Campsey Priory (Campesse, Kampessie, etc.) was a religious house of Augustinian canonesses at Campsea Ashe, Suffolk, about 1.5 miles (2.5 km) southeast of Wickham Market.'Houses of Austin nuns: Priory of Campsey', in W. Page (ed.), A History of the County of Suffolk, Vol. 2 (V.C.H., London 1975), pp. 112-115 (British History Online, accessed 8 June 2018).'Collections towards the History and Antiquities of Elmeswell and Campsea Ash, in the County of Suffolk', in J. Nichols, Bibliotheca Topographica Britannica Vol. V, Part 52 (32pp), (John Nichols, London 1790), at pp. 21-32 (Google). It was founded shortly before 1195 on behalf of two of his sisters by Theobald de Valoines (died 1209), who, with his wife Avice, had previously founded Hickling Priory in Norfolk for male canons in 1185.'Houses of Austin canons: The priory of Hickling', in W. Page (ed.), A History of the County of Norfolk, Vol. 2 (V.C.H. London 1906), pp. 383-386 (British History Online, accessed 8 June 2018): Confirmation charter of 1204, see Hardy, Rotuli Chartarum I Part 1, p. 117a (BSB/MDZ). Both houses were suppressed in 1536.
Campsey Priory was one of a group of monasteries in south-east Suffolk with interconnected histories, associated with the family of the elder Theobald de Valoines (Valognes, Valeines etc.), Lord of Parham (fl. 1135). These include Butley Priory (founded 1171) and Leiston Abbey (1182–83), both founded by his son-in-law Ranulf de Glanville, Chief Justiciar of England, husband of his daughter Bertha.R. Mortimer, 'The Family of Rannulf de Glanville', Bulletin of the Institute of Historical Research 54 (1981), pp. 1-16, at pp. 7-9. Her sister Matilda was mother of Hubert Walter, Theobald Walter and Osbert fitzHervey.'The Valognes Fee', in W. Farrer and C.T. Clay, Early Yorkshire Charters, Vol. 5: The Honour of Richmond, Part 2 (reprint), (Cambridge University Press, 2013), pp. 234-37. The founder of Campsey Priory was the son of Robert de Valoines and heir to the estate of Parham. During the 14th century the priory enjoyed the special patronage of the de Ufford Earls of Suffolk and their family. Maud of Lancaster, Countess of Ulster was a commanding presence, by whose efforts Bruisyard Abbey was established from Campsey.'House of minoresses: Abbey of Bruisyard', in W. Page (ed.), A History of the County of Suffolk, Vol. 2 (V.C.H., London 1975), pp. 131-32 (British History Online, accessed 14 June 2018).
Much of the fabric of the priory was plundered after the suppression or incorporated into later buildings, but some remains were recorded during the 18th century. The site is now a private residence and not accessible to the public. Occasional excavations have been conducted.D. Sherlock, 'Excavation at Campsea Ash Priory, 1970, Proceedings of the Suffolk Institute of Archaeology XXXII, Part 2 (1971), pp. 118-39. L. Keen, 'Medieval floor-tiles from Campsea Ash Priory', Proceedings of the Suffolk Institute of Archaeology XXXII, Part 2 (1971), pp. 140-51 (Suffolk Institute pdfs).E.A. Martin et al., 'Archaeology in Suffolk 1994', Suffolk Institute of Archaeology and History XXXVIII Part 3 (1995), pp. 335-64, at p. 351 (Suffolk Institute pdf, p. 17). A very extensive list of documentary sources is given by Bishop Tanner;'Campess or Campsey', in T. Tanner, ed. J. Tanner, Notitia Monastica (J. Tanner/W. Bowyer, London 1744), pp. 522-23 (Google). additional grants and other documents are held in the Suffolk Records, and some early books associated with the priory survive.N.R. Ker, Medieval Libraries of Great Britain – A List of Surviving Books (Royal Historical Society, London 1964), pp. 18 & 120.
