WORKSOP PRIORY,

NOTTINGHAMSHIRE.

THIS priory was founded for canons of the order of St. Austin, commonly called the Black Canons, by William Lovetot, whose family had long flourished in the county of Huntingdon, where he possessed a barony, which from him descended to Neyel his second son: about the third year of the reign of Henry I. William succeeded to very large estates in Nottinghamshire, in commemoration whereof he founded a monastery, "in the church of St. Cuthbert, at Werchesop." His wife Emma, and their sons, contributed to its endowment, and confirmed the gifts Lovetot had promised "to God, and the holy church, and to the canons of St. Cuthbert, in perpetual alms." Thoroton further adds, "this priory had likewise assigned to it, first, the whole chapelry of his whole house, with the tithes and oblations; then the church of Werchesop in which were the canons, with the lands and tithes, and all things belonging to that church." He also enumerates many other churches the property of Lovetot, given by him toit; and then proceeds to state, "all the tithes of all

his rents, in Normandy, or in England, together with the tithes of all things of which tithes are or ought to be taken."

This favoured house, from its commencement, flourished in an extraordinary degree, and was continually receiving donations. Richard de Lovetot, in the second year of Henry II. presented it with money on account of his marriage, and about the year 1161, after the death of his father, ceded in its favour the whole site of the town of Werchesop, agreeably to his promise, and according to bounds stated in the record; which bounds extended near unto certain crosses, he himself, probably for that purpose, had caused to be erected. He also granted to the canons, for the use of their convent, permission to send daily into his park two carts, to be filled with such fire wood as might be lying on the ground, or blown from the trees. This privilege they continued for a long time specially to enjoy, until their arrogance extended even to dispute the power of the proprietor respecting the disposal of his own timber; for it appears, that in the fiftythird of Henry III. the then prior offered himself in plea against Thomas Turneville (a descendant of the founders), for making waste by sale and destruction of his woods, to the great injury of this religious house, which could not therefore receive daily the two loads granted to it by Lovetot. The complaint certainly was vexatious; how it terminated is not known: but generally, it is imagined, against the convent, which was rich; for, at the dissolution,

when on the 15th of November, 1539, it was surrendered by the prior and fifteen canons, its income, according to Dugdale, amounted to £239. 15s. 5d.; and to Speed, to £302. 68. 10d. It was granted in exchange 33d Henry VIII. to Francis, Earl of Shrewsbury, lineally descended from the patron and founder.

The situation of this priory is rather low and moist; its extent appears to have been considerable, especially on the north of the church, where foundations of cloisters, &c. may yet be traced. Towards the north-west is the priory well, formerly celebrated for miraculous cures; but since monastic deceptions have unveiled themselves, votaries no longer offer, and consequently cures are no longer performed. A very respectable building, called the priory gate, towards the south-west, is yet most perfect: the high road passes under the arch, and on the right, at the south-east angle of the church, is St. Mary's chapel, which, together with the church itself, forms the object delineated in the annexed plate. This View was taken in 1807.