Vale of Evesham History Portal

The Vale of Evesham Historical Society

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Timeline

A list of the major events in the life of Evesham Abbey. Years in italics are uncertain.

Year Abbey Event
701 701 King Aethelred of the Mercians gives the site of the future Evesham ("Aethomme") to Ecgwine, bishop of the Hwicce
703 He also gives Stratford, Chadbury Castle and the Monastery of Fladbury
704 Foundation of the monastery of Evesham by Ecgwine. King Cenred of the Mercians and king Offa of the East Saxons give 84 hides of land round Evesham
709 King Cenred and King Offa go to Rome. Ecgwine accompanies them. Pope Constantine's first privilege
?709 Council of "the whole of England" at Alcester, at which Archbishop Berhtwald reads out the charter completed in Rome by the kings, and the papal letter of Pope Constantine and then composes one himself, which all confirm. November 1st: Church consecrated by Bishop Wilfrin and Ecgwine
713 Pope Constantine's second privilege
714 Ecgwine's Foundation Charter. Ecgwine resigns as bishop
717 December 30th: death of Ecgwine
?940 First dispersal of the monks under King Edmund I. Canons substituted by Ealhhelm, who gained possession of the abbey from the king
970-5 The monks are re-established
975 Second dispersal of the monks. Canons reintroduced by Aelfhere and Godwine, ealdorman of Lindsey
995/6 The monks return. King Aethelred ("the Unready") who had acquired the abbey, puts it under Ealdwulf, bishop of Worcester
c.1014 Aelfweard, kinsman of King Cnut and monk of Ramsey, becomes abbot. Expels Godwine, ealdorman of Lindsey, who had seized lands belonging to the abbey
1018 King Cnut gives Badby and Newnham (Northamptonshire) to the abbey of Evesham
?1019 Cnut gives the relics of St Wigstan of Evesham
c.1020 Byrhtferth writes the "Vita S. Wcgwini"
1035 Abbot Aelfweard made bishop of london. Purchases relics of st Odulf for Evesham and build shrines for St Ecgwine and St Odulf. Death of King Cnut
1044 Death of Abbot Aelfweard. Abbot Mannig, the goldsmith, succeeds
1058 Abbot Mannig resigns. Aethelwig becomes abbot of Evesham
1066 King William I entrusts Aethelwig with control of most of the Midlands (Worcestershire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, Warwickshire, Herefordshire, Staffordshire and Salop). Death of former abbot Manning
1073-4 Two monks of Evesham and one of Winchcombe set out to revive monasticism in the north of England at Jarrow, Melrose, Wearmouth and Whitby
1077 Death of abbot Aethelwig. Succession of the first Norman abbot of Evesham, abbot Walter. Odo of Bayeux obtains lands belonging the abbey of Evesham
1100 Writ of William II statesthat no bishop is to hold ordinations or synods or confer orders at Evesham, unless requested by the abbot
1104 Death of abbot Walter
1130 Reginald Foliot becomes abbot
1139 Privilege "Sicut inusta" obtained from Pope Innocent II
?1149-50 William Beauchamp and Roger, earl of Hereford, plunder Evesham lands
1161 Adam becomes abbot
1163 Privilege of Pope Alexander III
1189 November 12th: death of abbot Adam
1190 January: Roger Noreis, prior of Christ Church, Canterbury, is made abbot of Evesham. Death of Archbishop Baldwin of Canterbury
?1197 First complaint of the convent about the behaviour of abbot Norreis made to the legate, Archbishop Hubert Walter

Continued...

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