Elkins places the foundation date before 1160. The first reference is in 1174-81 which refers back to a law suit in 1163. According to Oliva, the foundation date was 1140. Powell dates the foundation around the 9th century, and Dugdale dates the foundation to 1140/41. Thompson says before 1158 and lists a member of the de Vere family or of the de Valoignes family as the probable founder (Women Religious: The Founding of English Nunneries After the Norman Conquest, 223).
NULL, occurs c. 1215/ Ellen, occurs 1232/ Lettice, occurs 1256-7/Margaret de St. Andrew, occurs 1272/ Cecily, occurs 1288-9/ Mary, died before 8 Aug. 1338/Avice Kersonyng, or Kersen, occurs 1373, 1379, 1402/Margaret Hokle, died 6 Aug. 1444/Alice Pyrry, elected 17 Aug. 1444, died 7 Feb. 1458/Constance Bosom, elected 8 Mar. 1458, died 8 July 1490/Denise Thyrston, elected 20 July 1490/Joan Ashwell, occurs 1516, surrendered 1536
There were 9 nuns in 1379, 12 in 1444, 9 in 1490. At the time of suppression there were 10-11 nuns besides the prioress.
In 1535 the net income was valued over 71 pounds.
Spicilegium liberianum.
Women Religious: The Founding of English Nunneries After the Norman Conquest.
Medieval Religious Houses in England and Wales, 213
Romaneque Wall Paintings at Ickleton
Dugdale's Monasticon Volume 4
Nunnery of Ikelington, or Ickleton, in Cambridgeshire
The Victoria history of the county of Cambridgeshire and the Isle of Ely2:223-26 available online at ">http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=39998&strquery=Icklet... [Victoria County History]
The records of the prioress were said to have been destroyed in the rebellion of 1381 (Women Religious: The Founding of English Nunneries After the Norman Conquest, 12).
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