74. THE PRIORY OF THROWLEY
The alien priory of Throwley, a cell to the
abbey of St. Bertin at St. Omer in France, was
founded about the middle of the twelfth century.
Hugh de Chileham, son of Foubert of Dover,
by a charter (fn. 1) near the end of the reign of
Stephen granted the church of Chilham to the
abbey; and William de Ipra by another charter
about the same time granted the churches of
Chilham and Throwley. The grants were confirmed by Stephen, Pope Anastasius IV, and
Theobald, archbishop of Canterbury; and afterwards by Henry II and Richard I and by later
archbishops.
Sir Nathanael de Levelande claimed the chapel
of Leaveland against the monks, but yielded
when the abbots of Faversham and Boxley were
appointed to settle the dispute. Richard, archbishop of Canterbury, then claimed it; but Pope
Alexander III ordered the bishops of Exeter and
Worcester to hear the case, and it was proved
that the chapel was one of those belonging to
the church of Throwley, as granted to the monks
by Archbishop Theobald. (fn. 2) About the same time
Henry de Insula endeavoured to withdraw himself from the parochial jurisdiction of Throwley,
but was forced to submit to the abbot. The
property of the priory consisted almost entirely
of spiritualities, its temporalities being valued at
only £1 0s. 6d. in the Taxation of 1291. In
an extent (fn. 3) taken in 1324, the temporalities were
valued at £5 5s. 4d., and the churches at £83
yearly.
The priory, being alien, was taken into the
king's hands during the war with France, but in
the reign of Edward III it was divided, the
abbot of Langdon paying £40 yearly for the
church of Chilham with the chapel of Molash,
while the prior paid £32 yearly for the
remainder. (fn. 4)
The abbot and convent of St. Bertin had
licence in 1385 to grant the manors of Throwley, Chilham, and Molash to William de Hoo,
knight, and his wife, brother and sister for
their lives, these rendering £81 yearly at the
Exchequer, performing all the works of charity
established there, and paying tenths and other
quota with the clergy. (fn. 5) In 1386 a commission
was appointed to inquire about wastes committed
in the priory and its possessions. (fn. 6)
The priory and its possessions came into the
hands of Henry V by the Act of Dissolution
passed in his reign; and he granted the manors,
rectories or churches of Throwley, Chilham, and
Molash to Thomas, duke of Exeter, and others,
who on 13 July, 1424, granted them to the
abbess and convent of Syon in Middlesex, the
grant being confirmed by Henry VI in 1443. (fn. 7)
Priors of Throwley
Peter, occurs 1297 (fn. 8)
Walter le Blok, occurs 1326 (fn. 9)
Giles de Ardenburgh, occurs 1356 (fn. 10)
Bartholomew, occurs 1370 (fn. 11)