Monument record 4959/1 - St James' Abbey

Augustinian abbey founded circa 1150, suppressed in 1535. Site now covered by a housing estate. Summary from record 4959/1/9: Dovehouse recorded within the abbey precinct

{1}House for Black Canons of order of St Augustine founded by William Peverel in early C12th in western suburb of Northampton known as St James' End; endowed with 40 acres of land & church & mill of Duston; founding charter is undated but was confirmed by Henry I in 1104 & again by Henry II in 1171 with further addition of 60 acres of land around Roade; possibly ruled in early days by Prior; first Abbot was Ralph & mentioned in 1158; died 1177; full list of abbots given; also detailed description & illustration of abbey seal; benefactions flowed in rapidly & area of influence extended to include sixty parishes in Northamptonshire as well as land in Rutland & Bedfordshire & Leicestershire & at Charing Cross in London; in 1290 Jews were banished from England & their property seized by Crown; Synagogue & its adjacent properties in Northampton was granted to St James'; in taxation of Pope Nicholas in 1291 annual income returned at #70.0s.2d.; Records of disputes over landholdings include abbey claim of meadowland close to west bridge of Northampton; in C14th abbot ordered to provide suitable house in monastery for safe-keeping of taxes collected from around county; religious houses were often used as safe receptacles; details of taxes levied during C14th instability; house was surrendered on 25th August 1538 & estate was granted to Nicholas Giffard.

Margaret de Briton donated rental towards maintenance of refectory. Robert Barre gave donation towards maintenance of abbey infirmary; early C16th donation of pewter dishes to infirmary by Richard Berde. John de Holewell paid rental to maintain light in Chapel of Holy Trinity near abbey gate; same chapel also said to be in court of abbey in donation from William son of Levenod; appear to have been several chapels including also Blessed Virgin & St Margaret.

A small portion of the wall of St.James Abbey was still visible in 1906, on the Weedon Road, near the spot where the Duston and Upton roads divide. Tithe barn standing well into C17th and described as being supported with twelve buttresses and two large porches on south side; described as "goodlyest barne that ever we have sene both for stone & timber" in letter by one of Henry VIII's Commissioners.

An encaustic tile, charged with the emblems of St.James, was found on the site.


{2}Site of Augustinian Abbey lies to south of Weedon Road; house of Augustinian canons dedicated to St James; founded in first half of C12th by William Peverel; probably originally a priory & later achieved abbey status hence Ralph who occurs as abbot in 1158 & died in 1177 is referred to as first abbot; abbey well endowed with property in sixty Northamptonshire parishes in addition to rents in Rutland & Bedfordshire & Leicestershire & at Charing Cross in London; Abbey supressed in 1538 & estate granted to Nicholas Gifford; no upstanding remains survive.

Baker quotes a deed of enfeoffment of 1637, when the estate passed from the Giffard family, describing a `mansion house called St James near Northampton, lately new built upon the ground sometime belong to the late dissolved abbey…of St James…together with the great barn called the abbey barn, with the water-mill mill-houses, malt-floors, dove-houses, and out-houses thereto belonging…'. Lee writing in 1715 describes the barn as `one of the greatest and stateliest barns of England. It had brave stone walls, it was covered with excellent timber and well slated and on the North side by the road there were two porches very large to enter into the barn or carry grain.

`Abbey Land', presumably the extent of the abbey precinct, is marked on a map of 1722. Just to the E. of the junction of Weedon Road with Duston Road and lying S. of the Weedon road used to be situated `Fairy Close', and adjoining it ot the W. `Churchyard Close' probably to be identified as site of St Margaret's Chapel Bridges states that a barn and dove-house stood in the close where St James's fair was held and that this was also thought to be the site of the abbey itself. It seems unlikely that the main abbey buildings were situated either in Churchyard Close, at the extreme N.W. of the abbey precinct, or in the area where the fair was held, which was presumably open ground in medieval times; a location a little to the E. at c. SP 736607 is perhaps more probable.

{4}Augustinian Abbey of St James at Northampton circa 1150-1538;

{5} Lee writing in 1715 described the barn as one of greatest and stateliest in England; brave stone walls and covered with excellent timber and well slated, and on north side by road were two large porches entering into barn.

