The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-01-24
An Old EugIi,i, Abbey

In ancient days when the great forest
Of Arden extended over Warwickshire one
Of the few early Saxon settlements IN
the vale Of Avon was Stoneleigh, or
"Stanlei." as il is called In the Domesday
book. one of the famous houses OF Eng
land to-day Till the reign Of Henry H.
StOneleign was I'm the hands OF the klns'
who had feeding for 300 hogs IN us
woods" Each OF the kings tenants on
the estate paid yearly rental OF a penny
an acre At the death Of tenant his
horse. harness arms and best beast were
given up TO the king. The tenants had
pasturage and hrcwOod free.
In the first year of his reign Henry IT,
granted StOncleigh TO "a body OF Cistcr-
clan monks In exchange for Radmore. IL
the forest Of CannOck which the monks
found an unpleasant residence on account
Of the visits Of thieving foresters. The
monk built the abbey of Stoneleigh as IL
stands to-day and AN old account or the
reign Of Edward Ccrtiies that the village
Of Crulc6cld paid a stone Of wax tax
yearly for the maintenance Of lights 10
Stonoleigh abbey. burning before the
image of the virgin. At the time the
monastery was founded there were four
"bondslaves" inhabiting the place. These
four were supposed TO build gallows and
hang thieves as often as this service was
required Of them. Besides this they were
expected TO pillow and reap twice year.
make the lords malt and other servlle
work.
The monks Of Stonolcich did not always
lead lives of uninterrupted peace VIII
liam dc Gylderford the ninth abbot. was
a man of such great learning that he was
mode plenipotentiary 10 Pandulph, the
popo's legatc. and afterward was sent
himself as legate 10 Wales. a shepherd
of tho monastery. having fought duel
and hanged a thief who had stolen the
monks cattle. was supported by inc
superior. whercupon some influential alb
bots and others who. through jealousy
had become Williams enemies, had him
deposed Not long afterward many Of
the monks grew unruly and took 10 a
wandering life. whereupon King Henry
III. then on the throne. directed all
sheriffs officers 10 apprehend and deliver
them up 10 chastisement wherever
found Such exciting occurrences on
livened the abbots Of the ancient days
at Stoneleigh
An inner courtyard now situated be-
tween the abbey and the modern build
ing served as the burying ground for the
monks. A few years ago three skeletons
were found there Every maundy Thurs
day at the washing Of the feet Of the
poor" the monks distributed in charity
Eight quarters Of rye made I'm bread at
3 shillings the quarter. three quarters Of
malt in beer at 4 shillings the quarter and
200 herrings AZ % pence tho hundred.
Among curious concessions TO the monks
II IS recorded that in the reign Of Ed
ward ". two landowners I'm a neigh
boring village had license to grant n
pound Of pepper and "a red rose yearly
rent with half tho fishing I'm the river
Avon to The monks Of Stoneleigh FOR
ever IL is interesting 10 note that this
Same little village now settlement Of
some 80 persons IS perfect garden o..
flowers.
At the time the lesser monasteries were
suppressed by Henry VIII tho clear year
" value of Stoneleigh being less than
81 600 II was suppressed and the monks
scattered among larger religious houses.
The abbot Of Stoneleigh was pensloncd
nj siI5 a year. Henry granted tho abbey
IN his brother-in-law. the duke Of Suffolk
ana it finally passed into the Leigh
family