The Abbot of Burton was the head of Burton Abbey, the Benedictine monastery of St Mary and St Modwenna at Burton-upon-Trent in Staffordshire, England. Allegedly the church was begun by a wandering Irish holy woman, but it was actually founded c. 1003 as a Benedictine abbey by Wulfric Spott. A continuous series of abbots, which slight possible interruptions, can be traced thereafter until the English Reformation.

List of abbots edit

Abbots of the church of Burton
Incumbent From Until Citation(s) Notes
Wulfgeat c. 1004 c. 1026 [1] The Annals of Burton state he died Thursday 20 April 1026, after 22 years in office. This date was in fact a Wednesday, though 20 April 1027 fell on a Thursday, meaning that the source was out by a year his abbacy lasted from c. 1005 to 1027.[1]
Brihtric I c. 1027 c. 1050 [2] The Annals of Burton state he died Saturday 20 April 1050, after 24 years in office. This date was in fact a Friday.[1]
Leofric c. 1051 1066 [3] Also Abbot of Peterborough (1052–1066), as well as Coventry, Crowland, and Thorney, he was the nephew of Leofric, Earl of Mercia.[4]
Brihtric II c. 1067 1085 [3] Previously Abbot of Malmesbury, he was appointed by William the Conqueror soon after Abbot Leofric's death in either 31 October or 1 November 1066.[5]
Geoffrey de Mala Terra 1085 1094 [3] He was expelled from his position in 1094.[3]
Nigel 1094 1114 [3]
Geoffrey 1114 1150 [3]
Robert I 1150 1159 [3] He was expelled in 1159, but returned in 1176.[3]
Bernard 1160 1174 [3] Previously Abbot of Cerne[3]
Robert I (again) 1176 [3] Previously Abbot of Cerne[3]
Roger Malebranche 1177 1182 [3]
Richard 1182 1187 [3]
Nicholas 1187 1197 [3]
William Melburne 1200 1213 [3]
Stephen de Lucy 1214 [3] Elected but resigned in January 1214[6]
Roger 1214 1216 [3]
Nicholas de Wallingford 1216 1222 [7]
Richard de Insula 1222 1229 [7]
Laurence de St Edward 1229 1260 [7]
John de Stafford 1260 1281 [7]
Thomas de Packington 1281 1305 [7]
John de Burton 1305 1316 [7]
William de Bromley 1316 1329 [7]
Robert de Langdon 1329 1340 [7]
Robert de Brykhull 1340 1347 [8]
John of Ibestock 1347 1366 [8]
Thomas of Southam 1366 1400 [8]
John de Sudbury 1400 1424 [9]
William Matthewe 1424 1430 [9]
Robert Ownesby 1430 1433 [9]
Ralph Henley 1433 1455 [9]
William de Bronston 1455 1473 [9]
Thomas de Felde 1473 1493 [9]
William Fleghe 1493 1502 [9]
William Beyne 1502 1530 x 1531 [9] Associated with Abbot Beyne School
William Benson 1531 1533 [9] Became Abbot of Westminster[9]
John Beaton 1533 1534 [9]
William Edys 1534 1539 [9] Surrendered the abbey as part of the dissolution of the monasteries[9]

Notes edit

  1. ^ a b c Knowles, Brooke, and London, Heads of Religious Houses, vol. i, p. 30
  2. ^ Knowles, Brooke, and London, Heads of Religious Houses, vol. i, pp. 30–31
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Knowles, Brooke, and London, Heads of Religious Houses, vol. i, p. 31
  4. ^ Knowles, Brooke, and London, Heads of Religious Houses, vol. i, p. 60
  5. ^ Knowles, Brooke, and London, Heads of Religious Houses, vol. i, pp. 31, 55
  6. ^ Knowles, Brooke, and London, Heads of Religious Houses, vol. i, pp. 31, 80
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h Smith and London, Heads of Religious Houses, vol. ii, p. 25
  8. ^ a b c Smith and London, Heads of Religious Houses, vol. ii, p. 26
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Greenslade and Pugh (eds.), "The Abbey of Burton"

References edit

  • Knowles, David; Brooke, C. N. L.; London, C. M, eds. (1972), The Heads of Religious Houses : England and Wales. 1, 940—1216, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, ISBN 0-521-08367-2
  • Greenslade, M. W.; Pugh, R. B., eds. (1970), "Houses of Benedictine Monks: The Abbey of Burton", A History of the County of Stafford: Volume 3, British History Online, pp. 199–213, retrieved 2009-07-09
  • Smith, David M.; London, C. M, eds. (2001), The Heads of Religious Houses : England and Wales. 2, 1216—1377, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, ISBN 0-521-80271-7