39. THE PRIORY OF ST. CROSS, ISLE OF WIGHT
The small priory of the Holy Cross at the
north end of the town of Newport, Isle of
Wight, was a cell of the Benedictine abbey
of Tiron. It was founded about 1120. On
30 May, 1147, a bull of Pope Eugenius III.
confirmed the church of the Holy Cross in
the Isle of Wight to the abbey of Tiron, and
again a bull of about the time of Pope Alexander III. confirmed to Stephen, abbot of
Tiron, inter alia, the church of the Holy
Cross of the Isle in the diocese of Winchester. (fn. 9)
A survey of alien priories of the year 1295
names, among the possessions of St. Cross, a
horse for the prior, 5 heifers, a two-year-old
colt and filly, 2 bulls, 10 oxen, 6 cows, 6
bugles, 2 calves, I boar, 5 sows, 4 pigs and
14 young pigs. (fn. 10)
In 1391 the annual values of the temporalities of this priory were assessed at £10 3s. 8d.
With other alien houses it was seized in time
of war with France and administered by the
Crown. (fn. 11)
In May 1369 the priory's income was
sequestrated by Bishop Wykeham in consequence of the dilapidated condition of the
buildings. (fn. 12)
On 20 April, 1390, licence was granted
by the Crown to the abbot and convent of
Tiron to alienate the advowson and patronage
of the church or chapel of St. Cross in the
Isle of Wight, called the priory of St. Cross,
and all lands and tenements of the said convent to the warden and scholars of Winchester
College. The conveyance to the college is
dated 1 September, 1391.
Soon after the priory came into the hands
of the college a considerable sum was spent
on the repairs of the hall, the chamber, and
the chapel of St. Cross and on a new waterwheel. (fn. 13)