Battle Abbey archives addenda
Finding aid prepared by Christopher Whittick and Gayle M. Richardson.
The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens
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Title: Battle Abbey archives addenda
Dates: 1372-1528
Collection Number: mssHM 82452-82457
Creator OR Collector:
Battle Abbey
Extent:
6 deeds in one box
Repository:
The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens.
Manuscripts Department
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, California 91108
Phone: (626) 405-2191
Email: reference@huntington.org
URL: http://www.huntington.org
Abstract: A group of six estate-related deeds for the Benedictine abbey of St. Martin at Battle, Sussex.
Language of Material: The records are in Latin and English.
Open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services Department. For more information, contact Reader
Services.
The Huntington Library does not require that researchers request permission to quote from or publish images of this material,
nor does it charge fees for such activities. The responsibility for identifying the copyright holder, if there is one, and
obtaining necessary permissions rests with the researcher.
[Identification of item], Battle Abbey archives addenda, The Huntington Library, San
Marino, California.
Purchased through Maggs from Sotheby's, Lot 5, April 13, 1981.
The Benedictine abbey of St. Martin at Battle, Sussex; founded by William the Conqueror to commemorate his victory over Harold
at Hastings. The abbey possessed lands in Sussex, Berkshire, Essex, Surrey, and Kent. After the Dissolution, the abbey and
its immediately adjacent lands, together with the lands in Sussex and Kent, were sold to Sir Anthony Browne, Henry VIII's
Master of the Horse, whose son Anthony was created 1st Viscount Montague in 1554. In 1721 the lands were sold to Sir Thomas
Webster, a prosperous London merchant. The Battle estate remained in the family until 1976. Since then it has been the property
of the Department of the Environment.
Arranged chronologically.
Six deeds, 1372-1528. One deed is a grant for life to John de Mapples in Beauchief, Derbyshire (HM 82452); mistakenly attributed
to Battle in Sussex by an earlier cataloger. The other five deeds include grants, leases and contracts for the Abbey of St.
Martin at Battle, Sussex (HM 82453-82457).
Because of the separate source and date of acquisition the decision was made to catalog this group of deeds as an addenda
to the Battle Abbey archives rather than integrate the deeds with the existing archives here at the Huntington Library (Battle
Abbey archives, 1077-1780, approximately 3,000 pieces).
Browne (Family)
Webster (Family)
Battle Abbey -- Archives
Benedictine monasteries -- England -- History
Monasteries -- England
Real property -- England -- Early works to 1800
Great Britain -- History -- Medieval period, 1066-1485
Great Britain -- History -- 14th century
Great Britain -- History -- Tudors, 1485-1603
Deeds -- Great Britain
Estate records -- Great Britain
Property records -- Great Britain
Box 1
1764-1793, 1806
HM 82452 Grant for life (1372, July 22)
(1 deed). In Latin. A John de Mapples of Rotherham was a prominent lawyer in South Yorkshire and served as county coroner
in the middle years of the 14th century - see TNA JUST 2/220, 224, and Shefffield Archives WWM/D/44. For Beauchief, see VCH
Derbyshire 2 (1907) 63-69. This document must have been attributed to Battle (de Bello) in Sussex, rather than to Beauchief
in Derbyshire (de Bello Capite) either by Sir Thomas Phillipps or more likely by Sotheby's in 1981. Description: The abbot
and convent of Beauchief [in Derbyshire] to John de Mapples the elder of Rotherham (Rodirham) a building called the wool-house
(le wollehous) next to his tannery, with the adjoining curtilage, with free entry and exit and all other easements JM not
to demise the building without the licence of the abbot and convent; JM to roof and maintain the building in all things except
that the abbot and convent shall find timber and stones when necessary and have them carried to the building given at Beauchief
and sealed with the common seal [no longer present]
HM 82453 Grant of a watercourse and covenant… (1389, July 20)
(1 deed). In Latin. Repaired, with some loss of text. Endors: c 1590: an indenture for the maintenance of a water-course
to the water mill of Bodiam and discharging the abbot for scouring the ditch etc. Description: John [Crane], abbot of Battle
with Edward Dalngeregge knight and wife Elizabeth The abbot and convent grant the watercourse and ditch to ED with power to
enter [their lands] to repair whenever necessary ED grants that although by ancient custom the abbot and convent are bound
to maintain the ditches against the demesne lands of Bodiam manor, they shall be exempt as far as concerns the ditches in
which the leat runs The abbot and convent grant in return that whenever the bay or walls (wallas) require repair, ED may place
timber, earth and other necessaries on the wall which he constructed on the lands of the abbot and convent and not elsewhere.
