Monument Type(s):

• COLLEGE OF SECULAR PRIESTS (Late Saxon to 12th century - 800 AD? to 1199 AD?)
• PRIORY (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1540 AD)
• BENEDICTINE MONASTERY (12th century to 16th century - 1155 AD to 1538 AD)
• HOUSE (16th century to 17th century - 1540 AD to 1699 AD)

Summary

There were 12 canons here in late Saxon times under Royal patronage. In 1155 the site was established as a Benedictine house, though canons were still present. By the later middle ages the priory may have been little more than a cell of 2-3 monks chiefly concerned with running the estates.The priory was surrendered in 1538, and leased to Charles Foxe in 1541, who purchased it in 1558 or 1563-4, when the conventual buildings were converted into a house, together with the crossing of the church. The house burnt down in the 17th century.

Related records

Associated Finds

• FSA1955 - CHALICE (Medieval to 16th century - 1066 AD to 1599 AD)

Associated Events

• ESA2808 - 1973 field observation by the Ordnance Survey
• ESA4826 - 2002 Building Recording of Foxe House and Chancel roof of St Mary's Church, Bromfield
• ESA5868 - 2001 WB on drainage works at St Mary's Church, Bromfield by Marches Archaeology
• ESA5920 - 2004 WB on drainage works on the north side of St Mary's Church, Bromfield by Marches Archaeology

Description

HISTORY. Twelve canons in late Saxon times under Royal patronage. AD1060 grant of liberties to canons. In Domesday Book evidence of alienation of lands end of Edward Confessor's reign. During the early C12 canons replaced by monks. 1155 Established as Benedictine house, though canons still present. Gradually became subjected to Gloucester Abbey. Also a royal desmesne chapel. By the later middle ages the priory may have been little more than a cell of 2-3 monks chiefly concerned with running the estates. Surrendered in 1538, leased to Charles Foxe in 1541, who purchased it in 1558 or 1563-4, when the conventual buildings were converted into a house, together with the crossing of the church. Burnt down in C17.
POSSESSIONS. Bromfield, Ludford, Ashford Bowdler, Halford and Dinchope and possessions of canons. Remained substantially intact until Dissolution when income put at £79.
REMAINS Gatehouse (PRN10737) and wall of Foxe's house running S on W side of S transept, with mullioned and transomed windows,( listed as part of Church PRN10736). There is a major linear bank running WNW from the W end of the church [<2>] ->

-> (June 1st, 1804) Part of the Friary (sic) in the ruins on the South side of the church. In the garden adjoining belonging to Lady Clive's Gardener, was dug up a great quantity of human bones, and other marks of sepulture [<3>]. ->

-> After the dissolution the priory buildings, together with the chancel of the church, were converted to a private residence; later destroyed by fire in the C17. The only standing remains of the priory is the gatehouse, (PRN10737) [<1b>]. Adjoining the S wall of the nave is a length of stone walling containing a C16 four-centre arched doorway and several stone mullioned and transomed windows of one to four lights, being the remains of the post-Dissolution residence. There are no visible remains of the claustral buildings. OS FI 1973 <1>

Evaluated for MPP in 1990-1: Medium score as one of 10 Post-Conquest Monasteries for men; Medium score as one of 15 Colleges <4>

A 2001 watching brief found significant medieval (mostly 12th and 13th century) deposits in the vicinity of the church, including walling with a doorway thought to be at the southern end of the east cloister range. Besides masonry remains, evidence of smithing and pottery or tile production was recovered. Later medieval material was infrequent, supporting the documented decline of the monastery from the 14th century. 17th century demolition deposits associated with the 17th century house were also abundant <5>

A 2004 watching brief on drainage works on the north side of the church found no features or deposits relating to an earlier church or to the monastic complex. It did, however, recover a pewter chalice (of uncertain date, but usually indicating the burial of a priest) from disturbed grave soils: this was unexpected on the north side of the church <6>

Building recording carried out as part of repair and consolidation works on the Foxe house at St Mary’s church, Bromfield. A stone by stone record of the Foxe House was produced as was a photographic record of the chancel roof. The late 16th century date of the Foxe House was confirmed. <7>

A programme of geophysical and topographic survey was undertaken in 2014 to the east and west of St Mary's Church at Bromfield. ->

-> Written sources illustrate the clear significance of the religious establishment at Bromfield from at least the Late Saxon period, and the re-founding of the priory by Henry II demonstrates the continued royal interest in the monastery throughout the twelfth century. The documentary evidence does not preclude that Bromfield was a royal minster of even earlier foundation. ->

-> Survey identified a number of features possible related to the monastic use of this area. A possible moated platform (PRN 31376) was identified to the immediate SE of the moated site known as Bromfield Grange (PRN 01171). This led to the suggestion that this may represent a high status residence site, possibly of the priors of Bromfield. In addition, tow areas of possible formal gardens were identified, one from survey to the east of and possibly associated with the moated site (PRN 31374); an area of formal gardens was also identified to the south of the church, from an undated map probably dated to the late 17th century. It was suggested that the latter formal gardens utilised the footprint of the Benedictine Priory cloister. <8>

Photographs from 1992 of the Priory Gatehouse [PRN 10737] and the remains of Foxe's House attached to the church [PRN 10736]. <9>

Fox incorporated the chancel into his house, but this was restored to the church in 1658. The house had mullioned and transomed windows with sunk chamfers, very similar to those in the Sidney apartments at Ludlow Castle. Photograph of blocked window.<10>

<00> Shropshire County Council SMR, Site and Monuments Record (SMR) cards, SMR Card for PRN SA 03058 (Card index). SSA20722.

<01b> Moir A L & Radford C A R, 1956, Article in the Archaeological Journal (Article in serial). SSA8020.

<01a> Knowles D & Hadcock N, 1971, Medieval Religious Houses of England and Wales, p52, p61, p413, p422 (Monograph). SSA487.

<01> Ordnance Survey, 1973, Ordnance Survey Record Card SO47NE7 (Card index). SSA8021.

<02> Gaydon A T (ed), 1973, Victoria County History 2: Ecclesiastical Organisation, Religious Houses, Schools and Sports, p27-29 (Volume). SSA540.

<03> Fenton R, 1917, Tours in Wales (1804 - 1813), 1804 visit (Monograph). SSA8019.

<04> Horton Wendy B, 1990/ 1991, MPP Evaluation File (TEXT). SSA20084.

<05> Stone Richard & Wainwright Jo, 2001, The church of St Mary the Virgin, Bromfield, Shropshire: report on an archaeological watching brief (Watching brief report). SSA22084.

<06> Wainwright Jo, 2004, The Church of St Mary the Virgin, Bromfield, Shropshire: a report on an archaeological watching brief (Watching brief report). SSA22175.

<07> Stone Richard, 2002, The Foxe House and the chancel roof of the Church of St Mary the Virgin, Bromfield, Shropshire (Field survey report). SSA20839.

<08> Wright D, Trick, S and Creighton, O, 2014, Bromfield, Shropshire: geophysical and topographical survey report, Areas A and B (Field survey report). SSA27732.

<09> Anon, 1992?, Seven Colour Slides of Bromfield Priory (Photograph). SSA28471.

<10> Moran Madge, 2003, Vernacular Buildings of Shropshire, p.396 (Monograph). SSA22146.

Sources

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