15. THE HERMITAGE OF GRAFTON REGIS
A beneficed hermitage or small priory of some
importance stood near Shaw Wood at the extremity of the lordship of Grafton Regis, bordering
on Stoke and Alderton. As the Widevilles had
the patronage, it may be fairly assumed that it
was founded by one of the family, though at
what date cannot now be ascertained. The
earliest known reference to this hermitage, which
was dedicated jointly to the honour of St. Mary
and St. Michael, is the name of Helias, hermit
of Grafton, as a witness to a grant concerning
Heynundcote chapel by Walkelin, abbot of St.
James, Northampton, 1180-1205. (fn. 1)
Robert de Twyford, with the assent of Roesia
his wife, by an undated charter gave to the hermitage of the Blessed Mary and St. Michael of
Grafton and the brethren serving God there
22¼d. of yearly rent from lands in Shutlanger. (fn. 2)
Engelram Cumyn temp. Henry III. granted to
the abbey of St. James, Northampton, 5s. 6d.
yearly rental out of lands in Alderton, which
the religious brothers of Grafton held of him,
rendering 18d. yearly to the chief lord; and
William de Bonde, of Alderton, remitted this
18d. yearly payment to the brethren of St. Mary
and St. Michael. (fn. 3)
The Lincoln episcopal registers record the
institution of six successive masters or chaplains of this small house between 1267 and
1373.
No further mention occurs of this hermitage
in the registers, and it is supposed that its independent life ceased about the end of the fourteenth century, and that it became amalgamated
with the Austin abbey of St. James, who found
a chaplain to serve it.
Thomas Wideville, by will of 1434, directed
his trustees to formally convey 'the Ermytage
of Grafton,' with other lands to the abbey of
St. James, and this was accomplished in 1442.
Anthony Earl Rivers, however, dispossessed the
abbey, and by will of 23 June, 1483, the day
before his execution, ordered that 'all such land
as I purchased by the means of Syr James
Molaynes, priest, remayned still with the manor
of Grafton towards the fynding of the priest of
tharmitage.' In the following December the
crown interfered, and the sheriff was instructed
to restore the hermitage and other lands wrongfully assumed by Earl Rivers to John Wykeley,
the abbot of St. James, and his convent. (fn. 4)
Masters or Chaplains of Grafton Regis (fn. 5)
Richard of Herleston, presented 1267
Walter Fruseler, (fn. 6) presented 1284, died 1313
Adam of Karifield, (fn. 7) presented 1313
William of Radeford, presented 1340
Simon of Olney, presented 1349
Walter Child, presented 1373