9. THE PRIORY OF TANDRIDGE
This priory, (fn. 1) as was the case with many of
the smaller Austin priories throughout the
country, was originally founded as a hospital
for priests and poor brethren and sisters. It
was dedicated to the honour of St. James and
founded about the end of the twelfth century,
for three priests under the Austin rule and
several poor brethren. Odo, the son of William
de Dammartin, was the founder and a considerable benefactor. The two charters of Odo
cited in the Monasticon
(fn. 2) only name him as a
benefactor. By these he gave to the hospital
of St. James all his land in Warlingham, with
the windmill and all appurtenances together
with all his relics, two silver cups wherewith
to make a chalice, with all vestments and
books belonging to his chapel, and all his
stock of cattle at Southwick. One of the
witnesses to the second of these charters is
Thomas de Wllst, prior of Merton, who held
that office from 1218 to 1222. But a charter
of Walter, prior of Merton, dated June 1217,
definitely names Odo as the founder of this
hospital, and admits him, and all the brethren
and sisters and benefactors of the hospital into
the fraternity of the house of Merton. (fn. 3)
In June 1285 licence was granted for the
alienation in mortmain by William de Acstede
to the prior and convent of Tandridge of a
carucate of land in Oxted. (fn. 4)
The taxation roll of 1291 returns the
annual value of the temporalities of this small
house, at Warlingham, at £2 6s. 8d. The
parish church of Tandridge was at the same
time declared of the annual value of £6 13s. 4d.
This rectory was soon afterwards appropriated
to the priory. In November 1302 the prior
and convent obtained licence to hold the
advowson of the church of Crowhurst, the
gift of Henry de Guildford. (fn. 5)
Bishop Woodlock visited the priory on 21
November 1308. A month later he forwarded elaborate orders to the prior and convent. No special laxity was charged against
the house, and the orders were of the usual
character, namely as to attendance at mass
and the quire offices, silence, keeping the
doors, uniform habit, uncurtained beds in the
dormitory, etc. This episcopal confirmation
of their rule was ordered to be read in chapter
four times a year. (fn. 6)
In an episcopal certificate as to vacant
preferments dated 2 February 1309, it is
stated that the income of this priory barely
sufficed for the support of its ministers. (fn. 7)
The house suffered much under the negligent rule of Prior Thomas de St. Alban, and
on 22 November 1312 Charles de Seggeford,
rector of Coulsdon, was appointed by the
bishop to act as the prior's coadjutor, (fn. 8) and a
commission was issued to him together with
Nicholas, rector of Oxted, and Master John
de Tycheseye, in August 1321 by the Bishop
of Winchester, to inquire into the grave
charges made against the prior, with power
of canonical coercion. (fn. 9) The result of this
inquiry was to bring about the resignation of
Prior Thomas. Again the administration of
Prior John Hansard, the next prior but one,
was so bad that Bishop Stratford interdicted
his interference with the temporalities, and
appointed Lawrence de Rustington to act as
coadjutor. (fn. 10)
In 1352 Walter de Mertsham (probably a
brother of the Prior John) had licence to
alienate to the priory two messuages, 180 acres
of land, 14 acres of meadow, 13 acres of wood
and 2s. 8d. rent in Tandridge and Walkhamsted. (fn. 11)
Prior Richard Frensh died on 9 December
1403. Thereupon the canons elected
William Sonderesshe in his place, with the
licence of William Warbylton, the then
patron of the house. His name was submitted to the bishop's commissaries in March
1404. The election was found to be invalid
non ob defectum persone sed vitium forme.
Bishop Wykeham declared the election void,
but forthwith collated William Sonderesshe
to the priory on his own authority. (fn. 12)
A rental of the priory was drawn up by the
prior in the year 1451, when John Hammond
was prior; a copy of that part relative to the
rents of assize and farm rents in Tandridge
itself is still extant. (fn. 13)
The Valor of 1535 gave the clear annual
value of this priory at £81 7s. 4d. The
priory then held the rectory of Tandridge
worth £13 6s. 8d., the rectory of Crowhurst
£8 6s., and half the rectory of Godstone alias
Wolkensted £3 11s. 8d. John Lyngfield, the
last prior, obtained a pension of £14. (fn. 14)
Priors of Tandridge
Thomas, (fn. 15) occurs 1226
Adam, (fn. 16) occurs 1235
Humphrey, (fn. 17) occurs 1263
Walter, (fn. 18) collated 1306, 1309
Thomas de St. Alban, (fn. 19) collated 1309, resigned 1323
Henry de Pecham, (fn. 20) elected 1323, died 1324
John Hansard, elected 1324
Philip de Wokingham, collated 1335, deposed on non-residence 1341
John de Mertsham, (fn. 21) elected 1341, resigned
1380
Richard Frensh, (fn. 22) collated 1380, died 1403
William Sonderesshe, (fn. 23) elected 1404
John Fremyngham, (fn. 24) 1441
John Hammond, occurs 1451, resigned
1458
John Grannesden, (fn. 25) elected 1458, resigned
1463
John Odierne, (fn. 26) collated 1463, died 1464
William West, (fn. 27) 1464, resigned 1467
John Kirton, (fn. 28) elected 1467, resigned 1469
Robert Mitchell, occurs 1469, 1474
William, occurs 1478
Robert Mitchell II., (fn. 29) occurs 1495
Robert Wodd, (fn. 30) collated 1499
John Foster, (fn. 31) occurs 1500, 1507
Robert Mitchell II, (fn. 32) occurs 1520, 1524
John Lyngfeld, (fn. 33) collated 1525, occurs
1529