Doncaster

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Historical and geographical information

 

 

 

  

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General Sir Martin Farndale KCB

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Introduction

 

Dates are in red.

Hyperlinks to other pages are in dark blue.

Headlines of the history of the Doncaster are in brown.

References and citations are in turquoise.

Contextual history is in purple.

 

This webpage about the Doncaster has the following section headings:

 

·         The Farndales of Doncaster

·         The History of Doncaster

·         Loversall

·         Campsall

·         Doncaster Timeline

·         Links, texts and books

 

See also the History of the Parish of Doncaster.

 

The Farndales of Doncaster

 

The following Farndales are associated with Doncaster:

 

(Sir) William Farndale (FAR00038), was Vicar of Doncaster between about 1396 and 1403. We first see his name in a grant of land in Latin by Walter de Thornton, the vicar of Doncaster, and Wm de Farndell, his chaplain on 11 April 1355. Perhaps William may have been about twenty then, so perhaps he was born in about 1335. The Black Death had ravaged Doncaster from about 1349, and its population had been reduced to about 1,500. So William must have survived the Black Death. Perhaps he was already a chaplain then, experiencing the horrors with pastoral responsibilities. Or perhaps it was his survival of those horrors that was his path to the church. We then spot him again in the patent rolls of 1358. On 7 December 1368, Robert Ripers transferred five acres of land at Lovershall (just south of Doncaster) to Sir William Farndale, still chaplain. The term ‘sire’ was used as an address to religious men such as priests, it does not denote a knight. ‘Know men present and to come that I Robert Ripers of Loversall have given, granted, and by this my present charter confirmed to Sir William Farndale, chaplain, 5 acres of land with appurtenances lying in the fields of Loversall, extending from the meadows of the Wyke to the Kardyke, of which 1 acre 1 rood lie in Wykefield between the land of Robert son of John son of William, son of Robert on both sides. And 2 1/2 acres lying in the Midelfild between my own land on the west and the land of Richard son of Robert on the east. And 1 rood lying in Wodfild between my own land on the west and the land of John of Wakefield on the east. To have and to hold the said 5 acres of land with appurtenances to the said William and his heirs and assigns, freely, quietly, well and in peace, from the chief lords of the free by the services then owed and customary by right. And I, said Robert, and my heirs, will warrant the said 5 acres with appurtenances to the said Sir William, his heirs and assigns against all men for ever. In witness whereof I have affixed my seal to this present charter. These being in witness; Sir John of Loversall, Chaplain; William Vely, Robert Clerk, Richard Rilis, John son of William son of Roger and others. Given at Loversall on Thursday after the Feast of St Nicholas, 42 Edward III. (7 Dec 1368).’ Sir William Farndale then became the Vicar of Doncaster from 8 January 1397 (aged about 61) to 31 August 1403 (aged about 68) when he resigned.

 

William transferred his land at Lovershall to John Burton in 1402; “‘Know men present and to come that I, William Farndalle, Vicar of the Church of Doncastre, have given, granted and by this present charter confirmed to John Burton of Waddeworth, his heirs and assigns 5 acres of land with appurtenances lying in the fields of Loversall. Viz, those 5 acres of land which I had as gift and feoffment of Robert Ryppes of Loversalle and which extend from the meadows of the Wyke to the Kardyke as the charter drawn up for me by Robert Ryppes more fully sets out. To have and to hold the said 5 acres of land with appurtenances to the said John Burton, his heirs and assigns from the chief of the lords of the fee by the services thence owed and customary by right. And I William Farndalle and my heirs will warrant the said 5 acres of land with appurtenances to the said John Burton, his heirs and assigns against all men for ever. In witness whereof I have affixed my seal to this present charter. These being witnesses; John Yorke of Loversalle, Robert Oxenford of Loversalle, William Ryppes of the same, John Millotte of the same, William Clerk of the same and many others. Given at Loversalle 6 April 3 Henry IV. (6 April 1402).”

In 1403 we see the installation of William Couper as the vicar of Doncaster, on William Farndale’s resignation.

