The founder is unknown. Thompson lists Conan, Earl of Richmond as a probable founder Thompson speculates that this priory may have anchoretic origins (Women Religious: The Founding of English Nunneries After the Norman Conquest, 220). The nunnery of Cheshunt was in existence by 1183 when Pope Lucius III took it under papal protection.
Queen Isabella was greeted by the nuns as she travelled to Hertford in May 1358.
There were 13 nuns and 2 chaplains circa 1300. In 1536 there were 4 nuns including the prioress.
The priory was chronically impoverished despite frequent bequests from London. It is most likely that their early surrender was also due to poverty. According to the Victoria County History, at the time of its dissolution the priory owed almost as much as it was worth.
In 1535 the net incomes was about 14 pounds.
Pipe Roll 12 of Henry II, 77.
Women Religious: The Founding of English Nunneries After the Norman Conquest
Medieval Religious Houses in England and Wales, 211.
Dugdale's Monasticon Volume 4
Cheshunt Nunnery, in Hertfordshire
The Victoria History of the county of Hertford available online at ">http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=37962&strquery=Cheshu... [Victoria County History]
There is an interesting, but undoubtedly spurious account of monks caught using underground tunnels to visit the nuns at Cheshunt during the reign of Henry VIII. The church-history of Britain from the birth of Jesus Christ until the year M.DC.XLVIII endeavoured by Thomas Fuller available online at ">http://eebo.chadwyck.com/search/fulltext?ACTION=ByID&ID=D300001358922601... [Fullwood]
BOSB--Benedictine Order
[V0268]
