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Waterbeach Abbey (South Cambs sign)

Waterbeach Abbey

History of Waterbeach Abbey

In 1291 Denise Muchensey was given permission by the King to grant her manor to a religious order. In 1293-94 four sisters arrived from Longchamp in France to found the house. The foundation was opposed by Barnwell Priory who exercised control over the village church and suffered a serious los of revenues as the new house was exempt from the payment of tithes. In 1299 the prior of Barnwell was accused of carrying goods belonging to the house.

However in 1339 permission was given for the house to transfer to Denny. This was probably the result of the hostility from Barnwell as well as the vulnerability of the site to flooding.

In 1342 the Abbess and some of the sisters moved, but others refused and elected their own Abbess and took on other women as sisters. As a result 20 women had to be removed by force. Plans to introduced a group of Friars to the Waterbeach site were objected to by Barnwell and the site was abandoned.

Waterbeach Abbey (South Cambs sign)

Waterbeach Abbey (South Cambs sign)

Scheduled Monument:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waterbeach_Abbey

https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/cambs/vol2/pp292-295

Tags

• Listed building
• medieval
• Religious House

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