On 29 October 1564 a wedding took place between a William Farndell and a Margaret Atkinson in the Church of St Magdalene in the village of Campsall, which is only a few miles north of Doncaster. So on a balance of probabilities, it seems more likely than not that William Farndell who married in 1564 came from the same line of Farndales as William Farndale, the vicar of Doncaster. There must have been a generation or two between them. It is possible that William the Younger was descended from a brother of William the Elder, or perhaps he was a direct descendant.

It is believed that Nicholas Farndale (FAR00059) and Agnes Farndale (FAR00060), who both died in Kirkleatham, were born in Campsall or thereabouts, around Doncaster, perhaps in about 1512 and 1516 respectively. If so, they were likely descended from William Farndale (FAR00038), the Vicar of Doncaster, or at least from his wider family (his brother perhaps).  William Farndale junior (FAR00063) was born in say 1538, and Jean Farndale (FAR00064) in say 1540 to Nicholas and Agnes. William Farndale married Mary Atkinson at the Church of St Mary Magdalene in Campsall in 1564. Between 1564 and 1567, the family moved to Kirkleatham. We don’t know why. Maybe that was Agnes’ ancestral home. Perhaps more likely Jean had met Richard Fairly, a relatively well established fellow, whose family were Scottish, but who had more recently become associated with Cleveland and Kirkleatham. Perhaps the family saw opportunities by a move north. On 16 October 1567, Jean married Richard Fairley in Kirkleatham. The family lived generally at Kirkleatham until Nicholas and Anne’s death in 1572 and 1586, though William had by then realigned slightly eastward, to Skelton. This established the family tree for the Doncaster-Kirkleatham-Skelton Line of Farndales.

Others associated with Doncaster were William Farndale (FAR00063); Thomas Farndale (FAR00474); James Farndale (FAR00669) who worked in animal husbandry and served with animals in both world wars.

 

The History of Doncaster

 

Modern Doncaster is strongly characterised by its industrial past. However the Doncaster of relevance to the history of the Farndale family was a very different place.

It was the place of a significant Roman Fort. After the Norman Conquest, Nigel Fossard had built a Norman Castle. By the thirteenth century, Doncaster was a busy town. In 1194 Richard I had given the town recognition by bestowing a town charter. There was a disastrous fire in 1204 (fires seem to feature heavily in Doncaster’s history) from which the town slowly recovered.

In 1248, a charter was granted for Doncaster Market to be held in the area surrounding the Church of St Mary Magdalene, which had been built in Norman times. But over time the parish church was transferred to the church of the old Norman castle, the castle which by then was in ruin. The new parish church was the original Church of St George. During the 14th century, large numbers of friars arrived in Doncaster who were known for their religious enthusiasm and preaching. In 1307 the Franciscan friars (Greyfriars) arrived, as did Carmelites (Whitefriars) in the mid-14th century. Other major medieval features included the Hospital of St Nicholas and the leper colony of the Hospital of St James, a moot hall, a grammar school and a five-arched stone town bridge with a chapel dedicated to Our Lady of the Bridge.

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Doncaster 1857

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Loversall

 

A Descriptive Catalogue of Ancient Deeds: Volume 5. Originally published by His Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1906:

 

A 11356. Feoffment by Adam son of Pain (Pagani) of Alworthlay, to Robert son of John de Rypers of Loversall and Alice his wife in survivorship, and the heirs begotten between them, of a messuage [in Loversall]. Witnesses:—John de Rypers, lord of Loversall, and others (named). Tuesday, the feast of St. John of Beverley, 1331.

 

A 11368. Feoffment by William Mar of Loversall to Robert Repas, John Yowll, John York and John Anten of the same and the heirs and assigns of Robert, of a dovecot there. Lady Day, 6 Henry VI. Seal. (1427?)

 

A 11391. Indenture being a grant by Robert Twyer of Doncastre, Thomas Chamberlayn, William de Wombewell, and John Frankys to Thomas Rypas of Loversall and Joan his wife of the lands in Loversall which they had by his gift and feoffment, those lands there and in Heghellers excepted which they had granted by charter to Thomas son of the said Thomas Rypas and Isabel his wife, in tail; to hold to the said Thomas and Joan for their lives in survivorship with remainder, land in 'le Mydelfelde,' &c. excepted, to the said Robert son of Thomas Rypas, in tail, with remainder to Thomas' heirs, and with remainder as to the said land in 'le Mydelfelde,' &c. to the said Robert and Isabel, in tail, with remainder to Thomas' heirs; attorneys to deliver seisin, [Thomas] Rypas of Doncastre or John de Lee. Witnesses:—John Rypas of Doncastre, Robert Rypas and others (named). 10 August, 9 Henry V. (1395?)

