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Bardney Abbey in Lincolnshire, England, was a Benedictine monastery founded in 697 by King Æthelred of Mercia, who was to become the first abbot. The monastery was supposedly destroyed during a Danish raid in 869. In 1087, the site was refounded as a priory, by Gilbert de Gant, Earl of Lincoln, and it regained status as an abbey in 1115.

In 1537, six of the Bardney Abbey monks were executed for their role in the Lincolnshire Rising. In 1538, the Abbey was disbanded and its property seized during the Dissolution of the Monasteries campaign started by Henry VIII. The property was then granted to Sir Robert Tirwhit.

Tirwhit retained the abbot's lodging as a house and converted the cloister into a garden. In later years, the lodging and garden became ruins along with the remainder of the former abbey.

Excavations from 1909 through 1914 revealed the layout of Bardney Abbey. This can still be seen, though nothing remains to any height. Further excavations and conservation took place in 2009 and 2011. Some grave slabs and carved stones are preserved in Bardney parish church, which is dedicated to St Lawrence. The abbey site is now owned by the charity the Jews' Court and Bardney Abbey Trust.

Relics of St Oswald

Bede relates that Bardney Abbey (which he called Beardaneu) was greatly loved by Osthryth, queen of Mercia, and in about 679 she sought to move the bones of her uncle, the very pious St Oswald, to there. However, when the body was brought to the Abbey the monks refused to accept it, because the Abbey was in the Kingdom of Lindsey, and Oswald, when king of Northumbria, had once conquered them. The relics were locked outside, but during the night a beam of light appeared and shone from his bier reaching up into the heavens. The monks declared that it was a miracle and accepted the body, hanging the King's Purple and Gold banner over the tomb. They are also said to have removed the great doors to the Abbey so that such a mistake could not occur again. So if someone said "do you come from Bardney?", it meant that you had left the door open.

As well as the wondrous light, other miracles were associated with the remains of King Oswald. The bones at Bardney were washed before interment and ground into which the water was poured supposedly gained great healing powers. In another tale from Bede, a boy with the Ague kept vigil by the tomb and was cured. The King's heads and hands had been separately interred, for he had been dismembered in battle. A fragment of the stake on which his head had been impaled was later used to cure a man in Ireland.

In 909, in response to increased Viking raids, Oswald's bones were translated to the new St Oswald's Priory, Gloucester.

Burials

• Oswald of Northumbria
• Æthelred of Mercia
• Osthryth
• Gilbert de Gant
• Alice de Montfort-sur-Risle, wife of Gilbert de Gant
• Walter de Gant, father of Gilbert de Gant, Earl of Lincoln
• Maud of Brittany (daughter of Stephen, Count of Tréguier), wife of Walter de Gaunt
• Alice de Gant, d. c. 1181 (daughter of Walter de Gant), wife of Roger de Mowbray (Lord of Montbray)

Known abbots of Bardney

This list is taken from the Victoria County History, and Bowyer's History of the Mitred Parliamentary Abbies.

Original foundation:

• St. Ethelred, ex-king of Mercia, and founder of the abbey, made abbot about 704, died 716
• Kenewin, occurs 833

Benedictine foundation:

• Ralf, prior in 1087, abbot 1115
• Ivo, occurs about 1133
• John of Ghent, elected 1140, occurs 1147 and 1150
• Walter, occurs 1155 to 1166
• John, occurs 1167
• Ralf of Stainfield, occurs 1180
• Robert, occurs 1191
• Ralf de Rand, occurs 1208, deposed 1214
• Peter of Lenton, intruded 1214
• Matthew, occurs 1218, died 1223
• Adam de Ascwardby, elected 1225, occurs 1231 and 1240
• William of Ripton
• Walter of Benningworth, elected 1241, deposed 1243
• William of Hatton, elected 1244
• William of Torksey, elected 1258, died 1266
• Peter of Barton, elected 1266, resigned 1280
• Robert of Wainfleet, elected 1280, resigned 1318
• Richard of Gainsborough, elected 1318, died 1342
• Roger of Barrow, elected 1342, died 1355
• Thomas of Stapleton, elected 1355, died 1379
• Hugh of Braunston, elected 1379, resigned 1385
• John of Haynton, elected 1385
• John Woxbrigge, elected 1404, died 1413
• Geoffrey Hemingsby, elected 1413, died 1435
• John Wainfleet, elected 1435, died 1447
• Gilbert Multon, elected 1447, resigned 1466
• Richard Horncastle, elected 1466, resigned 1507
• William Marton, last abbot, elected 1507

