ALIEN HOUSES
71. THE PRIORY OF BLAKENHAM
Walter Gifford, earl of Buckingham, gave the
manor of Blakenham to the great Benedictine
abbey of Bec in the reign of William Rufus. (fn. 1)
As this was an estate of some importance and
must have required supervision, it is probable
that it was placed in the charge of one or two
monks who would have their chapel and offices
at the manor house in early days; but it was
some time before Blakenham is named as a distinct alien priory or cell. For a long time it
was under the charge of the prior of Ruislip,
Middlesex, against whom in 1220, and again in
1225, this manor of Blakenham was claimed by
Thomas Ardern. For a time the manor was
held by the crown in consequence of these disputes; but eventually full seisin was given to
the prior of Ruislip as representing the abbey of
Bec. (fn. 2)
Subsequently this manor was under the control of the prior of Okeburne, the chief representative and proctor of the abbot of Bec. The
taxation of 1291 names a portion of 40s. out of
the rectory of Great Blakenham due to the prior
of Okeburne. (fn. 3) In 1325 the manor was held by
the same prior. (fn. 4)
A curious point arose in 1339 in connexion
with this manor, as held by an alien power
during the time of the war with France. Robert
de Morle, admiral of the fleet from the mouth of
the Thames northward, claimed from John de
Podewell, bailiff of the manor of Blakenham, an
armed man to set out to sea in the king's service.
Whereupon the prior of Okeburne appeared
before the council, asserting that he already
found two men to serve the fleet at Portsmouth,
and if this further charge was laid on him, he
asked to be discharged from the custody of the
priory, as he would be unable to pay the farm
rent due to the king. The council, on deliberation, considered that it would be to the king's
harm if the priory was resumed by the crown,
and therefore orders were issued to the admiral
superseding the exaction of a man from Blakenham. (fn. 5)
After the dissolution of the alien priories, the
former possessions of the abbey of Bec at
Blakenham came to Eton College, through
Henry IV, in 1460.
Among the grants of Edward IV to William
Westbury, the provost, and to the college of
Eton in 1467, occurs 'the priory or manor of
Blakenham, co. Suffolk, sometime parcel of the
alien priory of Okeburne.' (fn. 6)