Fragments of seals.

 

A Topographical Dictionary of England. Originally published by S Lewis, London, 1848: LOVERSALL, a parish, in the union and soke of Doncaster, W. riding of York, 3½ miles (S.) from Doncaster, on the road to Worksop; containing 159 inhabitants. The parish comprises about 2150 acres, of which 720 acres, with the manor and Hall, are the property of the Rev. Alexander Cooke, and 1300 acres that of Miss Elizabeth Banks; the scenery is generally of pleasing character, and in many parts beautifully picturesque. Loversall Hall, the seat of the Rev. A. Cooke, is a handsome mansion of stone, in a well-wooded demesne. St. Catherine's, the seat of Miss E. Banks, is a spacious and elegant structure in the later English style of domestic architecture, embellished with porticos, turrets, and pinnacles, and beautifully situated on an eminence commanding richly-diversified prospects: in the grounds is St. Catherine's well, much celebrated in former times, and from which the house derives its name. The substratum of the parish abounds with limestone, which is quarried for the roads and for building. The living is a perpetual curacy; net income, £53; patron, the Vicar of Doncaster. The church, originally a small ancient structure, was enlarged in the reign of Henry VIII., by the erection of a chapel on the south side of the chancel, by the Wyrrall family: it contains an altar-tomb over the remains of the founder; in the chancel is a recumbent effigy of a knight, probably one of the Middleton family, and in the churchyard is a tablemonument with a cross fleuri.

 

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1857

 

Campsall

 

1066

From early times the parish of Campsall consisted of six townships or hamlets; Campsall, Askern, Fenwick, Moss, Norton and Sutton. At the time of the Domesday survey in 1086, the area was in the possession of Ilbert de Lacy, the founder of Pontefract Castle. The fact that Domesday does not mention a church here is no proof that such did not exist, since cases are to be found where there is similarly no such reference. Yet the existing church contains work of pre-Conquest date; there may have been merely a chapel attached to the manor without parochial rights. The earliest existing work in the church is of twelfth century date.

 

The manor of Campsall thrived after the Conquest, rather than retracting, and was largely owned directly by Ilbert de Lacy (Hunter 1831, 463).

 

1285

Calendar of Patent Rolls, Edward I: Volume 2, 1281-1292, in 1285: to deliver the gaol of Oxford of William de Campsale, who was put in exigent …

 

1288

In the reign of Edward I Henry Lacy obtained a royal charter for a market at Campsall, which would suggest that it was a place of some consequence by that time. By 1288 the benefice was in the Taxatio of Pope Nicholas IV (1291) and had an annual value of £66 13s. 4d. By a curious arrangement, the chapel of St. Clement in Pontefract Castle had a share in tithe. The probable explanation of this anomaly is the fact that Ilbert de Lacy and his successors held both estates and adopted this method of supporting the chapel which was an important foundation in its own right.

 

1336

In 1336 there was a composition under the sanction of the Archbishop of York in the name of Thomas de Bracton, Rector of Campsall, and William de Mudene, Prebendary of the chapel, by which one hundred shillings was to be paid by the Rector in lieu of the tithe.

 

1481

A great change took place in 1481 when Edward IV granted the rectory of Campsall to the Priory of Wallingwells in Nottinghamshire, a small house of Benedictine nuns. In the following year Thomas Rotherham, Archbishop of York, appropriated it to this purpose and decreed that henceforth the benefice should be served by a Vicar, and gave the appointment to Cambridge University. After the dissolution of the monasteries under Henry VIII the rectorial tithes passed into lay hands.

