HOUSE OF AUGUSTINIAN CANONS
3. BENTLEY PRIORY
Bentley was a priory or cell of Augustinian canons
situated in Harrow, just inside the boundary with
Great Stanmore parish. (fn. 46) It was dedicated to St. Mary
Magdalen and in the patronage of the Archbishops
of Canterbury. (fn. 47) It is said to have been founded in
1171 by Ranulf de Glanville, Justiciar 1180-89, (fn. 48)
perhaps as a cell of the Priory of St. Gregory outside
Canterbury. It was certainly dependent on St.
Gregory's by the 14th century because in 1301
John de Bere, the former Prior, was said to have let
the church at Wotton (Bucks.) to farm for twelve
years without leave from his superior, the Prior of
St. Gregory's, Canterbury, or from the diocesan. (fn. 49)
In 1255 the priory held 3 virgates of land in Wotton
Underwood (Bucks.), two of which were in demesne
and the third was held by Michael de Hamme at a
rent of 4s. a year. One virgate had been given to the
priory by Fredeshet de Wotton and the others by
Alice de Ruppell. (fn. 50) The priory also held the advowson of Wotton church. (fn. 51) In 1291 the prior's goods at
Stanmore were valued at 10s. and the lands and
rents in Wotton at 13s. 4d. (fn. 52)
In 1243 the king pardoned the Prior of Bentley
the interest on 60s. which he had borrowed from
the Jews, (fn. 53) and in 1248 this prior, or his successor,
died of suffocation under a load of corn which had
accidentally fallen on him. (fn. 54) In 1318 Edward II
sent John de Cotham to the 'abbot and convent
of Binttlley', meaning presumably the priory of
Bentley. (fn. 55) A few years later John de Merston, a
canon of St. Gregory's, Canterbury, was living at
Bentley. Two others were sent there from the mother
house as a punishment by the Prior of Christ Church,
Canterbury, who had been appointed to inquire into
irregularities at St. Gregory's. Within a few weeks,
however, one of them was appointed coadjutor of
the Prior of Bentley. (fn. 56)
In 1535 the farm of the lands of St. Gregory's at
Bentley was valued at £4 10s. and at Wotton at £4. (fn. 57)
According to the court rolls of the manor of Harrow
St. Gregory's had ceased to maintain a separate cell
at Bentley many years before, although it was still
responsible for providing a canon to celebrate in the
chapel of St. Mary Magdalen. (fn. 58) In 1546 the former
priory was granted to Henry Needham and William
Sacheverell, in so far as it had belonged to the Priory
of St. Gregory, and later to the Archbishop of
Canterbury. (fn. 59) There remain no traces of the
buildings, which were eventually replaced by a large
house called Bentley Priory, built by the Dukes of
Abercorn. No seal is known.
Priors of Bentley
Martin, occurs 1229-30 (fn. 60)
John de Bere, occurs before 1301 (fn. 61)
William de Carlton, occurs 1301 (fn. 62)
John Taleboth, occurs 1315 (fn. 63)
Robert, occurs 1321 (fn. 64)
John de Merston, occurs 1330-1 (fn. 65)
Adam, occurs 1334 (fn. 66)
Walter de Hancrisham, occurs 1337 (fn. 66)