Abbot of Burton

Contents

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

Abbots of the church of Burton
IncumbentFromUntilCitation(s)Notes
Wulfgeatc. 1004c. 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 Ic. 1027c. 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]
Leofricc. 10511066[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 IIc. 10671085[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 Terra10851094[3]He was expelled from his position in 1094.[3]
Nigel10941114[3]
Geoffrey11141150[3]
Robert I11501159[3]He was expelled in 1159, but returned in 1176.[3]
Bernard11601174[3]Previously Abbot of Cerne[3]
Robert I (again)1176[3]Previously Abbot of Cerne[3]
Roger Malebranche11771182[3]
Richard11821187[3]
Nicholas11871197[3]
William Melburne12001213[3]
Stephen de Lucy1214[3]Elected but resigned in January 1214[6]
Roger12141216[3]
Nicholas de Wallingford12161222[7]
Richard de Insula12221229[7]
Laurence de St Edward12291260[7]
John de Stafford12601281[7]
Thomas de Packington12811305[7]
John de Burton13051316[7]
William de Bromley13161329[7]
Robert de Langdon13291340[7]
Robert de Brykhull13401347[8]
John of Ibestock13471366[8]
Thomas of Southam13661400[8]
John de Sudbury14001424[9]
William Matthewe14241430[9]
Robert Ownesby14301433[9]
Ralph Henley14331455[9]
William de Bronston14551473[9]
Thomas de Felde14731493[9]
William Fleghe14931502[9]
William Beyne15021530 x 1531[9]Associated with Abbot Beyne School
William Benson15311533[9]Became Abbot of Westminster[9]
John Beaton15331534[9]
William Edys15341539[9]Surrendered the abbey as part of the dissolution of the monasteries[9]

References

  1. 1.[1.2][1.3]Knowles, Brooke, and London, Heads of Religious Houses, vol. i, p. 30
  2. 2.Knowles, Brooke, and London, Heads of Religious Houses, vol. i, pp. 30–31
  3. 3.[3.2][3.3][3.4][3.5][3.6][3.7][3.8][3.9][3.10][3.11][3.12][3.13][3.14][3.15][3.16][3.17][3.18]Knowles, Brooke, and London, Heads of Religious Houses, vol. i, p. 31
  4. 4.Knowles, Brooke, and London, Heads of Religious Houses, vol. i, p. 60
  5. 5.Knowles, Brooke, and London, Heads of Religious Houses, vol. i, pp. 31, 55
  6. 6.Knowles, Brooke, and London, Heads of Religious Houses, vol. i, pp. 31, 80
  7. 7.[7.2][7.3][7.4][7.5][7.6][7.7][7.8]Smith and London, Heads of Religious Houses, vol. ii, p. 25
  8. 8.[8.2][8.3]Smith and London, Heads of Religious Houses, vol. ii, p. 26
  9. 9.[9.2][9.3][9.4][9.5][9.6][9.7][9.8][9.9][9.10][9.11][9.12][9.13]Greenslade and Pugh (eds.), "The Abbey of Burton"