 

St Mary Magdalene at Campsall

 

St Mary Magdalene, Campsall is a large church with at least two main phases of twelfth century building identifiable: at first it had a cruciform plan; later, nave aisles enclosing a west tower were added. Pevsner 1967, 154, says Campsall church has ‘the most ambitious Norman west tower of any parish church in the Riding’. Subsequently, alterations were made to the aisle arcades, windows, chancel and south doorway. The church was restored between 1871 and 1877 by G. G. Scott (Borthwick Institute Faculty Papers 1871/2 with plan) and piecemeal after. Restoration of stonework on the tower was in progress in 2005. Romanesque sculpture is on the west doorway and tower; one chancel window (inside and out); arches at the crossing; and numerous loose and reset fragments.

 

Hunter 1831, 460, says 'Campsal church was the joint work of the Lacis, the chief lords, and the Reineviles, the subinfudatories. It exceded [the churches of Bramwith, Owston and Burgh] in magnificence as much as it did in the extent of country that was attached to it'

 

There were originally two rectors, one appointed by each family; and this continued until about the time of Henry III (Hunter 1831, 463).

 

1324

Writing to the Dean of Doncaster, on 14 July 1324, the archbishop directed the prioress to make Thomas de Raynevill undergo the penance imposed upon him for committing the sin of incest with Isabella Folifayt, nun of Hampole. The penance was that on a Sunday, while the major mass was being celebrated in the conventual church of Hampole, Thomas de Raynevill was to stand, wearing a tunic only and bare-headed, holding a lighted taper of a pound weight of wax in his hand, which after the offertory had been said he was to offer to the celebrant, who was to explain to the congregation the cause of the oblation. Also that on two festivals more penitencium he should be beaten (fustigetur) round the parish church of Campsall (A History of the County of York: Volume 3. Originally published by Victoria County History, London, 1974).

 

1328

Calendar of Patent Rolls, Edward III: Volume 1, 1327-1330, in 1328: Meldon, parson of the church of Campsale. July 14. Wenlock. Licence …

 

1335

Close Rolls, Edward III: June 1335, Calendar of Close Rolls, Edward III: Volume 3, 1333-1337, Newcastle-on-Tyne. Thomas de Brayton, parson of Campsale church, diocese of York.

 

1391

Market Privileges 1391-1395, (British History on Line) 19/10/1391, London, Boston (Lincolnshire), Campsall (Yorkshire), Aldborough (Norfolk) -Pardon of outlawry to John Wayte, parson of Campsall, alias of Aldborough, for non-appearance to answer Roger Broun of Boston, or Walter Godard, citizen and brewer of London, for debts of £34. and £33. 2s. respectively. [CPR 1388-92, 452]

 

1415

Calendar of Papal Registers Relating To Great Britain and Ireland: Volume 6, 1404-1415, Camporegali, A. de, 100. Campsall, Campsale [co. York, W.R.], 384, 411. Camus ... Corryngham, Coringam, Coringham, Coryngham, John, rector of Campsall, 384, 411.

 

J. L. Kirby, 'Index of Persons and Places: A', in Calendar of Inquisitions Post Mortem: Volume 18, Henry IV (London, 1987), pp. 414-418, John, parish clerk of Campsall, 854

 

1427

Calendar of Papal Registers Relating To Great Britain and Ireland: Volume 8, 1427-1447. Campsall, St. Mary Magdalen, Campsale [co. York, W.R.], 16, 662. … Corngham, John, canon of Windsor, rector of Campsall and St. Michael le Querne, London, afterwards of Clewer and St. Michael le Querne, London, 662.

 

1848

A Topographical Dictionary of England. Originally published by S Lewis, London, 1848: CAMPSALL (St. Mary Magdalene), a parish, in the union of Doncaster, Upper division of the wapentake of Osgoldcross, W. riding of York; containing 2149 inhabitants, of whom 385 are in the township of Campsall, 8 miles (N. N. W.) from Doncaster. The parish consists of the townships of Askerne, Campsall, Fenwick, Moss, Norton, and part of Sutton; and comprises by computation 9700 acres, of which 1470 are in the township of Campsall, including the hamlet of Barnsdale. The village is pleasantly situated on a gentle acclivity, about seven miles distant from the river Don on the south, and on the north the same distance from the Aire. Stone of good quality is quarried. Camps Mount, the seat of George Cooke Yarborough, Esq., is an elegant mansion, standing at the head of a fine lawn, and embowered in luxuriant foliage; and Campsall Park is also a handsome residence. The living is a perpetual curacy, valued in the king's books at £16. 16. 8.; net income, £128; patron and impropriator, Mr. Yarborough. The tithes were commuted for land in 1814. The church is a large ancient edifice, and has some fine specimens of Norman architecture. The remains of a Roman road may be traced.

