Monument record 2775/1 - Cotterstock College (College of Priests, Dedicated to The Holy Trinity and Virgin Mary)

Cotterstock College, founded circa 1339 by John Gifford and dissolved 1536, was probably the largest college of private foundation and Chantry character in the kingdom. There are no extant remains.

{1} Brass rubbing of Robert de Wynstryngham warden of college in 1420.

{2} Church Farm TL 04939057 exhibits much early work, see photo, but there is nothing visible in the architecture that can be attributed to the 14th century.

{3} During the second quarter of the C14th the chancel of the church was totally rebuilt on a large scale to accommodate the college of priests founded by John Gifford in 1338. Gifford was rector of Cotterstock until 1317 when he became royal clerk first to Queen Isabella and then to Edward III. He purchased the manor and advowson in 1336 and a Royal Charter was received for the foundation of the college in 1338, and episcopal sanction in the following year. The licence for alienation in mortmain shows that the college was to have a provost and twelve chaplains, and contains a list of its considerable endowments which includes the advowson of the hospital at Perio. The object of the foundation was to pray for the good estate of the King, Queen Isabella, Queen Philippa and the King's children, and John Gifford, and for the soul of Edward II. It was dedicated to The Holy Trinity, The Virgin Mary and other saints. The college prospered until the late C15th when it was stripped of its lands by Simon Norwich. It was dissolved in 1536. The Provosts's manor was granted by Edward VI to Sir Robert Kirkham who occupied the large chantry house near the east end of the Church.

A wall now acting as a retaining wall and running between the church and the south gable of Church Farmhouse, has three blocked openings, probably a door and two windows, and may be part of the medieval buildings. In 1615 the building on the site contained a parlour, a pantry, the "chauncell parlour", each with a chamber above, and a little dairy, a brewhouse and a corn chamber over it.

{4} Cotterstock College, founded c.1339 by John Gifford and dissolved 1536, was probably the largest college of private foundation and Chantry character in the kingdom. The remains are now converted into Church Farm, situated to the north of the church.

{6} Documentary evidence of the medieval origins of Cotterstock College. It was founded in around 1339 by John Gifford and dissolved in 1536. It was to consist of a provost, 12 chaplains and 2 clerks. There was a common refectory and dormitory. It was probably the largest college of private foundation and chantry character in the country;

{7} Contains quote from Leland 'Malory told me that there was a late Collegiate Church at Cotterstoke almost in the middle way betwixt Foderingey and Undale, but cuming from Foderingey onto Undale it standith a little out of the way on the right hand. In this College was a Mr., a three prestes, and a three clerks. The Parsonage of Cotterstock was appropriate to it, and praty Landes beside. One Gifford was, as I hard, the first Founder of it. One Nores clayming to be Founder even of late hath gotten away the Landes that longid to it. So that now remainith only the Benefice to it.'

The parsonage at Cotterstock had been the chief mansion house.

<1> Brass Rubbings at Ashmolean Museum, (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN41806.

<2> Baird, J., 1970, Field investigators comments, F1 JB 04-JUN-70 (Notes). SNN110341.

<3> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1984, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.38+43 (checked) (Series). SNN77384.

<4> Serjeantson R.M.; Ryland W. (Editors), 1906, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire, p.167-9 (unchecked) (Series). SNN100369.

<5> 1338, Calendar of Patent Rolls (1334-38), p.515 (unchecked) (Document). SNN104844.

<6> Knowles; Hadcock, 1971, Medieval Religious Houses England and Wales, (unchecked) (Book). SNN10192.

<7> The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire, p.166-70+555 (unchecked) (Series). SNN10247.

Record last edited

Feb 6 2024 10:40AM