Torre Abbey : locality, community, and society in medieval Devon
Torre Abbey was a rural Premonstratensian monastery in south-east Devon. Although in many ways atypical of its order, not least in the quality and quantity of its surviving source material, Torre provides an excellent case study of how a medium-sized medieval monastery interacted with the world around it, and how the abbey itself was affected by that interaction. Divided into three broad sections, this thesis first examines the role of local landowners and others as patrons of the house in the most obvious sense, that of the bestowal of lands or other assets upon the house. Torre was relatively successful in this regard, and an examination of the architectural and archaeological record indicates a continuation of that relationship after the thirteenth century. The second section notes areas of conflict with the laity. Disputes could and did arise over both temporal and spiritual affairs, as well as through the involvement of a number of lay figures in the administration and patronage of the house. In both respects, notable incidents in the mid-fourteenth century highlight the complexities of the canonsâ relationships with the secular world. These are further explored in an analysis of the abbeyâs role
Jenkins, John Christopher
Late antiquity and the Middle Ages ; Economic and Social History ; Architecture ; History of art and visual culture ; Church history ; monasteries ; Premonstratensian Order ; Devon
Torre Abbey : locality, community, and society in medieval Devon. Torre Abbey was a rural Premonstratensian monastery in south-east Devon. Although in many ways atypical of its order, not least in the quality and quantity of its surviving source material, Torre provides an excellent case study of how a medium-sized medieval monastery interacted with the world around it, and how the abbey itself was affected by that interaction. Divided into three broad sections, this thesis first examines the role of local landowners and others as patrons of the house in the most obvious sense, that of the bestowal of lands or other assets upon the house. Torre was relatively successful in this regard, and an examination of the architectural and archaeological record indicates a continuation of that relationship after the thirteenth century. The second section notes areas of conflict with the laity. Disputes could and did arise over both temporal and spiritual affairs, as well as through the involvement of a number of lay figures in the administration and patronage of the house. In both respects, notable incidents in the mid-fourteenth century highlight the complexities of the canonsâ relationships with the secular world. These are further explored in an analysis of the abbeyâs role
abbey locality community society medieval devon abbey rural monastery south_east devon although_many way atypical order least quality_quantity survive source_material provide_excellent case_study medium_sized medieval monastery interact world_around abbey affected interaction divided three_broad section first examines_role local landowner others patron house obvious sense land asset upon house relatively successful regard examination architectural archaeological_record indicate continuation relationship second_section note area conflict laity disputes could arise temporal spiritual affair well involvement number lay figure administration patronage house respect notable incident highlight complexity canon relationship secular world explore analysis abbey role