Goring
Community ID: 
 
1040
 
Alternate Names: 
 
S. Mary
 
Town: 
 
Oxford
 
Diocese: 
 
Lincoln
 
Region: 
 
Oxford
 
Modern Location: 
 
Goring
 
Corporate Status: 
 
Priory
 
Dedication: 
 
S. Mary
 
Date Founded: 
 
1135 or earlier
 
Date Terminated: 
 
1539
 
Religious Order: 
 
Augustinian
 
Rule: 
 
Augustinian
 
Foundation Information: 
 

Thomas de Druval founded the community during the reign of Henry I.

 
Notable Heads: 
 

NULL, Matilde, and Eularia , 2nd/,Marisco ,Walingford ,Exeter Noel,Ludgershall ,Morton. Rale, Alice,Lucy , Resford, and Inglef

 
Notable Members/Residents/Guests: 
 

Alicia Garinges , first canoness at Lacock in 1232, 2 nuns from BurnhamBurnham, Buckinghamshire for discipline 1339, Isabel of Kent abd

 
Population Counts: 
 

There were 36 in 1301; 8 in 1445; 4 or more in 1530.

 
Visitations: 
 

The bishop of Lincoln appoints the prioress after a much disputed election in 1301. A master is appointed in 1309 and there are ecclesiastical visitations in 1445 and 1517. The community is thought to have lived in a lax manner after the 13th century.

 
Patrons/Benefactors: 
 

The first benefactor was Thomas de Druval, followed by Richard of Cornwall sometime before 1268. The crown estalishes patronage of the community before 1300. Benefactors are the founder, Thomas de Druval and his family, King Richard I and other Kings until termination. Walter di Bolebech and Alan son of Rembert Thomas Basset and his wife, Adelis, and William di Mande, R. de Langetot of Whitechurch were also patrons.

 
Assets/Property: 
 

The community held a good deal of land in Lincoln and in Berkshire. It owned a chapter house in Buckinghamshire and also had many small benefactors. In 1291 its assets were 44 pounds. Its fortunes declined particularly in the period 1517-30. Its assets were valued at 69 pounds in 1526 and 63 pounds in 1535.

 
Income: 
 

It received financial support from the relatives of its nuns, collected rents, and received an indulgence from the Bishop in 1301 to build a church.

 
Early Documents: 
 

The first document, dated 1181, confirms the existence of the community by King Henry II.

 
Art & Artifacts: 
 

In the 12th century the community used a seal that depicted the Blessed Virgin Mary with child under a rounded arch supported by pillars. It reads:[s]IGILLVM: ECCLES[IE: SCE: MARI]E: DE: GARING

 
Published Primary Sources: 
 

A Collection of Charters Relating to Goring (Priory), Volume 1:103, no. 1.

 
Secondary Sources: 
 

Women Religious: The Founding of English Nunneries After the Norman Conquest
Medieval Religious Houses in England and Wales, 228.
The Victoria History of the County of Oxford2:103-4 available online at ">http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=40192&strquery=Goring"> [Victoria County History]
Dugdale's Monasticon Volume 6 Part 1
Goring Nunnery, in Oxfordshire

 
Miscellaneous Information: 
 

Elkins gives Henry II as the founder and indicates this is a Benedictine community.

 
Admin. Notes: 
 

Mad 6/11/97
[V0394]

 
Contributors: 
 
WRL Project
 
Contributors Notes: 
 

disputed election , Prioress

 
Date Started: 
 
1135
 
Date Finished: 
 
1539
 
Length: 
 
1356