Foundation The founder succeeded to his father Robert de Valoines in 1178.Farrer and Clay, Early Yorkshire Charters, Vol. 5, pp. 234-37. Before 1195 he gave all his land at Campsey to his sisters Joan and Agnes de Valoines to build there a house for themselves and other religious women, to be dedicated to Mary the mother of God.D. Knowles and R.N. Hadcock, Medieval Religious Houses, England and Wales (Longman Greens, London 1953), p. 227. Gilbert Pecche, who succeeded his father Hamon as a fee-lord in Suffolk after 1191, confirmed the grant.'Peche', in W. Dugdale, The Baronage of England, 2 vols (Tho. Newcomb, for Abel Roper, Iohn Martin, and Henry Herringman, London 1676), I, pp. 676-77, with sources there cited (Umich/eebo). These (lost) grants were confirmed by King John in January 1203/04 to Joan and Agnes and their successors.T.D. Hardy (ed.), Rotuli Chartarum in Turri Londinensi Asservati, Vol. 1, part 1: 1199–1216 (Commissioners, 1837), p. 116b, Anno 5 Johanni, Memb. 15 (Bavarian State Library/MDZ). Theobald died in leaving an heir Thomas, who joined the Barons against King John and briefly had his lands confiscated.'Valoines', in Dugdale, Baronage of England, I, citing Close Rolls 17 John and 1 Henry III: see T.D. Hardy, Rotuli Litterarum Clausarum in Turri Londinensi Asservati Vol. I: 1204–1224 (Commissioners, 1833), pp. 254, 257, 283, 333b-334 (Mecklenburg-Vorpommern).
The site chosen was a secluded spot with direct river and road access to important centres nearby, and plentiful natural resources. Skirting between Wickham Market and Lower Hacheston, where the Rivers Deben and Ore (a tributary of the Alde, passing Parham) are barely a mile apart, the freshwater channel of the Deben turns south and meanders through a broad valley of water-meadows past Rendlesham and Pettistree to the lower crossing at Ufford. The priory was located at a higher crossing, on the east bank of the river, at the foot of the land sloping down through Ash and Loudham on the Campsey side. To its north the river flowed into a meare before issuing past the priory and its adjacent watermill.
Prioress Joan de Valoines Theobald's sisters built the priory at Campsey and established the community there with Joan de Valoines as the first prioress. The priory was in existence by November 1195 when John Lestrange, in a final concord with Robert de Mortimer, noted that with Robert's approval he had already given the church of Tottington, Norfolk, in free and perpetual alms to the church of the Blessed Mary at Campsey and to the nuns serving God there.W. Rye, A Short Calendar of the Feet of Fines for Norfolk: in the Reigns of Richard I, John, Henry III (Agas H. Goose & Co., Norwich 1885), p. 2, no. 36 (Internet Archive). View original (Final Concords, Norfolk, Richard I, no. 7, old no. 35) at AALT (Anglo-American Legal Tradition website). At Tottington, birthplace of Samson, Abbot of Bury St Edmunds (1182–1211), the Priory always held some title:W. Dugdale, Monasticon Anglicanum, New Edition, Vol. 6 part 1 (James Bohn, London 1846), pp. 583-87 (Google). the advowson was quitclaimed to Prioress Joan in 1211,W. Rye, A Calendar of the Feet of Fines for Suffolk (Suffolk Institute of Archaeology, Ipswich 1900), p. 16, no. 62, 13 John (Internet Archive). View original at AALT (Anglo-American Legal Tradition website). and she asserted her title further in 1219.F.A. Maitland (ed.), Bracton's Note Book. A Collection of Cases Decided in the King's Courts during the Reign of Henry the Third, 3 vols (C.J. Clay & Sons, London 1887), II: Text p. 20-21, no. 21 (Internet Archive). Thomas de Valoines granted various lands at Parham to Joan for the priory in 1221,Rye, Feet of Fines for Suffolk, p. 21, 5 Henry III, no. 104. View original at AALT (Anglo-American Legal Tradition website). and an All Hallows fair at Hacheston, beside Parham, was granted to Hickling Priory in 1226.T.D. Hardy (ed.), Rotuli Litterarum Clausarum Vol. II: MCCXXIV-MCCXXVII (Eyre & Spottiswoode, London 1844), p. 157b (Mecklenburg Verpommern). Correctly "Hacheston", not "Hasketon" as in V.C.H. In 1228 Joan released the priory's manor of Helmingham to Bartholomew de Creke,Rye, Feet of Fines for Suffolk, p. 29, 13 Henry III, no. 141. View original at AALT (Anglo-American Legal Tradition website). whose sister Isabel was the mother of Thomas's heir, Robert de Valoines.'Inquisitions: 392. Roger son of Peter son of Osbert', Calendar of Inquisitions Post Mortem, Edward I, IV: 1300–1307 (HMSO 1913), pp. 266-268, at p. 267 (Helmingham) (Internet Archive). Thomas was apparently living in 1230.Fine Rolls, 14 Henry III, C 60/29, memb. 7, no. 213 (Henry III Fine Rolls Project).