Further reading

• Brakespear H (1922) "Bardney Abbey" Archaeological Journal Vol. 79,1-92.
• New, Anthony (1985). A guide to the abbeys of England and Wales. Constable. pp. 44–45. ISBN 0-09-463520-X. OCLC 246863338.
• "Bardney Abbey". Bardney Village History. Bardney Heritage Group. 2013. Archived from the original on 15 February 2012. Retrieved 4 April 2013. Includes finds record and floor plan from 1909 excavation.
• Laing, Charles Edward (1913). Some notes on Bardney Abbey.
• An organisation called The Association of friends of Bardney Abbey existed from 1975 to 1993, and published a number of monographs in the 1970s whose titles and authors are listed by a number of internet sources but the actual works are more elusive.
• Beech, George (1989). Patterson, Robert B (ed.). "Antiquarians and Flemings in the refoundation of Bardney Abbey (Lincolnshire) in the later 11th century". Haskins Society Journal. 1: 73–90. ISBN 9781852850319. Retrieved 4 April 2013, describing the refoundation of the Abbey by Gilbert de Gant with monks from Charroux.

In popular culture

Bardney was referred to as Bearddan Igge (Bardney Abbey) in The Saxon Stories by Bernard Cornwell.

See also

• Jews' Court, Lincoln
• List of monastic houses in Lincolnshire

References

1. This date comes from the National Monument record, but according to Bede the abbey already existed when Oswald was interred there in 679
2. ^ Historic England. "Bardney Abbey (351575)". Research records (formerly PastScape). Retrieved 10 April 2010.
3. ^ "Houses of Benedictine monks: The abbey of Bardney". A History of the County of Lincoln: Volume 2. Victoria County History. 1906. pp. 97–104. Retrieved 3 April 2013.
4. ^ Bowyer, W. (1718). An History of the Mitred Parliamentary Abbies, and Conventual Cathedral Churches. Retrieved 4 April 2013.
5. ^ Historic England. "House and Garden (1058729)". Research records (formerly PastScape). Retrieved 10 April 2010.
6. Cope-Faulkener, Paul (December 2009). Archaeological evaluation at Bardney Abbey (BASM09 12/09) (PDF). Heckington: Archaeological Project Services. Retrieved 4 April 2013. Report on 2009 investigation, includes detailed floor plan.
7. "Bardney Abbey Revealled 2011". Lincolnshire county council. Archived from the original on 26 March 2012. Retrieved 3 April 2013.
8. "New exhibition of sculpture from Bardney Abbey". Heritage Lottery Fund. 5 October 2012. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 4 April 2013.
9. "Bardney church". Bardney Heritage Group. Archived from the original on 18 May 2012. Retrieved 3 April 2013.
10. "Jews Court and Bardney Abbey Trust, registered charity no. 5021279". Charity Commission for England and Wales.
11. ^ Bede (2008). The Ecclesiastical History of the English People. Penguin Classics. Translated by Leo Sherley-Price. Penguin. p. 160.)
12. Catholic Encyclopedia: St Oswald
13. "Lincolnshire Heritage web page about the legend". Retrieved 12 September 2009.
14. "Parish web site mentioning the legend". Retrieved 22 February 2011.
15. "Local Authority history site, including the legend". Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 12 February 2011.
16. ^ Bede iii.11
17. Bede iii.12
18. Bede iii.13
19. Heighway, Carolyn (2001). "Gloucester and the new minster of St Oswald". In Higham, N. J.; Hill, D. H. (eds.). Edward the Elder 899-924. Routledge. p. 108.
20. Historic England. "Benedictine Cell (1301846)". Research records (formerly PastScape). Retrieved 4 April 2013.
21. Thompson, Pishey (1820). Collections for a topographical and historical account of Boston, and the hundred of Skirbeck. Boston: J.Noble. p. 28.
22. "The association of friends of Bardney Abbey". Charity Commission for England and Wales. 1993. Retrieved 4 April 2013.

