5. THE PRIORY OF ST. JAMES, BRISTOL
The priory of St. James, Bristol, was founded
about 1137, by Robert, earl of Gloucester, as a
cell to the Benedictine monastery of Tewkesbury. (fn. 1)
He set aside a tenth of the stone which had been
brought from Normandy for the keep of Bristol
Castle for the building of a Lady chapel in his
new foundation. (fn. 2) He died 31 October, 1147,
and was buried in the choir. (fn. 3) His son William,
earl of Gloucester, completed the endowment
which was confirmed by Henry II about 1181. (fn. 4)
It included the manor of Ashley, the profits of
his fair at Bristol in the week of Pentecost, a
tenth of the rent of the earl's mills at Newport,
a tenth penny of the rent of that vill in Monmouthshire, of his forest, and of three other
mills, a burgage in the new part of the town
which was then growing up around the castle on
the land which separated it from the monastery.
For the sustenance of the monks he gave the
church of Escremoville in the diocese of Bayeux,
and all the churches of his fee in Cornwall, viz.
Eglosbrech, Connarton, Egloshale, Eglossant,
Egloscrawen, with the chapel of Bennarton, and
Melidan, with the chapel of St. Germoch.
The priors were appointed absolutely at the
will of the abbot and convent of Tewkesbury, (fn. 5)
and in the absence of other evidence, it may be
concluded that the monks were sent there for a
time from the mother house. The priors were
usually summoned to take part in the election of
the abbot. (fn. 6) The house was subject to the
visitation of the bishop of Worcester. (fn. 7)
In 1230 the prior and monks of St. James
were in conflict with the Dominicans, who had
built an oratory within their parish. (fn. 8) When, at
the request of the friars, William of Blois,
bishop of Worcester, came to dedicate their
altar and burial-ground, the monks protested
against the dedication; they petitioned that
their privileges might remain intact, and that the
friars should be forbidden to receive oblations or
to have a burial-place. However it is recorded
in the Annals of Tewkesbury that the bishop
did not desist from the dedication nor the friars
from building and taking offerings, to the great
prejudice and loss of the church of St. James.
It was doubtless to attract offerings that in
1238 the prior and convent persuaded Walter de
Cantilupe, bishop of Worcester, to institute the
Feast of Relics which was celebrated on the
Thursday of the week of Pentecost, when
Bristol was thronged with visitors to the fair. (fn. 9)
He granted an indulgence of fifteen days to all
who came to the church and gave alms. Probably the offerings were needed for the fabric,
as some building was then proceeding, and on
St. Luke's Day 1239, Cantilupe dedicated the
church. (fn. 10)
It is evident from the charter of Henry II
that, as at Tewkesbury, the nave of the priory
church had always been used by the parishioners. (fn. 11)
In virtue of a papal bull the prior and convent
had the right of sending a monk to serve the
parishioners or of appointing a chaplain, and in
1242 they successfully resisted Walter de
Cantilupe's attempt to create a perpetual vicarage. (fn. 12) In 1374 the parishioners undertook to
build a bell-tower, but they resisted the obligation to rebuild the roof of the nave, and the
prior and convent agreed to undertake it for an
annual payment of 3s. 6d. in Redland. (fn. 13)
In 1310 the prior and convent proved their
right to take 3d. for every hogshead of wine
which came to the port of Bristol from twelve
o'clock on the Saturday before the Feast of
St. James for a full week. (fn. 14)
In 1394 a dispute with the steward of the
honour of Gloucester was concluded. (fn. 15) When
he came to hold a court at Bristol he claimed
hospitality for a day and a night at the priory for
himself, his bailiffs, servants and horses, but on
inquiry he failed to prove the right.
The history of this priory, as of most other
cells, was uneventful. It was reckoned as part
of the possessions of the abbey of Tewkesbury,
which was surrendered on 9 January, 1539. (fn. 16)
There were probably at that time not more than
three or four monks, and they would be included
in the pension list of Tewkesbury. The prior
received £13 6s. 8d. a year. (fn. 17)
In 1535 the clear yearly value of the property
was £57 7s. 4d. (fn. 18) ; of this sum over £31 was
drawn from rents in Bristol and the immediate
neighbourhood.
Priors of St. James, Bristol
Jordan, ob. 1231 (fn. 19)
Henry of Washbourn, resigned 1234 (fn. 20)
Thomas of Keynsham, appointed 1234 (fn. 21)
Thomas de Stokes, occurs 1255 (fn. 22)
Richard of Devizes, appointed 1255 (fn. 23)
William Isaac, appointed 1262 (fn. 24)
Henry, occurs 1310 (fn. 25) and 1311 (fn. 26)
William of Campden, occurs 1347 (fn. 27)
Thomas Norton, occurs 1374 (fn. 28) and in 21 Ric. II.
Richard Worcester, occurs 1394 (fn. 29) and 1400 (fn. 30)
William Newport, occurs 1454 (fn. 31)
William, occurs 1465 (fn. 32)
John Aston, occurs 1486 (fn. 33)
Robert Cheltenham, occurs 1523 (fn. 34)
Robert Circeter, occurs 1535 (fn. 35) and 1539 (fn. 36)
The prior's seal attached to a deed dated
1486 (fn. 37) is a small signet, and represents an eagle
displayed, within a cabled border. (fn. 38)