Joan's long rule culminated in 1228–1230 in a dispute with Prior Adam of Butley Priory over the right to the tithes of Dilham church and mill in Norfolk.'Priory of Campsey', History of the County of Suffolk. First the Abbot of St Benet's at Hulme (Norfolk) and other papal commissioners judged in Butley's favour. The prioress appealed to Rome against the decision, which caused the commissioners to declare the Prioress and Priory of Campsey excommunicate. The Pope referred her appeal to the Prior of Anglesey Priory (Cambridgeshire) and others, who would not carry out the excommunication. Butley Priory obtained papal letters to the Prior of Great Yarmouth (Norfolk) and others to have it enforced. The prioress pleaded that, since she had appealed before the order of excommunication, she and every excommunicated person had the right to defend themselves, and that the Prior of Anglesey's commission had acted rightly in refusing to implement it. The Prior of Yarmouth's commission would not accept this plea, and the Prioress again appealed to Rome.'Regesta 14: 1227–1230', in W.H. Bliss (ed.), Calendar of Papal Registers Relating To Great Britain and Ireland Vol. 1: 1198–1304, (HMSO, London 1893), pp. 117-22 (British History Online, accessed 10 June 2018). Search term: "Campessei". The whole matter was then referred to the Dean of Lincoln (William de Thornaco) and the Archdeacons of Lincoln and Stowe, and in June 1230 the original order allocating the tithes to Butley Priory was enforced.'Regesta 15: 1230–1232', in W.H. Bliss (ed.), Calendar of Papal Registers Relating To Great Britain and Ireland, Vol. 1: 1198–1304 (HMSO, London 1893), pp. 123-129 (British History Online, accessed 10 June 2018). Search term: "Campese".
Patrons and prioresses Joan's sister Agnes had become prioress by 1234, when Hamo de Valoines represented her in a land transaction.Rye, Feet of Fines for Suffolk, p. 33, 19 Henry III, no. 64. View original in AALT (Anglo-American Legal tradition website). Hamo also witnessed grants to the priory by Stephen and William de Ludham,Dugdale, Monasticon Vol. 6 Part 1, pp. 586-87, nos. IV-VI (Google). in the hamlet of Loudham in Pettistree.See W.A. Copinger, The Manors of Suffolk Vol. 7: Hundreds of Thingoe, Thredling, Wangford and Wilford (Taylor, Garnett, Evans & Co. Ltd., Manchester 1911), p. 255-57 (Internet Archive). Robert de Valoines was however the heir of Thomas, succeeding to his knight-service at Richmond Castle owing from Parham.(Inquisition of Peter de Sabaudia), Calendar of Inquisitions post mortem, II, no. 381, p 210ff, at pp. 213, 219, 221. He married Roisia (younger sister of William le Blund) before 1247, when their son Robert the younger was born.'Valoines', in Dugdale, Baronage of England, I: Calendar of Inquisitions Post Mortem, I (HMSO 1904), pp. 184-85, no. 585 (Internet Archive). The Campsey nuns opposed Robert's claim to be their patron. Some time between 1244 and 1257 he came to an agreement with them, by which they accepted Robert and his heirs as their patrons, and he in turn assured their right to elect their own prioress, who should be presented to him for approval, and renounced any right to sell off their lands while he had wardship during a vacancy. Roger Bigod, 4th Earl of Norfolk and Hugh Bigod witnessed their settlement.Dugdale, Monasticon Vol. 6 Part 1, p. 587 no. VII (Google). In 1258 Prioress Basilia (de WachishamNichols, Bibliotheca Topographica Britannica V, Part 52, p. 25.) received a grant of property in Burgate.Rye, Feet of Fines for Suffolk, p. 60: 42 Henry III, No. 50. View original in AALT (Anglo-American Legal Tradition website).