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ULVERSCROFT PRIORY

By WILLIAM KEAY, F.R.I.B.A., 6? MARGARET E. KEAY

Ulverscroft Priory

By William Keay, F.R.I.B.A., and Margaret E. Keay

IN 1927, Ulverscroft priory, with the adjoining farm, was acquired by Mr. William I^indsay Everard, who generously undertook to preserve the ruins, then in an advanced stage of decay, from total destruction.

The writers became responsible for the direction and super­ vision of the necessary work, which occupied five summers (1928-33). This period gave a unique opportunity of studying, measuring and preparing accurate plans and drawings of the fabric and the various objects found in the excavations.

In 1927, this important ecclesiastical ruin was in a parlous state. The church was covered with debris to a depth of 3 feet, the north aisle was invisible, pigs occupied the refectory, fowls the guest house, cows the cloisters, and the nave and chancel had been turned into a stack-yard.

The tower was in a dangerous condition, the piers to the clerestory windows were in a tottering state, and parasitic ivy had generally wrought havoc with the masonry.

Thanks to the owner and to the hearty co-operation and interest of the tenant, Mr. A. Chaplin, who occupies the prior's lodgings, many of these unfortunate conditions have been greatly improved.

True, one would like to see the good work, so well started, continued; but it is a matter for profound satisfaction and grati­ tude that, at least, the remaining fabric has been preserved for future generations to enjoy.

The clearing of the moat, the restoration of the fishpond (now dry), the preservation of the thirteenth-century roof to the guest house, excavations to discover the cloisters, chapter house, library and kitchens, and the reparation of the prior's house, are all matters that, one hopes, may some day be undertaken.

ULVERSCROFT PRIORY 89

It is not the writers' intention to set forth, in detail the history of the priory, but the following chronology may be found useful:—

1134. Priory founded by Robert Bossu, 2nd earl of I<eicester, for Eremites of the order of St. Augustine.

1345. Thomas de Ferrers left land and advowson of Bunney, to prior and convent of Ulverscroft.

1361. William, 3rd lord Ferrers of Groby (jundator modermts),bestows considerable possessions.

1368. (June 1.) In his will, the same lord Ferrers directed thathis body should " be buried in the conventual church ofOur Lady at Ulverscroft."

1465. Priories of Ulverscroft and Charley united. 1534. Suppression of the smaller monasteries; Ulverscroft

included, but afterwards reprieved temporarily.Eight religious persons, being priests, subscribed theKing's Supremacy, Sept. 17, 1534, viz : —Edward Dalby, priorRichard EglateThomas MasonWilliam BlandThomas WymondeswoldWilliam SmytheWilliam BeltonGeorge Smythe

1539. Prior Dalby and his brethren were induced to surrender the priory into the king's hands, 15th September, 1539. List of possessions at dissolution given by Curtis, p. 179.

1543. The priory and adjoining lands granted to Thomas, first earl of Rutland, who sold them to Sir Andrew Judd, lord mayor of London.

1550. Sold to Henry, marquis of Dorset, later, duke of Suffolk, on whose attainder in 1554 the site of the priory with Charley was granted by queen Mary to Frideswide Strelley.

1565. John Wilson, nephew of Frideswide Strelley, becomes the owner on the death of his aunt.

9O LEICESTERSHIRE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY

1578. Ambrose Wilson, son of John Wilson, becomes the owner. 1609. The priory and 1358 acres sold by Ambrose Wilson to

Robert Peshall; from whom it passed, by marriage withhis daughter and heir, Elizabeth Peshall, to Sir RobertBossevile.

1829. On the death of Mrs. Bossevile, the Rev. A. LyonEmerson became the owner.

1847. Purchased by Harry Grey, 7th earl of Stamford andWarrington.

1921. Sold to T. P. Towle, Esq., of Loughborough, by Mrs.Grey.

1927. Purchased by W. Lindsay Everard, Esq., of RatcliffeHall, Leicestershire.

DESCRIPTION OF THE BUILDINGS

The priory was evidently a strongly-protected building, as is indicated by the moat and enclosure wall, both of which are largely in evidence. The wall encloses an area of 4j acres. Loop­ holes are set in the thick walls, traces of look-out towers can be observed, and there are indications of a boat-house on the east side of the fish-pond, and a bridge on the eastern arm of the moat.

In dry weather, evidence of buildings to the south of the prior's lodgings may be seen. Possibly the granaries and store­ houses were between the church and the north side of the moat.

The fish-pond, long since dry, covered an area of 2^ acres. The present pond to the north is a modern construction of 1861.

The arrangement of the buildings follows the monastic plan peculiar to this order.

The most northerly building is the church, comprising a nave and chancel 115 ft. long, by 28 ft. wide, with a tower at the western end, and a north aisle (built in two stages) 92 ft. x 24 ft.

The nave and part of the north aisle are of the 13th century, the chancel and tower being added in the 14th century.

The clerestory and western end of the north aisle are of the 15th century.

The guest house and prior's lodgings belong to the period of the earlier church (13th century), but the refectory is of later date, 15th century.

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ULVERSCROFT PRIORY 91

Such building's as the chapter house, library, kitchens, dormi­ tories and other portions necessary to the complete establishment of an Augustinian priory have not yet been discovered.

Label mouldings, some ten feet above the ground are the only evidence yet brought to light of the cloisters.

MATERIALSThe priory is built mainly of Charnwood Forest stone, with

dressings and tracery from the quarries at Attleborough. The original steep roof of the church was probably thatched, but the 15th-century roof would have a lead covering.

Some interesting finds have attended the clearance of the debris, among them being the discovery of three tombs, pre­ sumably of the Ferrers family, fragments of ancient glass and a fine assortment of early 14th-century slip tiles. The last are unusually vigorous in design and decorative in character.

SLIP TILESThe early 14th-century floor tiles at Ulverscroft are an im­

portant discovery, ranking high in variety and vigour in com­ parison with those of other monastic buildings, and form a valuable addition to our knowledge of the subject.

Over sixty different patterns in a good state of preservation are to be seen, the types being geometrical, heraldic, alphabetical, zodiacal and grotesque.

They were probably made on the spot of the local red clay, the impressed pattern being filled with yellow or white semi-fluid clay or " slip ", and the whole tile afterwards burnt in a kiln and glazed.

In one case, sixteen tiles are required to make a complete unit. Another pattern is the " tile-in-tile " type peculiar to Ulverscroft. This was found fixed vertically in the chancel steps, but the reason for its peculiar construction is puzzling.

The occurrence of tiles of similar patterns in neighbouring churches, viz., St. Mary's, All Saints', the abbey of St. Mary in the meadows, and the Trinity Hospital chapel at Leicester, sug­ gests a common " tile factory "; on the other hand, the wooden pattern blocks may have been " borrowed ", a reasonable expla-

Q2 LEICESTERSHIRE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY

nation for the similarity of pattern found at the places mentioned, and at Cossington, Kegworth, Dale abbey, Morley, near Derby, and Repton.

The chief works of reference on the subject are: —

1804. Nichols. History of Leicestershire.1863. Gordon M. Hills. Ulverscroft and Charley.

[Journal of the British Archaeological Association}.1891. John Ward. Notes on the Medi&val Pavement and Wall

Tiles of Derbyshire.[Journal of the Derbyshire Archaological and Natural

History Society].1907. J. B. Everard. Charmvood Forest.1930. George F. Farnham. Charmiuood Forest and its

Historians.1933. George F. Farnham. Leicestershire Medieval Village

Notes. Vol. VI.

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