The last Cistercian nunnery founded in England, Isabel, Countess d' Aubigny (Albini)or (Arundel), established the community to benefit the souls of her family with help from Richard, bishop of Chichester. It was confirmed by King Henry the III in 1252. Marham was unique in that it was founded as a Cistercian abbey. The convent was founded on the edge of fen or marsh to the north-east and the river Nar to the north. The abbey was sited to the west of the parish church of Holy Trinity.
Mary, Mary, S Gressen Hale, A Howard, M Ingham, E Howard, E. Weyland, Margery, J Narburgh, J Heigham, and B. Mason.
Lay members were buried in the community between 1401-53: Isabel Cooper, Matilda di Marham, Lady Eleanor, widow of William Ingoldsthorp. Between 1401- 53 men as well as women were buried at Marham. There is an obituary list. In 1468 Marham supported three corrodians. The daughter of Edmund Berry, a knight, stayed here as did a man named Leonard Cotton (Religious Women in Medieval East Anglia: History and Archaeology c. 1100-1540., 65).
There were 15 in 1381, 11 in 1470, 10 in 1492, 10 in 1535. According to Knowles and Hadcock there were between 5 and 8 nuns at suppression.
1252, by Innocent IV
It was a dependency of the male monastery of Waverley, which was Cistercian after 1252.
It was granted burial rights after 1251, and [combined?] with other local chapter house in 1401.
After 1300 the Warenne family of Lancaster and before 1377 two daughters of Lancaster acted as benefactors. J D Warenne, Earl of Warenne and Surrey and brother of the founder, was a benefactor of the community in 1302. Further research is necessary to verify Warenne's patronage. Andrew Hengham in 1327 and Constantine Mortimer in 1346 and Richard Holdyche I. Queen Eleanor: the pope confirms a church at her request in 1290. Sir John Plaiz gave lands to the community in 1385 (Religious Women in Medieval East Anglia: History and Archaeology c. 1100-1540., 60).
Queen Eleanor: the pope confirms a church at her request in 1290.
Assets included land holdings, the manor of the founder, several chapter houses (6 by 1416) and burial rights after 1251. It had a water and a fulling mill. In 1291 Marlham Abbey was considered poor and made exempt from paying tithes. In 1535 it had about 42 pounds a year. In 1535 it was valued at about 38 pounds with some small debts.
Income came from tithes, rents, (sufficient, Nichols). It held the jurisdiction to prove wills, which was confirmed in 1401. The prioress also had the right to keep gallows (Religious Women in Medieval East Anglia: History and Archaeology c. 1100-1540., 27). In 1535 its net annual income was valued at 33 pounds, 13 shillings and 5 3/4 pence according to the Suppression Commission (London: P.R.O., Church Goods, King's Remembrance, E 117, 11/7, 1-3). Knowles and Hadcock lists the net income of 1535 as over 39 pounds.
Marlham had a school and did some teaching, took in boarders, and distributed alms.
[1]The foundation document (January 27, 1249)
[2]The confirmation of dependency of male monastery (1252)
An Aerial photo was taken on June 20, 1954 (Cambridge Univ.: Dept. of Aerial Photo, OD 14-16) which clearly shows the mounds where the walls of the abbey once stood. Its reconstruction was possible based on the measuring of the mounds and the physical description given by the Suppression Commission (London: P.R.O., Church Goods, King's Remembrance, E 117 11/7, 1-3) for 1536. The cloister was formed by a walkway with pentice roof projecting from the south wall of the church. According to Nichols, the reconstructed cloister would have contained a cruciform church with the cloister to the south, chapter-house projecting beyond the east range and a refectory from the south range. However, this construction is entirely conjectural. Earthwork remains can be discerned for closes and outbuildings on the site (Religious Women in Medieval East Anglia: History and Archaeology c. 1100-1540., 33).
The south wall of the nave survives. Still in existence are mounds of the walls and a south church wall with 2 circular windows intact, plus part of a gatehouse, and an inventory dated August 6, 1535. A small outer parlor on the west range next to the church can still be seen, which measures 31 feet in length and 18 feet in width. "The interior has three bases for the ribbed vault supports and of the two remaining corbels, one has a grotesque human shape and the other has an ornamental animal design" (Nichols, Archaeological, 322). The aerial photo shows the mounds where the walls of the abbey once stood. Reconstruction is possible based on the measuring of the mounds and the physical description given by the Suppression Commission (London: P.R.O., Church Goods, King's Rememberance, E 117 11/7, 1-3) for 1536. Remains of internal wall-plaster survive at the east end of the section of wall, and the north end of the west range is partially extant. This latter survival may represent a part of the guest house. It consists of a forteenth-century room which is rib-vaulted in tow bays. In the south-east corner the ribs are supported by a half-figure of a bearded man who appeaars to be a knight holding a gauntlet or sword-hilt (Religious Women in Medieval East Anglia: History and Archaeology c. 1100-1540., 86). A complex to the north-west of the cloister appears to be an infirmary with three ranges grouped around a courtyard. A number of depressions in the south may be fishponds (Religious Women in Medieval East Anglia: History and Archaeology c. 1100-1540., 87).
(London: P.R.O., Church Goods, King's Remembrance, E 117 11/7, 1-3)
Medieval English Cistercian Nunneries: Their Art and Physical Remains, 173.
The History and Cartulary of the Cistercian Nuns of Marham Abbey, 1249-1536
Medieval Religious Houses in England and Wales, 224.
Religious Women in Medieval East Anglia: History and Archaeology c. 1100-1540.
Dugdale's Monasticon Volume 5
Nunnery of Marham, or Marham Barbara, in Norfolk
The Victoria History of the County of Norfolk2:369-70 available online at ">http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=38277&strquery=marham"> [Victoria County History]
Why Found a Medieval Cistercian Nunnery?
1 of 2 female Abbesses were Cistercian, English, contemplatives / jurisdiction / scandal (needs verification)
Marham also served as a legal sanctuary for accused wrongdoers (Religious Women in Medieval East Anglia: History and Archaeology c. 1100-1540., 27).
[V0512]
1 of 2 female Abbesses were Cistercian, English / contemplatives / jurisdiction / scandal , termination date
