Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-r5fsc Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-25T21:14:51.419Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

THE MEDIEVAL SACRISTY OF WESTMINSTER ABBEY

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 June 2020

Matthew Payne
Affiliation:
Keeper of the Muniments, Westminster Abbey, 20 Dean’s Yard, LondonSW1P 3PA, UK. Email: [email protected]
Richard Foster
Affiliation:
48 St Margaret’s Road, TwickenhamTW1 2LP, UK. Email: [email protected]

Abstract

This paper draws upon documentary, visual and archaeological evidence to chart the development of the sacristy of Westminster Abbey from its construction as one of the earliest parts of the abbey’s thirteenth-century rebuilding to its demolition in the mid-eighteenth century − a story that reflects wider changes of religious and political history.

Type
Research paper
Copyright
© The Society of Antiquaries of London, 2020

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Bibliography

BL, Cotton ms, Otho C. xi Google Scholar
Bodl, ms Gough Maps 23Google Scholar
Bodl, ms Gough Westminster1Google Scholar
Canterbury Cathedral, Dean and Chapter of Canterbury, ms Y.ax (Inventory of the Vestry of Westminster Abbey, 1388)Google Scholar
Canterbury Cathedral,Dean and Chapter of Canterbury, ms CCA-DCc/LitMs/A/10Google Scholar
Close Rolls 1247−51Google Scholar
Close Rolls 1254−6Google Scholar
Close Rolls 1385−9Google Scholar
Issue Rolls Easter 18 June 1445Google Scholar
Patent Rolls 1385−9Google Scholar
Pepys Library,Magdalene College, Cambridge, ms PL 2972−187aGoogle Scholar
SAL, Red Portfolio BPP5Google Scholar
South West Heritage Trust,Taunton, ms DD\BR\ely/1/7Google Scholar
TNA, Chancery papers, ms C 143/358/17Google Scholar
TNA, Chancery papers, ms C 3/414/81Google Scholar
TNA, PROB 11/14/164Google Scholar
WAM, ms 5444Google Scholar
WAM, ms 5459Google Scholar
WAM, ms 9473Google Scholar
WAM, ms 9509*Google Scholar
WAM, ms 6940Google Scholar
WAM, ms 18184, a report of 24 December 1657Google Scholar
WAM, ms 19009, Almoner’s account of John Stowe, 1403−4Google Scholar
WAM, ms 19619, Sacrist’s accounts of Henry de Bircheston, 1318−9Google Scholar
WAM, ms 19626, Sacrist’s accounts of William de LakynhethGoogle Scholar
WAM, ms 19628, Sacrist’s account of John de Bokenhull, 1361−2Google Scholar
WAM, ms 19630, Sacrist’s account of John de Somerton, 1364−5Google Scholar
WAM, ms 19636, Sacrist’s account of William Moredon, 1377−8Google Scholar
WAM, ms 19640, Sacrist’s account of Richard Honynton, 1382−3Google Scholar
WAM, ms 19641, Sacrist’s account of William Colchester, 1383−4Google Scholar
WAM, ms 19643, Sacrist’s account of Peter Combe, 1385−6Google Scholar
WAM, ms 19646, Sacrist’s account of Peter Combe, 1388−9Google Scholar
WAM, ms 19654, Sacrist’s account of Peter Combe, 1394−5Google Scholar
WAM, ms 19663, Sacrist’s account of Roger Cretton, 1422−3Google Scholar
WAM, ms 19665, Sacrist’s account of Roger Cretton, 1423−4Google Scholar
WAM, ms 19667, Sacrist’s account of Roger Cretton, 1425−6Google Scholar
WAM, ms 19669, Sacrist’s account of Roger Cretton, 1427−8Google Scholar
WAM, ms 19685, Sacrist’s account of Thomas Freston, 1441−2Google Scholar