 

1857

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Doncaster Timeline

 

First Century CE

Doncaster grew up on the site of the Roman fort known as Danum of the 1st century CE, at a crossing of the River Don.

764

in 764 the chronicler (Symeon of Durham in his Historia Regum) groups York with London, Doncaster, and other places, repentino igne vastatae (destroyed by a sudden fire). (A History of the County of York: the City of York. Originally published by Victoria County History, London, 1961).

 

Ninth Century

 

Doncaster is generally identified with Cair Daun listed as one of 28 British cities in the Ninth century History of the Britons traditionally ascribed to Nennius.

It was certainly an Anglo-Saxon burh, and in that period received its present name: Don (Old English: Donne) from the settlement and river and caster (ceaster) from an Old English version of the Latin castra (military camp; fort).

1003

It was mentioned in the 1003 will of Wulfric Spott.

1086

Shortly after the Norman Conquest, Nigel Fossard refortified the town and built Conisbrough Castle.

By the time of Domesday Book, Hexthorpe in the wapentake of Strafforth was said to have a church and two mills.

In Estorp (Hexthorpe), Earl Tosti had one manor of three carucates for geld and four ploughs may be there. Nigel has [it] of Count Robert. In the demesne, one plough and three villanes and three bordars with two ploughs. A church is there, and a priest having five bordars and one plough and two mills of thirty two shillings [annual value]. Four acres of meadow. Wood, pasturable, one leuga and a half in length and one leuga in breadth. The whole manor, two leugae and a half in length and one leuga and a half in breadth. T.R.E., it was woth eighteen pounds, now twelve pounds. To this manor belongs this soke – Donecastre (Doncaster) two carucates, in Wermesford (Warmsworth) on carucate, in Ballebi (Balby) two carucates, in Geureshale (Loversall) two carucates, Oustrefeld (Austerfield) two carucates and Alcheslei (Auckley) two carucates. Together fifteen carucates for geld, where eighteen ploughs may be. Now [there is] in the demesne one plough and twenty four villanes and thirty seven bordars and forty sokemen. These have twenty seven ploughs, wood, pasturable in places, in places unprofitable

The historian David Hey says these facilities represent the settlement at Doncaster. He also suggests that the street name Frenchgate indicates that Fossard invited fellow Normans to trade in the town.

The Lords of Doncaster:

·         Robert, Count of Mortain in Normandy and Earl of Cornwall in England was handsomely rewarded for his service at Hastings. The number of manors given to him is variously stated, but it must have approached near to 800.

·         Nigel Fossard was one of the principal under-tenants of Count Robert, of whom he held some 91 manors. Hexthorpe was his chief holding in Yorkshire. It appears highly probable that on the forfeiture of Count Robert’s estates, Nigel was advanced to the dignity of a tenant in capite, that is, to hold his lands directly from the King, and not through a second person as he had previously done. He appears to have been what would now be termed a generous man. Included in his gifts to the Abbot and Convent of St Mary, York, was the gift of the church of Doncaster and neighbourhood. He was succeeded by his son Adam, who founded the priory of Hode (Hood Grange, Yorkshire).

·         Robert Fossard, who succeeded him paid a fine of 500 marks to the King to repossess the Lordship of Doncaster, “which he had parted to the King to hold in demesne for twenty years”. The reason for the surrender to the King and the high price for the repossession is not apparent. It has been suggested that Robert had not paid the whole of the fee due to the King on his succeeding to the patrimonial inheritance, hence the lease and release; but it was not unlikely that it was a transaction to enable the King to raise some needed cash.

