By Stephen Larkin August 2021
A cartulary or chartulary is a medieval manuscript volume or roll containing transcriptions of original documents relating to the foundation, privileges, and legal rights of ecclesiastical establishments. The original volume for Healaugh Priory near Tadcaster, now in the British Library, was compiled between 1505 and 1520. A version was transcribed, edited and published by the Yorkshire Archaeological Society in 1936 and can now be seen online. The editor provided English summaries of the Latin texts in the volume but the summaries miss out potentially important details. Some of the charters are dated but for others, if an accurate date can be deduced from the name and position of a witness or an archbishop, the editor provided a date.
The first reference to Kildale was in a charter dated between 1246 and 1256. The English summary is as follows:-
Confirmation by Marmaduke lord de Thwing, to God and the Blessed Mary and the house of St. John Evangelist of the Park of Healaugh and the canons there serving God, in alms, of the Chapel of St. Hilda of Kildale, with all the land in Kildale which William de Percy, lord of Kildale, gave for the support of the priests serving the Chapel, and the land, etc., which he gave them in Crathorne.”
The Chartulary of the Augustinian Priory of St John the Evangelist of the Park of Healaugh ed., J. S. Purvis, Yorkshire Archaeological Society, vol. XCII (1936) p 119. Available online at https://archive.org/details/YASRS092.
The most interesting charter, gives a complete description of what was granted in addition to the chapel and what was expected in return. It was witnessed by Ralph de Ireton, the prior of Guisborough, who held the position from 1262 to 1280, so giving earliest and latest possible dates. The English summary is as follows:-
Grant by Sir William de Percy, lord of Kildale, to God and the Blessed Mary and the house of St. John Evangelist of Healaugh Park and the canons there serving God, in alms for his soul’s health, of the chapel of St. Hilda of Kildale with the oblations and obventions and the site of the place and various lands and rents [described]. Further grant of eight bovates and a toft and croft in Crathorne, for the maintenance of the Chapel; with warranty. In return for this the canons are to find two priests, of their own canons or seculars as they wish, to celebrate in the chapel of St. Hilda of Kildale. Default in performance by these two priests shall render them liable to the ecclesiastical censure of the Archbishop of York or of the Dean and Chapter.”
The following translation from the Latin was provided for this charter by Professor Caroline Barron:-
To all the faithful in Christ who will see or hear this writing, greetings in the Lord from William de Percy, Lord of Kildale.
Know that for the safety of my soul (and the souls) of my wives, children, my parents and all my ancestors, I have granted, given and by this present writing chirographed (i.e by deed) confirm to God and the Blessed Mary and to the house of St John the Evangelist at the Park of Healaugh, and to the canons there serving God, in pure and perpetual alms, the chapel of St Hilda of Kildale, fully and freely, with the offerings and other incomes coming there.And the site of the place as far as it extends within its enclosed dyke/ditch with all the appurtenances with the free road in width ten paces from that site to the royal road (i.e. the king’s highway) which leads from Kildale to Stokesley, and eight acres and a rood of land in cultivation near to the aforesaid chapel towards the east and towards the north two acres of meadow next to the same chapel, and to the south part seven acres of land in cultivation called Symondcrofte enclosed by the ditch there as far as the water course from Kildale on the east under Simondscliff.
And the annual rent of two marks ( mark = 13s 8d) from the water mill at Kildale, received twice a year, that is half at Pentecost and the other half at the feat of St Martin in Hyieme.
And common pasture (i.e. common rights) except in my park of He Heninge Goldingdale, for 200 sheep with their young two years oldAnd ten cows and one bull and three draft animals with their young of three years And eighteen pigs and two sows with their young of two years, quit of pannage in the wood of Kildale, except in my park of He Henynge and Golsingdale
And ten oxen and two draft animals (affirs = draft horses) in the aforesaid pastures And the grain and malt which they customarily make in the place of St Hilda
And to mill freely and quietly without paying multure at my mill at Kildale
And housebote (the right to take timber for building) and habote (timber for repairs) with wood for burning and timber for building from Hinderscogh and Baysdale by the oversight of the forester with ten cart loads of peat from turbary of Hynderscogh from my own turbary, with free entry and exit.Moreover, I give, grant and confirm to the aforesaid canons and their successors for the promotion of the said chapel, eight bovates of land in that place with a toft and croft and all their appurtenances in Crathorn which Master Michael, the rector of the church of Walyngton, holds of me for the term of his life and which brother Hervi (Henry?) holds in the name of the said chapel, to have and to hold to all the aforesaid canons and their successors with all liberties and easements within and without the aforesaid villages of Kildale and Crathorn, quietly, peaceably and completely and free of all secular services, suit of court, exactions and demands and all other alms that it is possible to give freely and completely.