WAM, ms 19691, Sacrist’s account of Thomas Freston, 1443−4Google Scholar
WAM, ms 19694, Sacrist’s account of John Flete, 1444−5Google Scholar
WAM, ms 19699, Sacrist’s account of Thomas Cornwell, 1449−50Google Scholar
WAM, ms 19700, Sacrist’s account of John Amondesham, 1450−1Google Scholar
WAM, ms 19706, Sacrist’s account of John Amondesham, 1456−7Google Scholar
WAM, ms 19710, Sacrist’s account of John Ametsham, 1459−60Google Scholar
WAM, ms 19711, Sacrist’s account of Thomas Rushton, 1462−3Google Scholar
WAM, ms 19717, Sacrist’s account of John Esteney, 1470−1Google Scholar
WAM, ms 19718, Sacrist’s accounts of John Esteney, 1471−2Google Scholar
WAM, ms 19720, Sacrist’s account of John Esteney, 1473−4Google Scholar
WAM, ms 19723, Perquos of John Esteney, 1475−6Google Scholar
WAM, ms 19725, Sacrist’s account of John Esteney, 1477−8Google Scholar
WAM, ms 19727, Sacrist’s account of John Esteney, 1478−9Google Scholar
WAM, ms 19729*, Sacrist’s account of John Esteney, 1483−4Google Scholar
WAM, ms 19731, Sacrist’s account of John Esteney, 1485−6Google Scholar
WAM, ms 19736, Sacrist’s account of John Esteney, 1488−9Google Scholar
WAM, ms 19736*, account of William Egerden, plumber, of monies due to him for the Sexton’s office at Westminster, 1488−9Google Scholar
WAM, ms 19737, Sacrist’s account of John Islip, 1488−9Google Scholar
WAM, ms 19739, Sacrist’s account of John Esteney, 1490−1Google Scholar
WAM, ms 19743, Sacrist’s account of John Esteney, 1492−3Google Scholar
WAM, ms 19782, Sacrist’s account of John Islip, 1520−1Google Scholar
WAM, ms 33699, Treasurer’s accounts of Richard Busby, 1666Google Scholar
WAM, ms 33710Google Scholar
WAM, ms 33711Google Scholar
WAM, ms 34511, Fabric Book commencing 1706Google Scholar
WAM, ms 35209Google Scholar
WAM, ms 35367, payment for cockle shells, 26 July 1726Google Scholar
WAM, ms 37064, Treasurer’s account of Humphrey Perkins, 1544−5Google Scholar
WAM, ms 41091Google Scholar
WAM, ms 42388Google Scholar
WAM, ms 42687Google Scholar
WAM, ms 44145H, carpenter’s bills for Dr South, November and December 1689Google Scholar
WAM, ms 44165B, acquittance from Nicholas Collins, 19 Dec 1689Google Scholar
WAM, ms 44168C, acquittance from John Tufnell, 10 Dec 1689Google Scholar
WAM, ms 44173B, work done by Edward Clift between 12 Mar and 17 Dec 1689Google Scholar
WAM, ms 44175D, acquittance from Richard Street, 6 Nov 1689Google Scholar
WAM, ms 44179F, bill of Edward Drew, glazier, 12 Nov 1689Google Scholar
WAM, ms 44196C, bill of Edward Clift, blacksmith, for 26 Nov and 31 Dec 1690Google Scholar
WAM, ms 44266BGoogle Scholar
WAM, ms 44326Google Scholar
WAM, ms 44827BGoogle Scholar
WAM, ms 47424, Order of the Dean and Chapter, 23 Mar 1715Google Scholar
WAM, ms 47425, estimate for rebuilding the Rev. Dr South’s wall, 23 Mar 1715Google Scholar
WAM, ms 47447, estimate of repairs to Dr South’s house, 10 Apr 1713Google Scholar
WAM, ms 51017Google Scholar
WAM, ms 51021Google Scholar
WAM, ms 51091Google Scholar
WAM, ms 51554, 5 Apr 1718Google Scholar
WAM, ms 52222, Dr South’s notebookGoogle Scholar
WAM, ms 57047Google Scholar
WAM, Acts of the Dean and Chapter, Vols 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7 and9Google Scholar
WAM, Hawksmoor Drawings Collection, ms Hawksmoor plan no. 14Google Scholar
