Founded by a member of the Bohun family for a prioress and 10 nuns late in the reign of Henry III (1272). Dugdale suggests most likey it was Sir John Bohun.
Alice, Isabel de Montfort, Edith, Beatrice, Mary, Margaret Wyvile, Margery, Elizabeth, NULL, Margaret Sackville.
Lucy daughter of William Basset, appointed by Bishop of Chichester in 1283. Philippa, neice of the Bishop of Chichester, appointed in 1374. King and Joan of Portsmouth flee here in 1478. Other families from Coventry. 3 or more novices moved by Thomas Boleyn and J. Hyllis in 1521. Ralph Pratt received in 1524.
There were 11 in 1250; more than 8 in 1442 and 1451; more than 12 in 1521; more than 4 in 1534. Knowles and Hadcock give 5 nuns in 1521 and 7 in 1524.
There was a visitation in 1442 concerned with maladministration. Extravgance and much debt was the cause. An outsider was brought in to administer, replacing a lax Prioress. Another visitation took place in 1478 when the community was perceived to be even more lax. In 1521 conditions were better.
John de Bohun 1332 donated property in Dorsetshire. Prior of the male monastery, Lewes Priory, donated a chapter house 1350. John de Bishopston, chancellor of the diocese, donated a bed for his niece Lucy.
Thomas Cotnall, thought to be kin of the Prioress, used the property in 1478. He held mortgages in 1521.
Noble house
In the 14th century, it held the church at Easebourn with dependencies and land holding on the Isle of Thorney, Dorset. It received a few donations, a chapter house worth 27 pounds, temporalities worth 41 pounds in 1291. In 1350 the community was poor and accumulated great debt in 1451.
Chapter house, temporalities donated by male monastery Lewes after 1350. In 1535 the net income was over 29 pounds.
The community was a kind of 'reformatory' for strayed young woman of good family.
Thomas Cotnall, thought to be kin of the Prioress, used the property in 1478. He held mortgages in 1521.
[1]Valuation [?] of the community property (1291)
[2]Bishop Reginald Stapledon (1313)
Seal described, but no longer exists that depicted S. Mary & child under canopy with a man handing book to a nun.
Public Records Office, London, Just I 909A: Sussex Eyre Roll of 1248, memb. 3.
Medieval Religious Houses in England and Wales, 228.
Episcopal Visitations of the Priory of Easebourne (1442-1527)
Dugdale's Monasticon Volume 4
Easebourne, or Esseburn Priory, in Sussex
The Victoria History of the County of Sussex2:84-85 available online ">http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=36596&strquery=Easebo... [Victoria County History]
Cowdray and Easebourne Priory in the county of Sussex.
'Historic houses of Sussex, 83 : Easebourne Priory'.
Document 1: Bishop's register (needs verification).
MAD 7/31
[V0327]