v t e Monasteries in Lincolnshire
Augustinian	Boston Austin Friars Bourne Abbey Elsham Priory Grimsby Abbey Grimsby Nunnery Grimsby Austin Friars Hough Priory Hirst Priory Kyme Priory Lincoln Austin Friars Markby Priory Newstead Priory Nocton Priory Stamford Austin Friars Thornholme Priory Thornton Abbey Thwaite Priory Torksey Priory Wilsford Priory
Benedictine	Alkborough Priory Bardney Abbey Barrow Monastery Bonby Priory Boston Priory Burwell Priory Covenham Priory Croyland Abbey Deeping St James Priory Freiston Priory Haugham Priory Henes Cell Humberston Abbey Ikanho monastery Lincoln - St Mary Magdalene Priory Minting Priory North Hykeham Priory Partney Cell Repingas Monastery Sandtoft Priory Skendleby Priory Spalding Priory Stainfield Priory Stamford All Saints' College Stamford Cell in Burghley Park Stamford - St Leonard's Priory Stixwould Priory Stow Abbey Throckenholt Priory Wilsford Priory Winghale Priory
Brothers of Penitence	Lincoln Friars of the Sack Stamford Friars of the Sack
Carmelite	Boston Whitefriars Lincoln Whitefriars Stamford Whitefriars
Carthusian	Axholme Priory Haugham Priory
Cistercian	Bytham Abbey Cammeringham Priory Fosse Priory Gokewell Priory Great Limber Priory, Limber Magna Greenfield Priory Haverholme Priory Kirkstead Abbey Knaith Priory Legbourne Priory Long Bennington Priory Louth Park Abbey Nuncotham Priory Revesby Abbey Stixwould Priory Swineshead Abbey Vaudey Abbey
Crutched Friars	Whaplode Friary
Dominican	Boston Blackfriars Lincoln Blackfriars Stamford Blackfriars
Franciscan	Boston Greyfriars Grantham Greyfriars Grimsby Greyfriars Lincoln Greyfriars Stamford Greyfriars
Gilbertine	Alvingham Priory Bridge End Priory Bullington Priory Catley Priory Haverholme Priory Lincoln – St Katherine's Priory Newstead-on-Ancholme Priory North Ormsby Priory Sempringham Priory Sixhills Priory Tunstall Priory
Knights Hospitaller	Aslackby Preceptory Bottesford Preceptory Eagle Preceptory Great Limber Preceptory, Limber Magna Maltby Preceptory Skirbeck Commandery Temple Bruer Preceptory Willoughton Preceptory Witham Preceptory
Knights Templar	Aslackby Preceptory Bottesford Preceptory Eagle Preceptory Horkstow Camera Lincoln Commandery Temple Bruer Preceptory Willoughton Preceptory Witham Preceptory
Premonstratensian	Barlings Abbey Broadholme Priory Cammeringham Priory Hagnaby Abbey Newbo Abbey Newsham Abbey Orford Priory Stixwould Priory Tupholme Abbey West Ravendale Priory
Savigniac	Revesby Abbey Swineshead Abbey
Tironensian	Humberston Abbey
Independent	Partney Monastery Stamford Monastery St Æthelreda's nunnery, Stow Green Threekingham Nunnery

