Romsey Abbey
Romsey Abbey, Romseycounty:
Hampshire
... without any thing to entitle it [Romsey] to particular notice, except its church, which was the church of an Abbey NUNNERY (founded more, I think, than a thousand years ago), and which church was the burial place of several of the SAXON KINGS, and of 'LADY PALMER-STONE,' who, a few years ago, 'died in child-birth'! What a mixture! But, there was another personage buried here, and who was, it would seem, a native of the place; namely, SIR WILLIAM PETTY, the ancestor of the present MARQUIS OF LANSDOWN. He was the son of a cloth-weaver, and was, doubtless, himself, a weaver when young. He became a surgeon, was first in the service of Charles I.; then went into that of Cromwell, whom he served as physician-general to his army in Ireland (alas! poor Ireland), and, in this capacity, he resided in Dublin till Charles II. came, when he came over to London (having become very rich), was knighted by that profligate and ungrateful King, and he died in 1687, leaving a fortune of 15,000l. a year! ...
Period - 19th century, early
Romsey ... Here was a considerable abbey for Benedictine nuns, of which little is now standing, except the spacious church.
otherwise: Rumsey Nunnery
The place is described in text Cox 1738
- Hampshire
King Edgar built a Nunnery here [Rumsey], the Church of which is yet standing. Matthew of Alsace, Son to the Earl of Flanders, found a Way to convey privately out of it, the Princess Mary, King Stephen's only Daughter and Heir, then Abbess of it, and married her: But the Church pursued him with her thundering Sentences, and tho' he kept her till he had two Daughters by her, yet he was at length forced to resign her, that she might return to it again according to her Vow. ...
Rumsey, a Benedictine Monastery, built by King Edward the Elder, for Monks, but changed into a Nunnery by King Edgar, his Grandson, who placed those religious Women there, under the Government of Merwina their Abbess, A. D. 907. He confirmed and enlarged the Endowments of his Grandfather, which were farther increased and again confirmed by King Henry III. and King Edward I. together with all their Liberties. After the Dissolution of this Abbey, divers Messuages, Lands and Tenements, with the Appurtenances lying in the same Parish, and formerly belonging to it, were among other Lands given by King Edward VI. to his Uncle, Thomas Lord Seymour, then Lord-High Admiral of England. In this Abbey were buried King Edward, and his Son Alfred, and St. Eadburga the Founder's Daughter. Valued at 393 l. 10 s. 10 d. ob. Dugd. 528 l. 8 s. 10 d. ob. per Annum, Speed.
- Romsey parish: - Hampshire
KIng Edward the Elder built the Monastery of Rumsey, and his Grandson King Edgar plac'd Nuns in it, Anno 907. The Letters Patents of King Henry III. authorise the Nuns there to set up their Gallows, and try Criminals according to the Grant made them by King Edgar, and King Edward I. confirms to them the Grant made by the aforesaid King Edward of Northwood.
... Religious Houses ... deliver'd to King Henry VIII. in the 26th Year of his Reign, with the yearly Value ...
value l. s. d. q.
Romsey Nuns Bened. 393 10 10 2
founded by Edward the Elder, 907
