Ravenstone

There's nothing left of Ravenstone Priory - and not even an entire seal, either.  I don't yet have a picture of it.  The BM copy dates from the priorate of Ralph (second or third prior, 1275-1309), as his seal is the counterseal.  Ravenstone's seal is a pointed oval with the BVM seated on a carved throne.  Ralph's seal also has the BVM, but half-length, under a trefoiled arch, the Child on her left knee.  If these sound familiar, it's not so much that Ravenstone Priory was dedicated to the BVM (like most Austin priories), but because there is some connexion with Merton Priory, of which more below.  Back to the obverse.  Underneath the BVM is a trefoiled arch with carved spandrils, and central pillar; on the left a woman kneels and holds up what Birch describes as 'an indistinct object'.  The right-hand figure is missing.  The inscription is  . . . G • D RAVENES.  Ralph's seal has him kneeling in prayer, in base, under a quadrilobe with arched spandrils.  RADVLPHI • PRIORIS D RAVE ...

The Priory was founded by Peter Chaceporc, keeper of the royal wardrobe.  He's one of those really rather important chaps of whom not terribly much is known (see, as usual, the Oxford DNB).  The VCH says Ravenstone was founded 'about1255' by him, and 'after the death of Peter the patronage of the house reverted to the Crown, and the canons were bound to sing a certain number of masses for the soul of the king as founder.'  But elsewhere the VCH says that the canons celebrated the souls of Peter and his uncle Hugh de Vivon, so it's a bit confusing.  The charter, quoted in Dugdale, says that Hugh Chaceporc, Peter's big brother and executor, bought the necessary land off Saher de Wahull; Henry confirmed the land and co-founded the priory.

Ravenstone was never rich, but it had enough money to support some canons to be, essentially, a chantry.  It owned half a knight's fee and the parish church.  At its dissolution, in 1524, it had only two canons; it is doubtful whether even at its height there were many more than a handful.

Peter shared the manor of Ravenstone with the Crown, having rented his half off Saher de Wahull for - delightfully - a pair of gilt spurs.  Part of the priory land is now two rows of almshouses, built in the 17th century.

Now, the Merton connexion.  Matthew Paris says:

'On the third day before the Nativity [1255], the same Peter made his will.  And amongst other things, he left 600 marks for to provide land, in England, where lands were more able and ready to be bought, and there to have built a monastic church, viz. of canons regular, coming from the house of Merton, and there God would be served with grace and honour, and sacrifice offered everyday to God for his soul and the souls of all the faithful.’

Ravenstone was this priory.  Dugdale gives the first prior as 'William de Divisis' (Devizes), but the VCH gives the first prior as Adam of Wymondley (resigned 1275).  Wymondley is between Stevenage and Letchworth, so not too far from Ravenstone.  Merton held lands around there, for example in Kimpton.  Merton held lands near Chippenham, which isn't that far from Devizes, but it's not especially near.  Merton did have a canon called Roger of Deveneis (Devonish) in 1239.  There are no records of either Adam or William at Merton, but we don't know even nearly half the brethren there!  We also don't know for sure that Merton supplied the first canons of Ravenstone, but there's no reason to think not: that was Peter's wish, and Merton had supplied plenty of priories in the previous century - and Henry III was involved (he seems to have been a co-founder), and Merton was heavily involved with Henry.  Indeed, Peter's colleague in government, John Mansel, also founded an Augustinian priory, at Bilsington, with Merton canons.  John was one of the witnesses to the charter of Ravenstone.