·         William Fossard, his son and heir, succeeded him. He was the last of the Fossards in the male line. He was one of the northern barons who fought against the Scots in the Battle of the Standard. In 1142 he was with Stephen’s forces against the Empress Maude at the Battle of Lincoln and was taken prisoner. On the collection of scuttage, a tax paid in lieu of Military service etc, by those who held land by Knights service, he paid £12, a fairly large sum in those days, at other times he paid £21 and a further sum of £31 10s, the last amount was levied upon him because he was not in the Irish Wars. He was especially exempted from contributing for the redemption of King Richard I. He left a daughter, Joan, who was married to Robert de Turnham.

·         Robert de Turnham had two sons, Robert and Stephen. It was Robert the younger who married Joan Fossard. He was a crusader, and was reputed to be a powerful and valiant man. Some historians say that he died on an expedition to the Holy Land but there is no evidence for this statement. He appears to be with the King in the Holy Land, and was entrusted to bring the King’s harness back to England. For the services on that journey he was discharged from the payment of scuttage levied for the Kings ransom. Being in the Kings confidence he probably exerted himself in obtaining from the king, a charter confirming to the burgesses of Doncaster whatever ancient privelages they then possessed. He obtained a grant of two more days to be added to the fair that had anciently been kept at his manor of Doncaster in County Ebor, upon the eve and day of St James the apostle. At his death in 1199, the yearly value of the lands held by him in right of Joan, his wife, was entered at £411. 9s. 2d. He left a daughter, Isabell, who became a ward of the King.

·         A long line of Peter de Mauleys successively held the Lordship of Doncaster. The first of these is said to have committed an infamous crime at the instigation of King John. On the death of King Richard, his brother John, “knowing that he could not succeed him by reason that Arthur, son of Geoffry of Brittany, was alive, got Arthur into his power and implored Peter de Mauley, his esquire, to murder him and in reward gave him the heir of the barony of Mulgref”. Some doubts have arisen as to the truthfulness of this statement. If Mauley really did commit the act at the instigation of John, and was led to expect that he would receive the Kings ward to wife and the free enjoyment of her lands, he was decieved; for Peter de Mauley paid a fine of 7000 marks “for entrance to the inheritance of the daughter of Robert de Turnham”. He gave the body of his wife to be buried at the Abbey of Meux, Holderness, endowing the Abbey with a rent of Sixty shillings per year. He died before 1241. In 1247 the King took the homage of his heir, Peter, for all his fathers lands. Some six years later this Peter de Mauley obtained a charter of Free Warren in his demesne lands, which included Doncaster. He died in 1279.

·         The next Peter paid £100 relief for all lands held of the King in capite of the inheritance of William Fossard. From a document from 1279 we catch a glimpse of a part of the Mauley holdings for which the above relief was paid.

1136

Doncaster was ceded to Scotland in the Treaty of Durham and never formally returned to England. The first treaty of Durham was a peace treaty concluded between kings Stephen of England and David I of Scotland on 5 February 1136. In January 1136, during the first months of the reign of Stephen, David I crossed the border and reached Durham. He took Carlisle, Wark, Alnwick, Norham and Newcastle-upon-Tyne. On 5 February 1136, Stephen reached Durham with an imposing troop of Flemish mercenaries, and the Scottish king was obliged to negotiate. Stephen recovered Wark, Alnwick, Norham and Newcastle, and let David I retain Carlisle and a great part of Cumberland and Lancashire, alongside Doncaster.

1194

Richard I had given the town recognition by bestowing a town charter.

1204

There was a disastrous fire in 1204 from which the town slowly recovered.

1248

In 1248, a charter was granted for Doncaster Market to be held in the area surrounding the Church of St Mary Magdalene, which had been built in Norman times.

 

1307

During the 14th century, large numbers of friars arrived in Doncaster who were known for their religious enthusiasm and preaching.

 

In 1307 the Franciscan friars (Greyfriars) arrived, as did Carmelites (Whitefriars) in the mid-14th century.

