13. THE PRIORY OF RAVENSTONE
The priory of St. Mary, Ravenstone, was
founded about the year 1255 by Peter Chaceporc, keeper of the royal wardrobe, on lands
which formed a part of the barony of Wahull. (fn. 1)
After the death of Peter the patronage of the
house reverted to the Crown, and the canons
were bound to sing a certain number of
masses for the soul of the king as founder. (fn. 2)
The number of canons provided for in the
original foundation is unknown: at the dissolution of the house there were only two left,
though an income of about £70 would have
easily supported more. It was probably on
account of this diminished number that the
priory was granted to Cardinal Wolsey for his
college at Oxford, and dissolved 17 February,
1524. (fn. 3) The canons received 20s. each as
'wages.' (fn. 4) No visitations of the house are
recorded at Lincoln: nor is it easy to recover
any details of its history, exterior or interior.
The original endowment included half a
knight's fee at Ravenstone, with the parish
church, and a demesne of 386 acres besides. (fn. 5)
There is no evidence that it was ever much
increased. The Taxatio of Pope Nicholas
assigns to its temporalia a value of £11 10s.;
the church was worth £10 a year. In 1316
the prior held one third of the village of
Ravenstone, (fn. 6) and the same amount in 1346. (fn. 7)
At the dissolution the total value of the house
is given as £66 13s. 4d., (fn. 8) or, at another reckoning, £72. (fn. 9) The moveable goods were worth
£10, the bells £33 6s. 8d. (fn. 10)
Priors of Ravenstone
Adam of Wymondley (fn. 11) (probably first
prior), resigned 1275
Ralf of Ravenstone, (fn. 12) elected 1275
John, (fn. 13) died 1309
Roger de Clare, (fn. 14) elected 1309, died 1324
William Aubel, (fn. 15) elected 1324, died 1328
Robert Maunsel, (fn. 16) elected 1328
John Man of Raundes, (fn. 17) elected 1398
John Stanwigg, (fn. 18) elected 1417
Ralf Newport, (fn. 19) died 1456
Thomas Gryber (fn. 20) (or Wolvercote), elected
1456, resigned 1465
John Holt, (fn. 21) elected 1465, resigned 1473
Eustace Bernard, (fn. 22) elected 1473, resigned
1485
Ranulf Bleese, (fn. 23) elected 1485
William Wittlesey, (fn. 24) died 1509
John Penkith, (fn. 25) elected 1509
Thomas Cockes, (fn. 26) last prior, occurs 1524
Only a fine fragment remains of the seal of
the priory attached to a charter dated 1278. (fn. 27)
It is pointed oval and creamy white in colour,
and represents the Blessed Virgin seated on a
carved throne. In base under a trefoiled
arch with carved spandrils supported by a
central pillar, a woman kneels, holding up
some object. Legend defective: . . . G D
RAVENES . . .
The reverse is a smaller pointed oval counterseal of Prior Ralph representing the Blessed
Virgin, half length, under a trefoiled arch,
the Holy Child on her left knee. In base,
in a quadrilobe with arched spandrils, the
prior is kneeling in prayer. Legend: . . .
ADVLPH PRIORIS D'RAVE. . . .