52. THE PRIORY OF NEWSTEAD-ON-ANCHOLME
The Gilbertine priory of Holy Trinity, Newstead-on-Ancholme, was founded for Gilbertine
canons by Henry II in 1171. (fn. 1) He endowed it
with the whole island of Rucholm, on which the
priory stood, and other lands in Cadney and
Hardwick to the value of £8 10s. a year. (fn. 2) The
abbot and convent of Longvilliers granted their
lands in Kirton for a yearly rent of £5. (fn. 3) King
John added land in Housham worth £3 6s. a year. (fn. 4)
The endowment was small, and the number of
canons and lay brothers was limited by St. Gilbert
to thirteen. (fn. 5)
In 1254 the spiritualities, including the rectory
of Barnetby, were assessed at £15, the temporalities at £42 17s. 5d. (fn. 6) The prior and convent
increased their income by the sale of wool, which
at the beginning of the fourteenth century averaged ten sacks a year. (fn. 7) In 1291 their temporalities had increased in value by over £6, (fn. 8) and in
1329 they obtained a licence to appropriate in
mortmain nineteen gifts of land and rents,
amounting in all only to the yearly value of 10s.,
in part satisfaction of a licence to acquire land
yielding 10 marks. (fn. 9)
In 1303 the prior held one-twenty-fourth of a
knight's fee in Housham, one-thirty-fourth in
Searby, and a quarter and an eighth in Scawby,
and in 1346 half a knight's fee in Hibaldstow. (fn. 10)
The economic results of the Black Death were
doubtless felt with exceptional severity in a house
with such small resources. The prior had trouble
with his villeins, and in 1384 a commission of
oyer and terminer was appointed touching the
withdrawal by his bondmen and bond tenants,
who had banded together to resist him. (fn. 11)
In 1397 money was needed for the repair and
maintenance of the priory church, and an indulgence was granted for that object by Boniface IX. (fn. 12)
Edward IV released the prior of the yearly rent
of £5, formerly paid to the abbot of Longvilliers,
as the lands were then not worth more than 10s.
a year. (fn. 13)
The priory was surrendered on 2 October,
1538, by the prior and five canons, (fn. 14) all of whom
received pensions. (fn. 15)
In 1535 the net valuation of the property
amounted to £38 14s. 5d., of which £8 came
from the rectory of Barnetby. (fn. 16) Granges and
other lands were let, and the demesne land of
the priory was only worth £4 7s. a year.
In the hands of the crown bailiff four years
later the property brought in £56 18s., including,
besides the rectory, the granges of Housham,
Hibaldstow, and Stirton, near Scawby, and lands
at Cadney. (fn. 17)
Priors of Newstead
William Robynson, (fn. 18) occurs 1522
Thomas, occurs 1529 (fn. 19)
John Orrey, occurs 1535 (fn. 20)
Richard Hobson, occurs 1538 (fn. 21)
The seal affixed to the surrender is round, and
has upon it a large 'N' surmounted by a cross.
There is no legend. (fn. 22)