19. THE PRIORY OF CHIPLEY
Neither the date of the foundation nor the
name of the founder of this small priory of
Austin canons, dedicated to the honour of the
Blessed Virgin, is known.
The earliest known records pertaining to it
are of the year 1235, relative to lands at Clopton
and Denardiston. (fn. 1)
The taxation roll of 1291 gives diverse
entries of its small possessions, which then
reached a total annual income of £4 19s. 4d.;
including 20s. of spiritualities out of Poslingford church, £3 4s. of lands, meadows, and
pasture at Stoke, and 15s. 4d. of smaller temporalities at Stansfield, Poslingford, and Gelham
Parva (Essex). (fn. 2)
Licence was granted in 1343 to Roger Normaund to alienate to this priory the manor of
Chipley, knights' fees and the advowson of the
church excepted, to find two canons to celebrate
daily in the priory church for the souls of Roger
and Joan his wife, when they shall depart this
life, and for his ancestors and heirs. (fn. 3) Roger
Normaund or Norman died seised of the advowson or patronage of this priory in 1363. (fn. 4) From
this it seems probable that an ancestor of
Norman was the founder.
The buildings being in a ruinous condition,
and the income not exceeding £10, the Bishop
of Norwich consented in 1455 to the annexing
of this little priory to the collegiate church of
Stoke-next-Clare, who had become its patrons. (fn. 5)
When the Valor of 1535 was drawn up the
college of Stoke held temporalities in Chipley to
the annual value of £14 13s. 4d.; and there was
also a small pension accruing from the church
of Poslingford and the chapel of Chipley. (fn. 6)
Priors of Chipley
John de Cavendish, died 1333 (fn. 7)
Richard de Norwich, elected 1333 (fn. 8)
David de Thornham, elected 1349 (fn. 9)
Reginald de Rushworth, elected 1350 (fn. 10)
Thomas de Hippesworth, resigned 1370 (fn. 11)
Richard Man, elected 1370 (fn. 12)
Thomas Hepeworth, elected 1395 (fn. 13)
The pointed oval thirteenth-century seal of
this priory bears the Blessed Virgin, half length,
with the Holy Child on the left arm; in base,
under a trefoiled arch is the kneeling prior.
Legend:
S' : PRIORIS : DE : CHIPPELEIA (fn. 14)