|
Shap Abbey
Rosegill, Nov. 20.
Mr. URBAN,
HAVING been led into some enquiries respecting the Abbey of
Shap, in Westmoreland, I have collected the following
account of its establishment and dissolution, which is at
your service.
The Abbey of Shap was transferred hither from
Preston-Patrick, in the parish of Burton, near Kendal,
probably for the sake of the situation, which is in a
retired vale on the margin of the River Lowther, and about a
mile West from Shap. It was founded by Thomas, son of
Cospatrick. The following is an extract from its grant,
which is without date, but is supposed to have been made
about the year 1119, and 20th of Hen. I. - 'To all sons of
our holy mother the Church, as well present as to come, who
shall see or hear this present writing, Thomas, son of
Cospatrick, sendeth greeting. Know ye, that I have given and
granted, and by this my present charter have confirmed, to
God and St. Mary Magdalene, and the Canons of Preston, who
are of the order of Premonstratenses, in free, pure, and
perpetual alms, for the health of the soul of myself, my
wife, and all my ancestors, one portion of my land in
Preston in Kendal, to make a mansion of Canons, to wit, my
whole demesne park below Lackslost,' &c. proceeding to
specify the boundaries of other lands and privileges
granted.
A few years afterwards this Thomas, son of Cospatrick,
removed the Monastery to Shap, and 'granted to God and the
Church of St. Mary Magdalene, of the Vale of Magdalene, and
the Canons of the order of Premonstratenses, serving God
there, all that his land, which was Karl, (that is out lands
held by his ceorles or farmers) by these bounds, from
the Ford of Carlwath, ascending by the river on the South as
far as Langeshaw-beck, and so ascending by Langeshaw-beck to
the road which comes from Kendal, and so following that road
Northwards till it come to Stanirase, nigh Rafland;
|