monks from Melrose Abbey.

1142

...
Calder Abbey refounded
The Savigny order of monks colonised the a new abbey at Calder in this year. The earlier attempt at colonising the location had failed after being attacked by the Scots.
...
Dundrennan Abbey founded
David I, King of the Scots may have been involved in the foundation of this Cistercian abbey in Scotland. The founding monks probably came from Rievaulx.

1143

...
Whitland Abbey founded
Cistercians found Whitland Abbey.
...
Revesby Abbey founded
A new Cistercian abbey at Revesby was founded by monks from Rievaulx in this year. The abbey was founded by William de Roumare I, earl of Lincoln and the first abbot was Ailred, who moved back to Rievaulx in 1146 to become the head of that abbey.
...
Boxley Abbey founded
Boxley Abbey, run by Cistercians was founded in 1143 or 1146 by William of Ypres and was colonised by monks from Clairvaux. The Abbey is situated near Maidstone in Kent.

1145

...
Woburn Abbey founded
A colony of monks from Fountains Abbey move to set up a new Cistercian abbey at Woburn.
...
Jervaulx Abbey founded
Initially a Savignic foundation, the abbey was taken over by the Cistercian order and responsibility for it was taken by Byland.

1147

...
Foundation of Biddlesden Abbey
Biddlesden Abbey, a new Cistercian abbey was founded in 1147 by Ernald de Bosco with monks from Garendon.
...
Bruern Abbey founded
A Cistercian abbey in Lincolnshire founded by Nicholas Basset and colonised by monks from Waverley.
...
Dore Abbey founded
The Cistercian abbey of Dore, south-west of Hereford was founded in 1147 by monks from Morimond
...
Alnwick Abbey founded
Alnwick Abbey was founded by Eustace fitz John, the owner of Alnwick Castle.
...
Margam Abbey founded
This Cistercian abbey was founded by Robert, Earl of Gloucester.
...
Roche Abbey
Roche Abbey, located in South Yorkshire is a Cistercian monastery jointly founded by Richard de Busli and Richard FitzTurgis. The monks constructed the abbey in a picturesque valley and it features stunning early Gothic architecture, parts of which still stand today.

1148

...
Lilleshall Abbey Founded
The Augustinian Lilleshall Abbey was founded in around 1148 by Richard de Belmeis.

1150

...
Combe Abbey founded
This Cistercian abbey in the Midlands was founded by Richard de Camville and was a daughter house of Waverley in the south.
...
Kinloss Abbey founded
Another Cistercian abbey helped by David I, King of the Scots. The first monks came from Melrose.

1151

...
Foundation of Flaxley Abbey
Located in the Forest of Dean, in Gloucestershire, the remains of this Cistercian abbey are in the grounds of a private house. The abbey's benefactor was Roger, Earl of Hereford and it was populated by monks from Bordesley Abbey.

1152

...
Kirkstall Abbey founded
A daughter house of Fountains Abbey, the abbey at Kirkstall was first located at Barnoldswick, but was moved a few years later to its current location near Leeds in West Yorkshire. It was founded by Henry de Lacy, a nobleman who donated land to the monks seeking a peaceful retreat. Today the abbey is located in a public park and its impressive ruins remain largely intact providing a striking example of medieval monastic architecture.
...
Cistercian Order expansion ceased
The General Chapter of the Cistercian Order decided that the size of the organisation had reached its limits and no new foundations should be created.
...
Foundation of Easby Abbey
The Premonstratensian Order monastery was founded in North Yorkshire near Richmond Castle by Roald, constable of Richmond.

1156

...
Jervaulx Abbey relocated
The original location at Fors proved unsuitable for the construction of the abbey and after the monks at Byland became involved it was decided to relocate several miles away on the banks of the River Ure.

1158

...
Dieulacres Abbey founded
Monks from Combermere founded Dieulacres Abbey in 1158 at Poulton in Cheshire, but it would later be moved.

1161

...
Coupar Angus Abbey founded
This Scottish Cistercian abbey was founded by Malcolm IV, King of Scotland. The monks that colonised it came from the abbey at Melrose.

1163

...
Foundation of Paisley Abbey
Paisley Abbey was founded in 1163 by Walter FitzAlan, first High Steward of Scotland under King David I. Monks from the Cluniac monastery of Wenlock in Shropshire populated the new foundation.

1170

...
Kingswood Abbey Founded
The Gloucestershire abbey was moved back to Kingswood and populated by monks from Tintern.

1171

...
Bindon Abbey founded
A group of Cistercian monks from Forde Abbey colonised a new abbey at Bindon near Wareham on the south coast of England.

1176

...
Croxden Abbey founded
Monks from the Savigniac abbey Aulnay-sur-Odon in Normandy found a new abbey in England.
...
Cwmhir Abbey is founded
Cistercian monks from Whitland founded the Welsh abbey of Cwmhir in this year.

1177

...
Byland Abbey founded
After several years of moving the location of this abbey, the Cistercian monks finally settled at Byland in North Yorkshire.
...
Henry II refounds Amesbury Abbey
Because of complaints about the abbess and nuns, King Henry II removed them from Amesbury Abbey and replaced them nuns from the abbey of Fontevrault in France making it an alien priory. The abbey was originally founded with Benedictine nuns in 979 by Alfrida.

1178

...
Witham Priory founded by Henry II
As part of his penance for his involvement in the death of Archbishop Thomas Becket, King Henry II of England founded the first of the small number of Carthusian houses that were created in England. Witham Priory also known as Witham Charterhouse was built in Somerset and populated by monks from Grande Chartreuse the mother monastery of the Carthusian religious order.

1186

...
Aberconwy Abbey founded
A Cistercian Abbey was founded by monks from Strata Florida in Wales in Conwy.

