2. THE PRIORY OF DUNSTER
William de Mohun and Adeliza his wife gave
in 1090 to John de Villula, just appointed Bishop
of Bath, and to his new cathedral church of St.
Peter at Bath (fn. 217) the church of St. George of
Dunster with various lands and tithes.
The donor, William de Mohun, who was
sheriff in 1086, expressly states in his deed of gift
that he had conferred this church on the monks
of the cathedral church that they might build
and edify it (ædificent et exaltent).
This gift was confirmed to the monks by Archbishop Theobald (1139–61), and the archbishop
states (fn. 218) in his charter that there had been a
previous confirmation by Archbishop Anselm and
King William Rufus. There is also among the
Bath charters another confirmation (fn. 219) by a
William de Mohun, probably the fourth, which
gives the boundaries of the monastic estate at
Alcombe.
The church and property was so far from
Bath that they could not be managed and served
from the mother priory, and there must have
been from the earliest times a cell formed there.
The Bath records (fn. 220) show very clearly that the
revenues of Dunster were administered at Bath,
leases of lands were made out in the name of the
priors of the mother convent, (fn. 221) and though we
read of the prior's garden and his vineyard, yet
the cell had no separate existence with its own
prior and family of monks until the 14th century.
In 1282 (fn. 222) there was a dispute concerning the
tithes of Shurton in the parish of Stogursey
which had been given to the priory of Dunster
but which were claimed by the monks of Stogursey. The Prior of Dunster is mentioned in the
process, but he takes no part in the litigation.
The Prior of Bath is the plaintiff, and the Prior
of Stogursey the defendant, and judgement was
given in favour of the monks of Bath as owners
of the priory of Dunster.
In the Taxatio
(fn. 223) of Pope Nicholas IV, 1291,
the priory is valued as enjoying an income from
lands and rents of £5 13s. 3d., and from churches
and ecclesiastical dues of £13 7s. 4d. The
spiritualia came from the churches of Dunster
and Carhampton, and pensions due to the prior
from the churches of Stogumber, Cutcombe and
Luxborough. The temporalia were derived from
lands etc. at Doverhay, Timberscombe, Wynard,
Kyrington, Wylaler, Cowbridge, Cutcombe,
Kenwardston and Lollokesworth.
The appointment of Robert de Sutton (fn. 224) as
prior of Dunster in 1332, of which the announcement was made by the Prior of Bath to Ralph
of Shrewsbury, Bishop of Bath and Wells, marks
probably the beginning of the existence of Dunster as a distinct priory, dependent on Bath but
able to a certain extent to manage its own
affairs. Robert de Sutton had been elected by
the monks of Bath as their prior in succession to
Robert de Clopcote, who died March 1332.
It would seem that Clopcote had forwarded
something like a deed of resignation to the
pope when he unexpectedly died in Bath. (fn. 225)
Whatever had actually occurred Pope John XXII
claimed the right to appoint the new prior and
appointed Thomas Crist. Provision had therefore to be made for Robert de Sutton, who had
been so hurriedly elected prior and so unexpectedly removed from office. So he was appointed by Crist as Prior of Dunster. He was
allowed an income of £20 and to have such companions (socios) as he chose. If any of those
sent him at Dunster should prove himself
troublesome or should not be pleasing to the
prior he was to be recalled, and another sent
from Bath in his place. When Prior Sutton became old and infirm he might return at any
time to Bath. Such terms as these were of
course only personal, and would not apply to
future priors.
The priory began now a new and distinct
existence. It was to consist of a prior and four
monks, and a charter in the Bath Chartulary (fn. 226)
points to this change as largely due to Sir John
de Mohun and Ada his wife, whose assistance
made the change possible, and who certainly
befriended the cell. A fragment of the tomb of
Sir John, (fn. 227) it is conjectured, is still to be seen in
the monastic portion of the church. A grandson
of this John de Mohun, of the same name, in
1342 (fn. 228) remitted to the prior and monks some
of the rent due by them for burgages at Dunster.
The priory was not certainly free from interferences or burdens which the mother house
might wish to lay upon it. In 1345, (fn. 229) the Prior
of Bath, borrowing for his priory, pledged the
Prior of Dunster for £32 of silver. Simon de
Wynton was (fn. 230) granted by the Prior of Bath a
corrody and lodging 'in his house at Dunster'
so long as he should live. In 1330 (fn. 231) Sir John
de Chueberri, chaplain, received a corrody out
of the funds of the house at Dunster, and in
1357 (fn. 232) John Osebern received a similar corrody.
Two records of corrodies or grants seem to
refer to the building of the priory. In 1345 (fn. 233)
John the Prior of Bath granted to Adam de
Cheddar, Prior of Dunster and chamberlain of
the church of Bath, in consideration of his
sumptuous buildings which he had made, and
other many and notable good works that he had
done, an annual rent of 50s., payable out of
the priory of Dunster and soon after Adam de
Barry of Dunster (fn. 234) obtained a corrody and 'the
lower chamber next the great gate.'
During the 15th century the priory did not
lack friends. In 1417, (fn. 235) Canon Richard Bruton
of Wells left 26s. 8d. to the Prior and convent
of Dunster. In 1392 (fn. 236) Peter de Bratton gave
some lands in Sparkhay to the priory.
In the Valor of 1535 (fn. 237) the priory is valued at
£37 4s. 8d.
Leland, (fn. 238) in his Notes of Perambulations
(c. 1540) says, 'the late priory of Blake Monkes
stoode yn the rootes of the north west side of
the Castelle and was a celle to Bathe.
' The hole chirche of the late priory servith
now for the paroche chirch. Afore tymes the
monkes had the Est parte closid up for their
use.'
The priory was not called upon to surrender
but was included in the surrender of the priory
of Bath on 27 January 1539, and in that deed
the signature of Richard Griffith, Prior of
Dunster, is third on the list.
Priors of Dunster (fn. 239)
Martin, 1274 (fn. 240)
Richard, 1301 (fn. 241)
Walter, 1308 (fn. 242)
Robert de Sutton, 23 October 1332 (fn. 243)
Adam de Cheddar, 1337 (fn. 244)
William Tover, 1355
John Hervey, 1376 (fn. 245)
William Bristow, 1411 and 1417 (fn. 246)
John Buryton, 1423
John Henton, 25 July 1425 (fn. 247)
William Cary, 1437
Thomas Laycock, 1447 (fn. 248)
Richard, 1449 (fn. 249)
William Hampton, 1463
William Bristowe, 1470
John Abyndon, 1489 (fn. 250)
Thomas Brown, 1498 (fn. 251)
Richard Pester, 1504 (fn. 252)
Thomas Bath, 1525 (fn. 253)
Richard Griffiths, 1539 (fn. 254)