WAM, Muniment Book i (Liber Niger)Google Scholar
WAM, Register Books, xiGoogle Scholar
WAM CC, ms 145888Google Scholar
WAM (P), ms 571, Dr Watson’s House in the Church Yard, 7 May 1719, William DicksonGoogle Scholar
Westminster Abbey object no. 1779,painting attributed to Pietro Fabris, c 1735−40, of the north front of Westminster Abbey, visualising the additions of Sir Christopher WrenGoogle Scholar
Westminster City Archives, ms E2419, St Margaret’s Vestry MinutesGoogle Scholar
BL, Cotton ms, Otho C. xi Google Scholar
Bodl, ms Gough Maps 23Google Scholar
Bodl, ms Gough Westminster1Google Scholar
Canterbury Cathedral, Dean and Chapter of Canterbury, ms Y.ax (Inventory of the Vestry of Westminster Abbey, 1388)Google Scholar
Canterbury Cathedral,Dean and Chapter of Canterbury, ms CCA-DCc/LitMs/A/10Google Scholar
Close Rolls 1247−51Google Scholar
Close Rolls 1254−6Google Scholar
Close Rolls 1385−9Google Scholar
Issue Rolls Easter 18 June 1445Google Scholar
Patent Rolls 1385−9Google Scholar
Pepys Library,Magdalene College, Cambridge, ms PL 2972−187aGoogle Scholar
SAL, Red Portfolio BPP5Google Scholar
South West Heritage Trust,Taunton, ms DD\BR\ely/1/7Google Scholar
TNA, Chancery papers, ms C 143/358/17Google Scholar
TNA, Chancery papers, ms C 3/414/81Google Scholar
TNA, PROB 11/14/164Google Scholar
WAM, ms 5444Google Scholar
WAM, ms 5459Google Scholar
WAM, ms 9473Google Scholar
WAM, ms 9509*Google Scholar
WAM, ms 6940Google Scholar
WAM, ms 18184, a report of 24 December 1657Google Scholar
WAM, ms 19009, Almoner’s account of John Stowe, 1403−4Google Scholar
WAM, ms 19619, Sacrist’s accounts of Henry de Bircheston, 1318−9Google Scholar
WAM, ms 19626, Sacrist’s accounts of William de LakynhethGoogle Scholar
WAM, ms 19628, Sacrist’s account of John de Bokenhull, 1361−2Google Scholar
WAM, ms 19630, Sacrist’s account of John de Somerton, 1364−5Google Scholar
WAM, ms 19636, Sacrist’s account of William Moredon, 1377−8Google Scholar
WAM, ms 19640, Sacrist’s account of Richard Honynton, 1382−3Google Scholar
WAM, ms 19641, Sacrist’s account of William Colchester, 1383−4Google Scholar
WAM, ms 19643, Sacrist’s account of Peter Combe, 1385−6Google Scholar
WAM, ms 19646, Sacrist’s account of Peter Combe, 1388−9Google Scholar
WAM, ms 19654, Sacrist’s account of Peter Combe, 1394−5Google Scholar
WAM, ms 19663, Sacrist’s account of Roger Cretton, 1422−3Google Scholar
WAM, ms 19665, Sacrist’s account of Roger Cretton, 1423−4Google Scholar
WAM, ms 19667, Sacrist’s account of Roger Cretton, 1425−6Google Scholar
WAM, ms 19669, Sacrist’s account of Roger Cretton, 1427−8Google Scholar
WAM, ms 19685, Sacrist’s account of Thomas Freston, 1441−2Google Scholar
WAM, ms 19691, Sacrist’s account of Thomas Freston, 1443−4Google Scholar
WAM, ms 19694, Sacrist’s account of John Flete, 1444−5Google Scholar
WAM, ms 19699, Sacrist’s account of Thomas Cornwell, 1449−50Google Scholar
WAM, ms 19700, Sacrist’s account of John Amondesham, 1450−1Google Scholar
WAM, ms 19706, Sacrist’s account of John Amondesham, 1456−7Google Scholar
WAM, ms 19710, Sacrist’s account of John Ametsham, 1459−60Google Scholar
WAM, ms 19711, Sacrist’s account of Thomas Rushton, 1462−3Google Scholar