1191

...
Foundation of Glenluce Abbey
Foundation of a Cistercian abbey in south-west Scotland by the lords of Galloway.

1198

...
Cleeve Abbey colonised
Monks from Revesby in Lincolnshire moved to Somerset and colonised the new abbey at Cleeve.
...
Cymer Abbey founded
This Cistercian abbey in north-west Wales was colonised by monks from Cwmhir.

1200

...
Tintern Abbey, Wexford
Tintern Abbey in Wexford, Ireland is a 13th-century Cistercian monastery located near Saltmills on the Hook Peninsula. It was founded by William Marshal, the Earl of Pembroke, as a gesture of gratitude after surviving a storm at sea. Monks from the Cistercian abbey of Tintern in Monmouthshire, Wales colonised the new foundation.

1201

...
Dunkeswell Abbey founded
This Cistercian abbey in Devon was founded by William Brewer.
...
Valle Crucis Abbey founded
Valle Crucis Abbey in North Wales was founded in 1201 by Madog ap Gruffuud Maelor.

1203

...
Beaulieu Abbey founded
Founded by King John who wanted to become an object of prayer by the Cistercian order. The abbey was built on the site of a hunting lodge in the New Forest and was colonised by monks directly from Citeaux.

1214

...
Foundation of Deer Abbey
This Cistercian abbey near Peterhead in Scotland was founded by monks from Kinloss.
...
Dieulacres Abbey moved
A new location for this Cistercian abbey was found near Leek in Staffordshire.

1217

...
Foundation of Culross Abbey
Cluross Abbey, in Fife Scotland, was founded by this year by Malcolm, the Earl of Fife.

1219

...
Foundation of Deer Abbey
The Cistercian Deer Abbey in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, was founded by William Coymn, the Earl of Buchan. It was populated with monks from Kinloss.

1220

...
Alberbury Priory
Foundation of the alien priory Alberbury in woods near the River Severn. A small priory dedicated to Bendictine Rule, a cell of the French House of Grandmont. In the reign of Edward III, when war with France broke out, the priory became of property of the crown.

1226

...
Grace Dieu Abbey founded
Grace Dieu Abbey was founded in this year. It was a daughter house of the Cistercian abbey at Dore near Hereford. The foundation would have been earlier but the abbey was attacked and burnt by the Welsh in 1223. The abbey was situated near Monmouth, but no real remains can now be seen.

1227

...
Balmerino Abbey founded
The Scottish Cistercian abbey is situated on the shores of the Firth of Tay. It was founded by the widow of William the Lion of Scotland and her son Alexander. It was built quickly and the monks from Melrose arrived before the end of 1229. The cloister is built on the north side of the church.

1232

...
Lacock Abbey founded
Lacock Abbey in Wiltshire was founded by Ela, Countess of Salisbury, the widow of William Longespee, the son of Henry II.

1238

...
Foundation of Inchmahome Priory
Founded by Walter, Earl of Montieth and built on an island on the Lake of Monieth, this priory was populated by Augustinian canons. The Scottish priory later provided safe refuge for Mary, Queen of Scots after the Scots were defeated by the English.

1239

...
Netley Abbey founded
Peter des Roches and Cistercian monks founded the abbey in 1239 which was late for a medieval foundation. The monks provided assistance to the many travellers who passed through the local port and required their help.

1273

...
Foundation of Sweetheart Abbey
This Cistercian abbey was founded by Lady Devorgilla, the wife of John Balliol of Barnard Castle. Monks from Dundrennan Abbey colonised Sweetheart Abbey.

1274

...
Vale Royal Abbey founded
The foundation of this abbey in Cheshire was a result of an almost disastrous sea crossing by King Edward I. His fulfilment of a vow taken during the voyage resulted in a new abbey called Vale Royal.

1278

...
Buckland Abbey founded
This Cistercian abbey in Devon was colonised by monks from the abbey on the Isle of White. Amicia de Redvers was responsible for its foundation in memory of her husband and son who had died.

1293

...
Franciscan Nuns in England
Nuns of St. Clare, also known as Minoresses, were introduced into England following the Franciscan rule.

1326

...
Oriel College Oxford founded
Edward II founded Oriel College, Oxford.
...
Clare College Cambridge founded
A new college is founded in Cambridge, called Clare College.

1340

...
Queen's College Oxford founded.
Queen's College Oxford founded by Robert de Eglesfield.

1351

...
Eastminster Abbey founded
King Edward III founded a new Cistercian abbey near the Tower of London. Monks from Beaulieu Abbey populated the new abbey.

1352

...
Corpus Christi College founded
Corpus Christi College was founded in Cambridge.

1379

...
New College Oxford founded
William of Wykeham founded his college, New College, Oxford. The foundations being laid in 1380.

1438

...
Oxford University founded
All souls college at Oxford was founded by King Henry VI.

1440

...
Eton College, Cambridge founded
King Henry VI founded Eton College at Cambridge.

1441

...
King's College, Cambridge founded
King Henry VI founded King's College, Cambridge.

1496

Jun
The foundation of Jesus College, Cambridge
Bishop John Alcock of Ely was granted permission by both King Henry VII and Pope Alexander VI to convert Cambridge's derelict Benedictine nunnery of St Radegund's priory into a college of graduate priests studying for degrees in theology.

A Medieval Mystery

There appear to be some strange connections between the fourteenth century Old Wardour Castle and ancient stone circle Stonehenge.

1: Location

Old Wardour Castle appears to be aligned to ancient sites in the Stonehenge landscape.

2: Alignment

Stonehenge is aligned to the Summer Solstice. Old Wardour has a very similar alignment.

3: Size

Could the builders of Old Wardour used mesaurements from Stonehenge to layout the geometrical keep?

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