Wherwell Abbey
Wherwell Abbey, Wherwellcounty:
Hampshire
The place is described in text Cox 1738
- Hampshire
Whorwell, where Queen Aelfrith built a Monastery to expiate for her heinous Crime, in vowing to kill King Edward, her Son-in-Law, and to attone for the Murder of her former Husband, the Noble Earl Athelwold, whom King Edgar, upon an Invitation to go a Hunting, did here murder, because he had put a Trick upon him in his Love Intriegues, and had by ill Arts gained from him this Lady Aelfrith, who was the greatest Beauty of her Age. ...
Warwell or Wherwell, a Benedictine Nunnery, built by Queen Elfrida, Wife to King Edgar, in Honour of the Holy Cross, to expiate for the Sin of that King, who had slain her first Husband, Earl Ethelwold, as he was hunting in Warewell Wood, that he might gain her for his Wife, whom that Earl had beguiled him of. Ethelred, Son and Successor to the said King Edgar, endowed this House with other Lands, in 1002. To this Abbey there was a Pension yearly paid out of the Parsonage of Middleton, in the Hundred of Andover in this County, which, after the Dissolution, was sold by King Henry VIII. Reg. 38. to Stephen Herward and Lawrence Tenant. Pope Gregory IX. confirmed to the Abbess and Nuns of Wherwell, all their Lands, Tithes, and Churches, that then had, or for the Future should obtain, and exempted them from paying Tithe of their own Cattle; allowing them also the Privilege to receive and retain Women at their own Disposal, to elect their Abbess, have a free Burying-place, and celebrate Divine Service privately in the Time of a general Interdict. His Bull is dated, Anno 1228. Value 339 l. 8 s. 7 d. per Annum, Dug. 403 l. 12 s. 10 d. Speed.
- Wherwell parish: - Hampshire
KING Edgar, induc'd by the Fame of the great Beauty of Elfthrid, the Daughter or Ordgar Duke of Devonshire, sent his Secretary Athewold to ask her of her Parents for his Wife, in case he found her as beautiful as reported. The faithless Messenger, allur'd by her Beauty, procur'd her for himself, and told his Master she was not a fit Wife for a King, who being inform'd of the Fraud, dissembled his Indignation, and only appointed a Time to go visit that so celebrated Lady, as if it had been in Jest. Athewold in a Fright begg'd of his Wife that she would dress her self in the most disagreeable manner, discovering to her how he had impos'd on the King and her. She nevertheless set her self off to the best Advantage, and the King coming, was so taken with her Charms, that sending for Athewold under Colour of hunting with him in a Harewood, he struck him thorugh with his Javelin. ... In Expiation of this cruel action, Elfthrid there built thsi Monastery inhabited by Nuns.
Malmsbury, fol.33. The same Author, fol.140, says, It is known that Warwell was built by Elfrid, the Wife of Edgar, in Honor of the Holy Cross, being penitent for the Murder of her Stepson Edward, of which she had been the Occasion. The Abby of Nuns of Warwell was burnt by one William of Ipres, a wicked Man, who paid no Respect either to God or Men, because some Favourers of Maud the Empress had been protected there in the Reign of King Stephen.
- Hampshire
POPE Gregory IX, by his Bull, dated 1221, confirm'd all Grants made to these Nuns, or to be made of any Lands, Churchese. or other Possessions, reciting many of the same; ordaining that the Order of St. Benedict should ever continue to be observ'd there, exempting them from paying of Tithes of their own Cattel; and granting them Liberty to receive free Women, that were not under Subjection, and desir'd them to retire from the World into their Monastery; forbidding any, after Profession made, to depart without Leave of the Abbess; with other privileges, to the same Effect, as have been seen in like Bulls.
- Hampshire
... Religious Houses ... deliver'd to King Henry VIII. in the 26th Year of his Reign, with the yearly Value ...
value l. s. d. q.
Whorwel Ab. Bened. 339 8 7 0
Queen Alfrida, 986