v t e Benedictine abbeys and priories in medieval England and Wales
Independent houses	Abbotsbury Abergavenny Abingdon Alcester Athelney Bardney Bath Battle Bedford Birkenhead Bradwell Brewood (Black Ladies) Buckfast Burton Bury St Edmunds Canterbury (Christ Church) Canterbury (St Augustine's) Canwell Cerne Chertsey Chester Cholsey Colchester Coventry Crowland Durham Ely Evesham Eynsham Farewell Priory Faversham Glastonbury Gloucester Humberston Luffield Malmesbury Milton Monk Bretton Muchelney Molycourt Norwich (Holy Trinity) Pershore Peterborough Ramsey Reading Repton Rochester St Albans St Benet of Hulme Sandwell Selby Sherborne Shrewsbury Snelshall Tavistock Tewkesbury Thorney Upholland Walden Westminster Whitby Winchcombe Winchester (New Minster) Winchester (St Swithun) Worcester York (St Mary's)
Dependent houses	Aldeby Alkborough Alcester Alvecote Beadlow Bedemans Berg Belvoir Binham Breedon Brecon Bristol Bromfield Cardiff Cardigan Cranborne Darenth Deeping Dover Dunster Earls Colne Ewenny Ewyas Harold Exeter Farne Felixstowe Finchale Freiston Great Malvern Hatfield Peverel Henes (Sandtoft) Hereford Hertford Holy Island Horton Hoxne Hurley Jarrow Kidwelly Kilpeck King's Mead Kings Lynn Lammana Langley Leominster Leonard Stanley Lincoln Little Malvern Littlemore Lytham Middlesbrough Monkwearmouth Morville Norwich (St Leonard's) Oxford (of Canterbury) Oxford (of Durham) Oxford (of Gloucester) Penwortham Pilton Redbourne Richmond Rumburgh St Bees St Ives Scilly Snaith Snape Stamford Studley (Oxfordshire) Studley (Warwickshire) Tickhill Tynemouth Wallingford Westbury-on-Trym Wetheral Wymondham Yarmouth
Alien priories	Allerton Mauleverer Andover Andwell Appuldurcombe Arundel Astley Aston Priors Atherington Avebury Axmouth Blyth Boxgrove Brimpsfield Burstall Burwell Caldy Carisbrooke Chepstow Clatford Cogges Corsham Covenham Cowick Creeting (St. Mary) Creeting (St. Olave) Debden Deerhurst Dunwich Ecclesfield Edith Weston Ellingham Everdon Eye Folkestone Frampton Goldcliff Grovebury Hamble Harmondsworth Hatfield Regis Haugham Hayling Headley Hinckley Holbeck Horsham St Faith Horsley Lancaster Lapley Lewisham Isleham Livers Ocle Llangennith Llangua Loders Minster Minster Lovell Minting Modbury Monks Kirby Monk Sherborne (Pamber) Monmouth Newent Ogbourne Otterton Panfield Pembroke Pill Ruislip Runcton St Cross St Dogmells St Michael's Mount St Neots Sele Spalding Sporle Standon Steventon Stogursey Stoke-by-Clare Stratfield Saye Swavesey Takeley Throwley Tickford Titley Toft Monks Totnes Tutbury Tywardreath Upavon Ware Wareham Warminghurst Warmington Wath Weedon Beck Weedon Lois West Mersea Wilsford Wing Winghale Wolston Wootton Wawen York (Holy Trinity)

53°13′13″N 0°20′01″W / 53.2204°N 0.3336°W / 53.2204; -0.3336

• Churches in Lincolnshire
• Monasteries in Lincolnshire
• Anglo-Saxon monastic houses
• Benedictine monasteries in England
• 7th-century establishments in England
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• Christian monasteries established in the 7th century
• Burial sites of the Royal House of Northumbria
• Burial sites of the Iclingas
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• 697 establishments
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