Person Page 249

Divorced before 1230.

TICKFORD ABBEY Or PRIORY, was so nearly adjacent to the Town of Newport Pagnell, as to be often called the Priory of Newport. It was founded by Fulk Paganell, in the reign of William Rufus, as a cell of Cluniac Monks, or Black Canons, to whom he gave the Manor, but subordinate to the Abbey of St. Martin, Majoris Monasterii, commonly called Marmonstiers at Tours. It was seized as an alien Priory, by King Edward III. during the wars with France; but restored by King Henry IV., and made subject to the Priory of the Holy Trinity, in York. King Henry VIII. suppressed this Monastery in 1525, with twenty others of the small Monasteries (its revenues being then estimated at only 126/. 17*. per ann.,) under a Bull of Pope Clement, and gave it, with all its lands, to Cardinal Wolsey. After the Cardinal's disgrace, it was given by the King to Christ Church College, in Oxford; but was afterwards resumed by the Crown.

In 1719, the original gateway was standing; consisting of a large and small arch at the entrance into the Convent, with some few remains of the old building; besides five or six pillars, which had supported the nave of the Priory Church, with the arches which had been turned over them; but they had wholly disappeared before 1831; when a small plain low Mansion occupied part of the site, with a rather long thatched barn or granary adjacent, towards the south. This house, which is still denominated Tickford Abbey, is built on the site of the Mansion of Anthony Cave, Esq., the lessee of King Henry VIII. Tickford is south-east from Newport Church: the situation is very low, and liable to inundation.

In a Register of the deeds of the Monastery of Newport Pagnell, it is stated, that, by the Charter of Gervase Paganell, divers lands were given to the Monks of the greater Monastery, dedicated to God and the Blessed Virgin Mary, of Newport; to which Charter, Ralph Paganel his father, and Fulk his grandfather, the Earl Simon (no doubt, Simon de St. Liz) and Isabella his Countess, were witnesses; with Peter Dapifer, Pagan dc Ambertonia (of Emberton,) Geofrey de Zoili (de Say,) Michael Fitz Osbert, William Paganell, and Bernard his son. The House was situated in Newport, with lands in Bradfield and Botenden. Gervase Paganell also confirmed to the Monks aforesaid, a messuage in Newport, which Baldwin Bernard held there, at the request of Henry Bishop of Lincoln, and of Isabella his Countess, for the health of the souls of their children. Witnesses, Isabella the Countess, Ralph de Someri, Henry de Mont[TortJ Fulk Paganell, William his brother, and William, son of Wido.

Ralph de Someri confirmed to the aforesaid Monks, all the Churches with their Chapels, which had been given by his ancestors, viz., the Church of Newport with the Chapels of Linford, Estwood (Astwood,) and Wylyn (Willen;) the Church of Chicheley with its Chapels; the Church of Aston with its Chapels; the Church of Botenden, &c. Witnesses, Fulk Paganell, William Fitz Guido, Alan de Bromwich, Robert Paganell, William the Chaplain, &c.

Ralph de Someri gave to the Monks, one virgate of land in Tickford, with two messuages.

Fulk Paganell and Beatrix his wife, gave to God and the blessed Martin and the Monks of the greater Monastery, the Church of St. Peter of Newport, and the Chapel of Linford; the tithes of the Town Mill, and the eels there; the Church of Bernaches; and two parts of the Vill of Sepeling (?) and one hide of land in Hardmead, being of the gift of Bartholomew Paganell, his eldest son, and of Robert and William, brothers of the same Fulk: Elias, the Monk, nephew of Fulk Paganell, being witness.

Ralph de Someri gave to the Monks of Newport, ten shillings in the Vill of Botyndon, &c, which was of the donation of Gervase Paganell, his uncle.

John de Mansell confirmed to the Monks, the gift of Walter Mansell, his father, bestowed for the health of the soul of Robert Paganell, son of Gervase Paganell, in his Court at Sulebury (Soulbury:) Philip Mansell, his brother, Henry, Peter, and Robert, his brothers, being witnesses.

Gervase Paganell gave all his land in Chicheley, which William Paganell held of him there; with the consent of his wife, the Countess Isabell, to the Monks of Newport.

Hugh Paganell gave to the Monks of Tickford, one acre of meadow in Westmede, and endowed the Church therewith, at its dedication by Henry Bishop of Llandaff, then official of the Church of Lincoln; Michael, the Dean, being witness.

Hubert, Archbishop of Canterbury, Primate of all England, by a Charter of Inspeximus to Robert Bishop of Lincoln, granted to the Monks of Newport, the presentation of Gervase Paganell to the Church of Bernaches, and the Chapel of Little Crawley: and the same Hubert Archbishop of Canterbury, by his Inspeximus, confirmed the preceding grants.

Stigand, Archbishop of Canterbury, Primate of all England, and Cardinal of the Holy See, gave the Churches of Eston and Homespil, in the dioceses of Coventry and Bath, to the proper use of the Monks of Newport, which had been granted and confirmed by Hubert, his predecessor; with other possessions, bestowed by Theobald, also his predecessor, and confirmed by the authority of the See of Canterbury, by Charter, dated in June 1224 (9 Hen. HI.)

King Henry II. likewise confirmed the Charters of Fulk Paganell, and other benefactors.

William Paganell, by an agreement with the Prior and Monks of Newport Pagnell, confirmed the ordination of Joceline Bishop of Bath, by which that Bishop gave his lands in Homespil, by a Charter, dated at Bath, 18 May, in the 20th year of his Episcopacy.

Gervase Paganell gave to the Monks of Newport Pagnell, the Church of Eston with its Chapels of Jerdeley (Yardley,) of Bromwich, and Overton; and all the land which William Paganell held in Chicheley: Robert Earl of Leicester, Ernald de Bosco, William Fitz Wido, Peter de Birmingham, and Alexander de Whitacre, being witnesses.

Hawisia Paganell gave to the Monks of Newport, two virgates of Land, which Jeffrey, the son pf Henry, held in Little Crawley, and which had been given by John de Someri, her husband, to the said Monks; Ralph de Someri, her son, being witness: and Ralph confirmed this donation; Fulk Paganell being his witness. This John de Someri gave to the Prior and Convent of Tickford, right of fishery in the River Lovent, at Newport, in exchange for certain fees and perquisites, amounting to 13s. lid. claimed and belonging to Henry Spigurnell, by a deed dated at Willen, in 9 Edw. II.'.