{6}Rule of order of St.Augustine of regular canons first adopted in England circa 1100; St James' Abbey founded circa 1145-50 by William Peverell II; incorrectly attributed to William Peverell I in 1104-5; abbey probably for at least 13 canons at its foundation; in 1291 income was #68; 15 canons in 1442; income circa 1535 was #213; finally dissolved in 1538;

{7}Thomas Gifford acquired tenure of abbey estate with malt-floors together with dove-houses within abbey precinct of St James'. Baker quotes from enfeoffment of 1637 which mentions out-houses once belonging to dissolved abbey of St James. "….together with great barn called abbey barn".

{8}St James' Abbey or monastery for black canons of the Augustinian order was situated in western suburbs of town; founded by William Peverel son of The Conqueror in early C12th; founder died in AD 1112 but exact date of foundation unknown; gave it 40 acres of land together with church & mill of Duston; donations were confirmed by Henry I & II; received several benefactions; first recorded abbot was Ralph who was elected in 1158; in 1546 following dissolution site & demense lands of abbey & revenues valued at #175.8s.2d. Were granted to Nicholas Gifford of Duston;In register of St James' Abbey mention is made of St Martin's Chapel in St Martin's Street but of which nothing certain is known;

{9}Abbey of St James founded by son of The Conqueror William Peverel for Black Canons of order of St Augustine in 5th year of Henry I ie.1104-5; endowed with 40 acres of ground for their buildings to which was added church & mill at Duston; successive benefactors gave gifts of lands & rents valued at dissolution at #274.0s.2d.;Banbury Road alluded to by Bridges as dividing abbey estates is not present turnpike but road formerly leading to Banbury Lane & now obliterated by inclosure. At upper end opposite stile leading to Duston are piers or buttresses of a building [former tithe barn].

{10} The site is now covered by a housing estate.

{11}Abbey for Black Canons founded by William Peverel of Nottingham sometime before end of 1112/beginning of 1113 when he died; endowed with forty acres of land for their buildings as well as mill & church of Duston; these donations confirmed by 5th Henry I & again by 18th Henry II; revenues soon augmented by considerable benefactions & possessions; lists benefactors known to abbey with their donations; includes several from Northampton & St James's End & Charing Cross in suburbs of London; by 1535 survey abbey estate valued at #175.8s.2d.; on 25th August 1539 monks surrendered monastery with all its appurtenances into hands of King's commissioners; in 1546 site & demense lands of abbey with wood called Great Grove & profits of St James' Fair granted to Nicholas Gifford; list of abbot's holding office;

{12}List of bequests & dedications to Abbey of St James;Mentions chapel which stood in St Martin's Lane as having been long since destroyed & no mention found of it in wills;

{13}Abbey founded by William Peverel for the black canons of order of St Augustine at beginning of C12th; endowed abbey with 40 acres in Duston & church & mill of Duston. Grant undated but later confirmed by Henry I in 1104-5; endowments speedily increased & land held extensively in county & beyond. Early monastic dwellings temporary & probably constructed of wood; on 16th April 1173 occupied new stone church & conventual buildings. Valor of 1291 gives income of #65.2s.8d.; Valor of 1535 gave abbey annual value of #213; letter of May 1536 described abbey as being stately & in good repair; recommendations made by commissioners to allow abbey to continue but dissolved in 1538; list of abbots given; detailed description of abbey seal given;In 1291 king granted to St James' Abbey sites of various houses of Jewish community before their banishment in 1290; situated before entrance to synagogue; appears that synagogue & Jewish settlement lay close to precinct walls of abbey. Commissioners report stated that abbey in substantial repair and of old foundation and possessed goodliest barn that was ever seen for stone and timber.

{14}St James' Abbey was house of Austin Canons founded at beginning of C12th by William Peverel; owned much property in town; only trace remaining today is name Abbey Street. The fragment of wall of St.James' Abbey was entirely demolished in 1927.

