Newhouse Abbey

Newhouse Abbey, near Brocklesby, Lincolnshire, was the first Premonstratensian abbey in England, founded in 1143. The abbey was built in honour of Our Lady and St. Martial, Bishop of Limoges.

At the time of the dissolution of the monasteries, this abbey was granted (30 Henry VIII) to Charles Brandon, 1st Duke of Suffolk. Parts only of the old foundations still remain.

Foundation

It was founded by Peter de Gousel, with the consent of his lord, Hugh de Bayeux, and the approbation of Alexander, Bishop of Lincoln. It was populated with a colony from Liegues Abbey, near Calais, France, then under the rule of Abbot Henry. On their arrival in England the White Canons were hospitably received by William, Earl of Lincoln, who confirmed the donations made to Gelro, the first Abbot of Newhouse, by Peter de Gousel the founder, by Ralph de Halton, and Geoffrey de Tours.

Abbots

The seal of Newhouse represents an abbot at full length with his crozier and the inscription: Sigill. Conventus Sci Marcialis. Ep. Li. De Newhouse. The names of Twenty-six abbots are known, the last being Thomas Harpham, who was abbot from 1534 to the suppression of the abbey by Henry VIII.

Spread of the Order

In time Newhouse became the parent house of eleven of the Premonstratensian houses in England. The following list gives in alphabetical order the names and dates of foundations of the Premonstratensian (Norbertine) abbeys, made from the Abbey of Newhouse and existing in England at the time of the Reformation:

• Alnwick Abbey, Northumberland, this was the first foundation made from Newhouse (1147);
• Barlings Abbey, near Lincoln (1154);
• Beeleigh Abbey (Bileigh Abbey, once Maldon Abbey), near Maldon, Essex (1180);
• Coverham Abbey, Yorkshire (originally established at Swainby, 1190);
• Croxton Abbey, near Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire (1163);
• Dale Abbey, Derbyshire (1162);
• Easby Abbey (Abbey of St. Agatha) at Easby, near Richmond, Yorkshire (1152);
• Newbo Abbey, near Sedgebrook, Lincolnshire (1198);
• Sulby Abbey, Northamptonshire (originally established at Welford) (1155).

References

Attribution

•  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed (1913). "Abbey of Newhouse". Catholic Encyclopedia. Robert Appleton Company.  The entry cites:
  • William Dugdale, Monasticon Anglicanum, VI;
  • Collectanea Anglo-Præmonst, in Redmen, Register, ed. Francis Aidan Gasquet (Royal Historical Society, 3rd series, VI, X, XII);
  • Geudens, A Sketch of the Premonstratensian Order and its houses in Great Britain and Ireland (London, 1878);
  • Hugo, Annales Præmonstratenses (Nancy, 1734).

Coordinates: 53°35′31″N 0°17′49″W / 53.592°N 0.297°W / 53.592; -0.297