WAM, ms 19717, Sacrist’s account of John Esteney, 1470−1Google Scholar
WAM, ms 19718, Sacrist’s accounts of John Esteney, 1471−2Google Scholar
WAM, ms 19720, Sacrist’s account of John Esteney, 1473−4Google Scholar
WAM, ms 19723, Perquos of John Esteney, 1475−6Google Scholar
WAM, ms 19725, Sacrist’s account of John Esteney, 1477−8Google Scholar
WAM, ms 19727, Sacrist’s account of John Esteney, 1478−9Google Scholar
WAM, ms 19729*, Sacrist’s account of John Esteney, 1483−4Google Scholar
WAM, ms 19731, Sacrist’s account of John Esteney, 1485−6Google Scholar
WAM, ms 19736, Sacrist’s account of John Esteney, 1488−9Google Scholar
WAM, ms 19736*, account of William Egerden, plumber, of monies due to him for the Sexton’s office at Westminster, 1488−9Google Scholar
WAM, ms 19737, Sacrist’s account of John Islip, 1488−9Google Scholar
WAM, ms 19739, Sacrist’s account of John Esteney, 1490−1Google Scholar
WAM, ms 19743, Sacrist’s account of John Esteney, 1492−3Google Scholar
WAM, ms 19782, Sacrist’s account of John Islip, 1520−1Google Scholar
WAM, ms 33699, Treasurer’s accounts of Richard Busby, 1666Google Scholar
WAM, ms 33710Google Scholar
WAM, ms 33711Google Scholar
WAM, ms 34511, Fabric Book commencing 1706Google Scholar
WAM, ms 35209Google Scholar
WAM, ms 35367, payment for cockle shells, 26 July 1726Google Scholar
WAM, ms 37064, Treasurer’s account of Humphrey Perkins, 1544−5Google Scholar
WAM, ms 41091Google Scholar
WAM, ms 42388Google Scholar
WAM, ms 42687Google Scholar
WAM, ms 44145H, carpenter’s bills for Dr South, November and December 1689Google Scholar
WAM, ms 44165B, acquittance from Nicholas Collins, 19 Dec 1689Google Scholar
WAM, ms 44168C, acquittance from John Tufnell, 10 Dec 1689Google Scholar
WAM, ms 44173B, work done by Edward Clift between 12 Mar and 17 Dec 1689Google Scholar
WAM, ms 44175D, acquittance from Richard Street, 6 Nov 1689Google Scholar
WAM, ms 44179F, bill of Edward Drew, glazier, 12 Nov 1689Google Scholar
WAM, ms 44196C, bill of Edward Clift, blacksmith, for 26 Nov and 31 Dec 1690Google Scholar
WAM, ms 44266BGoogle Scholar
WAM, ms 44326Google Scholar
WAM, ms 44827BGoogle Scholar
WAM, ms 47424, Order of the Dean and Chapter, 23 Mar 1715Google Scholar
WAM, ms 47425, estimate for rebuilding the Rev. Dr South’s wall, 23 Mar 1715Google Scholar
WAM, ms 47447, estimate of repairs to Dr South’s house, 10 Apr 1713Google Scholar
WAM, ms 51017Google Scholar
WAM, ms 51021Google Scholar
WAM, ms 51091Google Scholar
WAM, ms 51554, 5 Apr 1718Google Scholar
WAM, ms 52222, Dr South’s notebookGoogle Scholar
WAM, ms 57047Google Scholar
WAM, Acts of the Dean and Chapter, Vols 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7 and9Google Scholar
WAM, Hawksmoor Drawings Collection, ms Hawksmoor plan no. 14Google Scholar
WAM, Muniment Book i (Liber Niger)Google Scholar
WAM, Register Books, xiGoogle Scholar
WAM CC, ms 145888Google Scholar
WAM (P), ms 571, Dr Watson’s House in the Church Yard, 7 May 1719, William DicksonGoogle Scholar
Westminster Abbey object no. 1779,painting attributed to Pietro Fabris, c 1735−40, of the north front of Westminster Abbey, visualising the additions of Sir Christopher WrenGoogle Scholar
Westminster City Archives, ms E2419, St Margaret’s Vestry MinutesGoogle Scholar