 

The White Friars

 

A History of the County of York: Volume 3. Originally published by Victoria County History, London, 1974: THE HOUSE OF WHITE FRIARS, DONCASTER

 

Founding in 1350

 

The Carmelite friary—' a right goodly house in the middle of the town ' (Leland, I tin. i, 36. See F. R. Fairbank, 'The Carmelites of Doncaster,' in Yorks. Arch. Journ. xiii, 262-70) —was founded in 1350 by John son of Henry Nicbrothere of Eyum with Maud his wife and Richard Euwere of Doncaster, who gave the friars a messuage and 6 acres of land. The priors of the order asked permission of the Archbishop of York to have the place consecrated in 1351. The earliest bequest to them recorded was made by William Nelson of Appleby, vicar of Doncaster, in 1360. (Yorks. Arch. Journ. xiii, 191) In 1366 Roger de Bangwell, formerly rector of Dronfield, made his will in the house of these friars, in whose church he wished to be buried; … A provincial chapter was held at this friary in 1376. (Tanner, Bibliotheca, 562) The friars in 1397 received the royal pardon, on paying 20s., for acquiring without licence several small plots, worth 12s. 6d. a year, 'for the enlargement of the entrance and exit of their church. (a Pat. 20 Ric. II, pt. ii, m. 22) Two friars of the house, John Slaydburn and John Belton, were appointed papal chaplains in 1398 and 1402. (Cal of Papal Letters, iv, 305, 315).

 

John of Gaunt was regarded as one of the founders, and his son Henry of Bolingbroke on his journey from Ravenspur in July 1399 lodged at the friary, (Hardyn, Chron. (ed. Ellis), 353) where also Edward IV was entertained in 1470, Henry VII in 1486, and the Princess Margaret Tudor in 1503. Edward IV in 1472 conferred the privileges of a corporation on the convent, 'which is of the foundation of the king's progenitors and of the king's patronage,' and licensed the friars to acquire lands to the yearly value of £20. At the beginning of the 16th century the Earl of Northumberland claimed the title of founder of the house.

 

Writing

 

Several members of the house attained some distinction as writers. Such were John Marrey, who died in 1407, John Colley who flourished c. 1440, John Sutton, provincial prior 1468, and Henry Parker, who got into trouble by preaching on the poverty of Christ and His apostles and attacking the secular clergy at Paul's Cross in 1464; he is probably the author of the dialogue entitled Dives et Pauper which was printed both by Pynson and by Wynkyn de Worde at the end of the 15th century. John Breknoke, keeper of the Dragon Inn at Doncaster, left the friars some books in 1505.

 

Sixteenth century

 

… On 15 July 1524 William Nicholson of Townsburgh attempted to cross the Don with an iron-bound wain in which were Robert Leche and his wife and their two children; being overwhelmed by the stream they called on our Lady of Doncaster and by her help came safely ashore; they came to the White Friars and returned thanks on St. Mary Magdalen's Day, when 'this gracious miracle was rung and sung in the presence of 300 people and more.' (Yorks. Arch. Journ. xiii, 558; Hist. MSS. Com. xiv, App. iv, 1)

 

On the eve of the Dissolution the house was divided against itself. The famous John Bale, about 1530, being then a friar at Doncaster, and perhaps prior, taught one William Broman 'that Christ would dwell in no church made of lime and stone by man's hands, but only in heaven above and in man's heart on earth.'

 

In the Pilgrimage of Grace, though the lords used the White Friars as their head quarters while negotiating with Robert Aske at Doncaster, the prior, Lawrence Coke, supported the rebellion. He was imprisoned in the Tower and in Newgate, condemned by Act of Attainder a few days before Cromwell's fall, but pardoned on 2 October 1540; it is not clear whether the pardon was issued in time to save him from execution.

 

The house was surrendered by Edward Stubbis, the prior, and seven friars, on 13 November 1538 to Hugh Wyrrall and Tristram Teshe, who 'made a book of the property' and notified to Cromwell that the tenements in Doncaster were in some decay, and that the image of our Lady had already been taken away by the archbishop's order. The plate sent to the royal jewel house was considerable; 25 oz. of gilt plate, 109½ oz. parcel gilt, and 48½ oz. white plate. The net profit from the sale of the goods seems to have been £21 18s. 4d. The site with dovecot and other houses, a garden and orchard all surrounded by a stone wall and containing 2½ acres, was let to Wyrrall for 10s. a year. The tenements in Doncaster included an inn called 'Le Lyon' in Hallgate, already let by the prior to Alan Malster for forty-one years at 40s. a year in 18 August 1538, a messuage in Selpulchre Gate similarly leased on 2 September 1538 to Emmota Parsonson for 12s., and various tenements, shops, and cottages, the whole property bringing in £10 17s. 4d. a year.