I, the aforesaid William and my heirs will warrant acquit and defend in perpetuity to the aforesaid canons and their successors in all matters and all things as above written.
In return for this donation and confirmed in this present writing, the said canons and their successors will provide two priests, either of their own, or seculars, celebrating freely perpetually in the said chapel of St Hilda of Kildale, so this if the same religious or seculars who have been appointed there by the said canons or their successors, to celebrate divine service in the said chapel, cease, they will by obligation submit themselves to the coercion of the Lord Archbishop of York or the Dean and Chapter there for the time being, that they might be able by ecclesiastical censure to compel them to make full and due explanation to the aforesaid officer of the Minster aforesaid.
Similarly I bind and place on myself and my heirs by the said coercion, they will be able to compel me and my heirs by similar censure, if any of the aforesaid lands, rents, communal liberties or other things noted above as granted to the said canons should be withdrawn or in any way should be injured to the said canons.
And in witness of this matter, I place my seal on one part of this written cirograph and the aforesaid canons place their Chapter seal on the other part.
Witnesses: Ralph de Ireton Prior of Guisborough, Marmaduke de Thwyng, Adan de Stokyslay and others.”
The Chartulary of the Augustinian Priory of St John the Evangelist of the Park of Healaugh ed., J. S. Purvis, Yorkshire Archaeological Society, vol. XCII (1936) pp 121-123. Available online at https://archive.org/details/YASRS092. As translated by Professor Caroline Barron July 2021.
At first it seems strange that a charter at least 8 years after the first one should exist with much more detail. This could have been because it was written as a deed so became legally binding; it then needed the full details of exactly what was granted.
The grant was certainly of a pre-existing chapel. It was enclosed by a dyke or a ditch. The description of the location of the chapel and the land that was given with it were helpful for the HVCP in indicating where the search should begin.
The grazing rights for animals seem quite substantial. Whether or not the canons took full advantage of them we do not know.
The priory was also given some other less tangible benefits that could have been quite significant – “free of all secular services, suit of court, exactions and demands and all other alms”. William de Percy made it impossible for his heirs to take back the chapel, land or any other part of the gift.
The cartulary contains a third charter relating to the chapel. The English summary is as follows:-
Deed recording an agreement between Sir Arnold de Percy, kt., and the prior and convent of the Park of Healaugh, recording that whereas Sir William de Percy of Kildale, kt., in time past granted to the prior and convent the chapel of St. Hilda of Kildale with lands and common of pasture there, and other lands in Crathorne for the maintenance of two chaplains celebrating in the chapel of St. Hilda of Kildale, the prior and convent quitclaimed to Arnold all these lands, etc., in Kildale, and Sir Arnold has relieved them of the maintenance of one of the two chaplains. For their lands in Crathorne they were to find a chaplain to celebrate in the chapel of St. Nicholas, Yarm, for the souls of Sir William de Percy and others. Provision for distraint if the chaplain did not perform his duties for 15 successive days.”
The Chartulary of the Augustinian Priory of St John the Evangelist of the Park of Healaugh ed., J. S. Purvis, Yorkshire Archaeological Society, vol. XCII (1936) pp 120. Available online at https://archive.org/details/YASRS092.
This document shows the return of the chapel and land to Sir Arnold. The editor does not provide a date but we know that Sir William de Percy died in 1293 and Sir Arnold inherited the manor so this document must be from 1293 or a few years after. It must also date before 1310 because by that year Sir Arnold had given the returned chapel and some land to the Brothers of the Holy Cross (also known as the Crutched Friars). At present we have no way of knowing whether the Crutched Friars arrived immediately after the departure of the Augustinian canons or if the chapel was left empty for anything from a few months to up to 17 years