Printed sources

Binski, P 1995. Westminster Abbey and the Plantagenets: kingship and the representation of power, 1200−1400, Yale University Press, New Haven and London Google Scholar
Britton, J 1814. The Architectural Antiquities of Great Britain, Vol 4, London Google Scholar
The Builder’s Dictionary, 1734, Vol 1, LondonGoogle Scholar
Cohen, M 2015. The Sainte-Chapelle and the Construction of Sacral Monarchy: royal architecture in thirteenth-century Paris, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge Google Scholar
Cole, H (ed) 1844. Documents illustrative of English History in the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Centuries, selected from the Records of the Department of the Queen’s Remembrancer of the Exchequer, London Google Scholar
Devon, F (ed) 1832. Issues of the Exchequer, Record Commission, London Google Scholar
Firth, C H and Rait, R S 1911. Acts and Ordinances of the Interregnum, 1642−1660, Vol 2, HMSO, London Google Scholar
Foster, R 1991. Patterns of Thought: the hidden meaning of the Great Pavement of Westminster Abbey, Jonathan Cape Ltd, London Google Scholar
Harris, N (ed) 1834. Proceedings and Ordinances of the Privy Council of England, Vol 3, London Google Scholar
Harris, N (ed) 1835. Proceedings and Ordinances of the Privy Council of England, Vol 5, London Google Scholar
Jordan, W C 2009. A Tale of Two Monasteries: Westminster and Saint−Denis in the thirteenth century, Princeton University Press, Princeton CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kennet, W 1706. A Complete History of England: with the lives of all the kings and queens, Vol 1, London Google Scholar
Luxford, J 2019. ‘Recording and curating relics at Westminster Abbey in the late Middle Ages’, J Medieval Hist, 45(2), 204−30CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Marks, R 1991. ‘Window glass’, in Blair, J and Ramsay, N (eds), English Medieval Industries: craftsmen, techniques, products, 265−94, Hambledon Press, London Google Scholar
Marks, R 1993. Stained Glass in England during the Middle Ages, Routledge, Toronto Google Scholar
Miles, D and Bridge, M 2008. ‘Westminster Abbey, London: tree-ring dating of the chests and fittings’, English Heritage Res Dept Rep no. 3−2008, English Heritage, LondonGoogle Scholar
Milner, L 2016. ‘St Faith’s Chapel at Westminster Abbey: the significance of its design, decoration and location’, J Brit Archaeol Ass, 169, 7194CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Monnas, L 2017. ‘Reading English royal inventories: furnishings and clothing in the inventory of King Henry V’, in Ertl, T and Karl, B (eds), Inventories of Textiles: textiles in inventories, 89110, V&R Unipress, Vienna CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pearce, E H 1916. The Monks of Westminster, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge Google Scholar
Poole, H 1870. ‘Some account of the discovery of the Roman coffin in the North Green of Westminster Abbey’, Archaeol J, 27, 118−29CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Raby, F and Baillie Reynolds, P K 1937. Castle Acre Priory, HMSO, London Google Scholar
Robinson, J Armitage (ed) 1909. The History of Westminster Abbey by John Flete, London Google Scholar
Rodwell, W and Neal, D 2019. The Cosmatesque Mosaics of Westminster Abbey, Oxbow Books, Oxford and Philadelphia CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (RCHM) 1924. An Inventory of the Historical Monuments in London. Vol 1: Westminster Abbey, HMSO, London Google Scholar
Salzman, L 1952. Building in England Down to 1540: a documentary history, Oxford University Press, Oxford Google Scholar
Sim, S (ed) 1997. The Concise Pepys, Wordsworth Editions Ltd, Ware Google Scholar
South, R 1717. Posthumous Works of the late Reverend Robert South, D.D., London Google Scholar
Stewart, Z 2019. ‘A lesson in patronage: King Henry III, the Knights Templar, and a royal mausoleum at the Temple Church in London’, Speculum, 94(2), 334−84CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Thompson, E M (ed) 1904. Customary of the Benedictine Monasteries of Saint Augustine, Canterbury, and Saint Peter’s Westminster, Vol 2, Henry Bradshaw Society, London Google Scholar
Vincent, N 2001. The Holy Blood: King Henry III and the Westminster blood relic, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge Google Scholar
Walcott, M E C 1875. ‘The inventories of Westminster Abbey at the Dissolution’, Trans London and Middlesex Archaeol Soc, 4, 313−64Google Scholar
Wessex Archaeology 2010, ‘Northern Green, Westminster Abbey, London: archaeological evaluation and assessment of results’, unpublished report 71510.01Google Scholar
Wickham Legg, J 1890On an inventory of the vestry in Westminster Abbey taken in 1388’, Archaeologia, 52, 125286Google Scholar
Willoughby, J 2012, ‘Inhabited sacristies in medieval England: the case of the St Mary’s Warwick’, Antiq J, 92, 331−45CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wren, C (ed) 1750, Parentalia: or memoirs of the family of Wrens, London Google Scholar