 

The Grey Frairs

 

A History of the County of York: Volume 3. Originally published by Victoria County History, London, 1974: THE GREY FRIARS OF, DONCASTER

 

The Friars Minors established themselves at this town on an island formed by the rivers Cheswold and Don, at the bottom of French or Francis gate, at the north end of the bridge known as the Friars' Bridge, some time in the 13th century. Nicholas IV, 1 September 1290, granted an indulgence to those who visited their church, which was of the invocation of St. Francis. Archbishop Romanus in 1291 enjoined the friars of this house to preach the Crusade at Doncaster, Blyth (Notts.), and Retford.

 

In 1299 Edward I gave the friars 10s. through Friar Edmund de Norbury, on the occasion of his visit to Doncaster, 12 November: in January 1299-1300 he gave them 20s. for two days' food and 6s. 8d. for damages to their house when he was at Doncaster, by the hand of Friar de Portynden. On 8 June 1300 his son Edward gave them 10s., and the king in January 1300-1 gave them 10s. for the exequies of Joan, nurse of Thomas of Brotherton. The friars at this time numbered thirty.

 

In 1316 Sir Peter de Mauley, lord of the town of Doncaster, granted the Friars Minors a plot of land, 14 p. by 6 p., adjacent to their dwelling-place.

 

In 1332 Thomas de Saundeby, the warden, and Friars Nicholas de Dighton, Thomas de Moubray, William de Halton, and John de Brynsale, were sued by John de Malghum for having seized and imprisoned him. In 1335 the king pardoned them for acquiring in mortmain without licence in the time of former kings divers plots in Doncaster, now inclosed with a wall and dyke, whereon they had built a church and houses. Between 1328 and 1337 the number of the friars varied between eighteen and twenty-seven, as is proved by the royal alms granted to them by the hand of Friars John de Bilton, Nicholas de Wermersworth, and others.

 

Sir Hugh de Hastings, kt., in 1347 left the friars 100s., 20 quarters of corn and 10 quarters of barley. A friar of this house, Hugh de Warmesby, was authorized in 1348 to act as confessor to Lady Margery de Hastings, Sir Hugh's widow, and her family. Her son Hugh was buried in the church of St. Francis at Doncaster, 1367. Another Sir Hugh Hastings in 1482 left a serge of wax to be burned here in honour of the Holy Rood, and a quarter of wheat yearly for three years.

 

Among the bequests may be mentioned that of Roger de Bangwell, rector of Dronfield, of 20s. to the convent and 12d. to each friar in 1366. Thomas Lord Furnival of Sheffield, 1333, and Sir Peter de Mauley, 1381, were buried in the church; the latter left his best beast of burden as mortuary and 100s, to the convent. …

 

…Friar Thomas Kirkham was admitted D.D. of Oxford in July 1527, his composition being reduced to £4 'because he is very poor'; in November he was dispensed from the greater part of his necessary regency because he was warden of the Grey Friars of Doncaster and could not continually reside in Oxford. Thomas Strey, a lawyer of Doncaster, left 20 marks to the convent in 1530 and 26s. 8d. to buy the warden a coat.

 

… The house was quietly surrendered 20 November 1538 by the warden and nine friars, three of them novices, to Sir George Lawson and his fellows, who were 'thankfully received.' …

 

A manuscript of the chronicle of Martin of Troppau formerly belonging to this friary was in the possession of Ralph Thoresby in 1712.

 

1536

But the Pilgrimage of Grace was already afoot in West Yorkshire, and the movement soon spread into the northern part of Lancashire. In the course of October the commons of Cartmel restored the canons to the priory. The prior, however, more prudent or less staunch than his brethren, stole away and joined the king's forces at Preston. This was before he heard of the general pardon and promise of a northern Parliament granted to the rebels at Doncaster on 27 October. (A History of the County of Lancaster: Volume 2. Originally published by Victoria County History, London, 1908).

 

 

Links, texts and books

 

Doncaster History.