ED covenants to maintain a drainage system (corrivale: see OED 'corrivate') called Wallgripp which he has built on the lands
of the abbot and convent for the better draining of the lands adjoining the wall carry along the walls and cut and dig in
them to make repairs, reserving to themselves the way which they have by the gift of William de Bodyham deceased which extends
from Salehurst by hedges to their land [recte from the common way between Salehurst and Bodiam over William's land through
the gate of William Borde his man called Bordesgate to their meadows - see Battle cartulary HEH BA Vol 29 f.109, ESRO (XA3/19)],
so that there should be a bridge at the expense of the abbot and convent at the place where they are accustomed to have entry
and exit, and that the bridge should be moved away after any work has been done so that it should cause no injury to ED in
the watercourse or wall If any damage occurs to the meadows by defect of maintenance of the ditches, walls or drainage system,
the damages are to be assessed by four men of law and paid to the abbot and convent within fifteen days with provision for
double damages if no payment made within six months and triple damages thereafter. ED and wife bound in £10 Given at Battle
HM 82454 Lease for 7 years from 24 June 1484 at £8 6s8d (1484, Dec. 10)
(1 deed). In Latin. Repaired, with some loss of text. Description: John [Newton], abbot of Battle, to John Alayn the elder
of Hempstead the chapel, tithes and lands of Hempstead in Essex recites bond in [?10] marks by John Alayn the elder, John
Alayn the younger, Richard Chinnery and Coote, 10 Dec 1484, to be void if JA keeps the covenants in this lease
HM 82455 Lease for 12 years at £20 6s 8d (1510, May 8)
(1 deed). In Latin. Repaired, with significant loss of text. Description: Lawrence [Champion], abbot of Battle, to Thomas
Orwell of Aylsham the rectory of Aylsham in Norfolk called Netherhall with all the tithes and commodities belonging to it
the rent payable at the abbot's inn by Battle Bridge in Southwark; detailed husbandry covenants; bond in £40, TO with James
Bromstede and Robert Bromstede, to be void in TO keeps the covenants in this lease given at the chapter house endorsed: stock
of the rectory of Aylsham: first an oast hair, next 3 ladders [unfinished]
HM 82456 Lease for 30 years from 29 Sep [1521] at 5 shillings (1521, Dec. 11)
(1 deed). In Latin. Repaired, with significant loss of text. Description: Lawrence [Champion], abbot of Battle to John Shepard
of Icklesham 1 five acres of land called Sole in Icklesham (E: JS's land called Marlin; S: way called Brodestrete and William
Toky; N, W: land called Broke) 2 two acres of land called The Sede in Icklesham (E. Webbistenement; S: Brodestrete; W, N:land
of icklesham manor) given in the chapter house
HM 82457 Contract for Service (1528, Sep.)
(1 deed). In English. Repaired, with some loss of text. Description: Lawrence [Champion] abbot of Battle with John Young
of Battle, tiler, 'for as long as [he] shall be able to tile and labour' JY covenants to tile, stone, lath, daub and underpin
all the housings and buildings within the gates and wall of the abbey, all the housings at the new lodge in the great park,
all the housings called new rents in Sandlake and the court [lodge] (except the buildings in the inner [almonry]) and to repair
all the Kilns of the furnaces and the oast of the brewhouse the abbot covenants to provide tiles, laths, prigs, stones, lime,
sand and loam, meat and drink for JY and his servant in the hall of the monastery with the other household servants during
the work, 4 gallons of penny ale to be delivered weekly at the monastery brewhouse, and wages of £1 6s 8d a year; JY to have
work on any new buildings, 'as they can agree by offer and proffer by the day of by the 1000' JY bound in £13 6s 8d to perform
covenants given in the chapter house