{15}Abbot of St James Henry Kokkes received money for lands & tithes in "Syllysworth" in 1509 & 1520; summoned to convocation of province in 1529; fines were made by king's commandment; abbot of St James for restitution of temporalities #33 6s 8d (1531); monastery mentioned under grants in May 1532 when abbot died; John Dasset elected as new abbot in 1532; abbots of St James with 9 monks mentioned in 1534; favourable reports of abbot & abbey in 1536 by king's commissioner George Gyfford; William Brokden master of St James thanks Cromwell & entreats him (?1537); 1538 Brokden mentioned regarding good works for the abbey despite having no seal; surrender of monastery & all its possessions in 1538;

{16}St James' Abbey of Augustinian Canons was founded circa 1150 probably for at least 13 canons; income in 1291 was about #68; by 1535 net income was #213; abbey was suppressed in 1538;

{17}Early in C13th new Monastery seriously injured by disastrous fire & in 1223 Henry III granted 30 rafters to be used in work of rebuilding;

{18}In 1290 Jews were banished from England & their property seized by Crown; Synagogue & its adjacent properties in Northampton was granted to St James';

{19}East of junction of Weedon Road with Duston Road & lying south of Weedon Road is marked "Fairyard Close" & adjoining it to west "Churchyard Close"; latter probably site of St Margaret's Chapel;

{20} The area to the north of the abbey church was investigated in Trenches 1 & 2. It can be characterised as comprising an open yard with areas of metalling. It may have been bounded to the north by a building or buildings set adjacent to the precinct wall on the Weedon Road frontage.

{23}Unlikely that main abbey buildings were situated in "Churchyard Close" at north-west of abbey precinct or in area where fair held which was presumably open ground;,

<1> SERJEANTSON R.M., 1906, The Abbey of St. James, Northampton, 243-66+PHOTOGRAPH (Article). SNN2183.

<2> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1985, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.264-65 (checked) (Series). SNN77383.

<3> Williams J.H.; Shaw M.; Hardy S., 1978-1984, Northampton Development Corporation SMR Secondary Record Sheets, M20 (checked) (Catalogue). SNN108.

<4> Ordnance Survey, 1950s/1960s, Ordnance Survey Record Cards, SP76SW7 (checked) (Index). SNN443.

<5> Lee H., 1931, A History of Northampton, p.67-152 (unchecked) (Article). SNN42839.

<6> Knowles; Hadcock, 1971, Medieval Religious Houses England and Wales, p.142+168 (checked) (Book). SNN10192.

<7> Baker G., 1830, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, p. 146- 151 (Book). SNN77327.

<8> Whellan, 1874, History, Topography & Directory of Northamptonshire, p.118+307-8; Handwritten notes in NDC SMR File M20;; (unchecked) (Book). SNN1002.

<9> Wetton, 1849, Guidebook to Northampton and its Vicinity, p.144-45 (unchecked) (Book). SNN1032.

<10> Baird, J, 1969, Field Investigators Comments, F1 BHS 18-MAR-69 (Note). SNN111452.

<11> Bridges J., 1791, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, p.501-503 (unchecked) (Book). SNN100366.

<12> Serjeantson R.M.; Longden Isham H., 1913, The Parish Churches & Religious Houses of Northamptonshire: Their Dedications, Altars etc., p.228-29 (checked); Copy in NDC SMR File M20; (Extract). SNN1080.

<13> Serjeantson R.M.; Ryland W. (Editors), 1906, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire, p.127-30 (checked) (Series). SNN100369.

<14> Page W. (ed), 1930, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire, p.57-58 (checked) (Series). SNN100370.

<15> 1509-1532, Letters & Papers of Henry VIII (LPFD 1-30, Vols.1-13), (unchecked) (Document). SNN1036.

<16> DICKINSON G.C., 1950, AUSTIN CANNONS, 125 (Uncertain). SNN2346.

<17> Calendar of Close Rolls (undated), 8 Henry III/pt.1 M.15 (unchecked) (Document). SNN2187.

<18> Calendar of Patent Rolls, 8 Edward II pt.1 memb.11 (unchecked) (Document). SNN978.

<19> MAP, (unchecked) (Map). SNN2352.

<20> Chapman A., 2000, Archaeological Evaluation Of The Former Express Lift Company, Abbey Works, Weedon Road, Northampton, P. 27-28 (Report). SNN100471.

<21> Northamptonshire Archaeology, 1999, Evaluation Of the Archaeological Potential Of The Former Express Lift Company Abbey Works Site, Weedon Road, Northampton, (unchecked) (Interim Report). SNN100528.

<22> Welsh T.C., 2000, Document Search - St James' Abbey And Great Tithe Barn, (unchecked) (Notes). SNN101337.

<23> Chapman A , Chapman P, 2000-01, Northampton, Express Lift Company, Abbey Works, (unchecked) (Note). SNN104001.

Record last edited

Feb 10 2025 7:06PM