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Timeline of Religious Foundations
907
According to medieval accounts the abbey for nuns was founded at Romsey by Edward the Elder in this year.
910
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
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 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
The abbey was refounded by Orc, a steward of Canute who expelled the canons and installed Benedictine monks in their place.
1049
Mount Vesuvius the large volcano in southern Italy erupted.
1050
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
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
The Abbey of Dunfermline was founded by Malcolm III, King of the Scots and his wife Margaret.
1075
Chichester was made a bishopric in this year when the bishop moved there from Selsey.
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
Bath Abbey was refounded by John de Villula and populated by Benedictine monks.
The Benedictine Blyth Priory was founded by Roger de Busli and was an alien house dependent on a foreign mother-house in France.
1091
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
Robert FitzHamon, the cousin of William Rufus, together with Abbot Giraldus, founded the present Abbey at Tewkesbury.
A collegiate church was founded at this time at Carlisle and a Norman church was built.
Secular canons founded a collegiate church at Carlisle.
1095
Hugh 'Lupus' d'Avaranches, the first Earl of Chester, founded a monastery at Chester. Later to become Chester Cathedral.
1098
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
This abbey near the Loire Valley in Anjou was founded by Robert of Arbrissel, a preacher.
1110
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
The Cistercian abbey of Clairvaux was founded in 1115 by Bernard of Fontaines who became Clairvaux's abbot until his death in 1153.
1122
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
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
The abbey, a few miles to the north of Barrow-in-Furness, was founded by Stephen, the Count of Boulogne.
1128
Waverley Abbey, the first Cistercian abbey was founded.
1131
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.
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.
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.
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
A Cistercian abbey founded by monks from Waverley Abbey.
Ranulf, the Earl of Chester witnessed the foundation of the new Savigny abbey in the Midlands.
A small priory was built by Augustinian monks within the confines of Portchester Castle.
1134
Fountains abbey was 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 was founded 1135 by Roger de Clinton. It was populated by monks from Furness Abbey.
1136
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.
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.
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
Waleran, the earl of Worcester founds a new Cistercian abbey with help from monks from Garendon.
1139
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.
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
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.
This Cistercian abbey in Wales was colonised by monks from Clairvaux.
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.
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.
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
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.
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
Cistercians found Whitland Abbey.
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, 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
A colony of monks from Fountains Abbey move to set up a new Cistercian abbey at Woburn.
Initially a Savignic foundation, the abbey was taken over by the Cistercian order and responsibility for it was taken by Byland.
1147
Biddlesden Abbey, a new Cistercian abbey was founded in 1147 by Ernald de Bosco with monks from Garendon.
A Cistercian abbey in Lincolnshire founded by Nicholas Basset and colonised by monks from Waverley.
The Cistercian abbey of Dore, south-west of Hereford was founded in 1147 by monks from Morimond
Alnwick Abbey was founded by Eustace fitz John, the owner of Alnwick Castle.
This Cistercian abbey was founded by Robert, Earl of Gloucester.
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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
The Augustinian Lilleshall Abbey was founded in around 1148 by Richard de Belmeis.
1150
This Cistercian abbey in the Midlands was founded by Richard de Camville and was a daughter house of Waverley in the south.
Another Cistercian abbey helped by David I, King of the Scots. The first monks came from Melrose.
1151
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
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.
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.
The Premonstratensian Order monastery was founded in North Yorkshire near Richmond Castle by Roald, constable of Richmond.
1156
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
Monks from Combermere founded Dieulacres Abbey in 1158 at Poulton in Cheshire, but it would later be moved.
1161
This Scottish Cistercian abbey was founded by Malcolm IV, King of Scotland. The monks that colonised it came from the abbey at Melrose.
1163
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
The Gloucestershire abbey was moved back to Kingswood and populated by monks from Tintern.
1171
A group of Cistercian monks from Forde Abbey colonised a new abbey at Bindon near Wareham on the south coast of England.
1176
Monks from the Savigniac abbey Aulnay-sur-Odon in Normandy found a new abbey in England.
Cistercian monks from Whitland founded the Welsh abbey of Cwmhir in this year.
1177
After several years of moving the location of this abbey, the Cistercian monks finally settled at Byland in North Yorkshire.
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
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
A Cistercian Abbey was founded by monks from Strata Florida in Wales in Conwy.
1191
Foundation of a Cistercian abbey in south-west Scotland by the lords of Galloway.
1198
Monks from Revesby in Lincolnshire moved to Somerset and colonised the new abbey at Cleeve.
This Cistercian abbey in north-west Wales was colonised by monks from Cwmhir.
1200
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
This Cistercian abbey in Devon was founded by William Brewer.
Valle Crucis Abbey in North Wales was founded in 1201 by Madog ap Gruffuud Maelor.
1203
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
This Cistercian abbey near Peterhead in Scotland was founded by monks from Kinloss.
A new location for this Cistercian abbey was found near Leek in Staffordshire.
1217
Cluross Abbey, in Fife Scotland, was founded by this year by Malcolm, the Earl of Fife.
1219
The Cistercian Deer Abbey in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, was founded by William Coymn, the Earl of Buchan. It was populated with monks from Kinloss.
1220
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 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
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 in Wiltshire was founded by Ela, Countess of Salisbury, the widow of William Longespee, the son of Henry II.
1238
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
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
This Cistercian abbey was founded by Lady Devorgilla, the wife of John Balliol of Barnard Castle. Monks from Dundrennan Abbey colonised Sweetheart Abbey.
1274
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
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
Nuns of St. Clare, also known as Minoresses, were introduced into England following the Franciscan rule.
1326
Edward II founded Oriel College, Oxford.
A new college is founded in Cambridge, called Clare College.
1340
Queen's College Oxford founded by Robert de Eglesfield.
1351
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 was founded in Cambridge.
1379
William of Wykeham founded his college, New College, Oxford. The foundations being laid in 1380.
1438
All souls college at Oxford was founded by King Henry VI.
1440
King Henry VI founded Eton College at Cambridge.
1441
King Henry VI founded King's College, Cambridge.
1496
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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