Herefordshire Through Time
Herefordshire Through Time
Kenelm was a Saxon prince or earl of considerable wealth and power, within whose domain Leominster lay. He was a supporter of - and frequent benefactor to - the Priory, and it is thought that it was he who had a stretch of the River Lugg, called Kenwater, diverted to form the northern boundary of the Priory precinct.
Prince Kenelm died c.1060 and is believed to have been buried in the Priory, with a plaque to commemorate the event. This plaque remained in the Priory until the end of the 1500s, when it was damaged. Fortunately John Hackluyt of nearby Eaton made a record of the inscription:
"My foremost fathers did build upon this my town, and at Kenelmford and Meadwellhamsteade and Lincoln and Leicester and Kenelmworth and Clint and Kenelmstrone and Winchcomb and Hereford and Sutton and Kenchester and Westminster and Verulam and Nottingham and Warwick and Gloucester and Stanford and Berkeley and Tewkesbury and Runcorn and Tamworth and Edesbury and Sempringham and Lincoln and Cwichelme his Ley and Off: Church. Christ loved me, and was my most righteous defence always. I have loved Christe and for His love my lands I gave; but my Kingsland, and also my Kenelmworth, I do not give. I am Christ's Kenelm; and Kenelmbals is my kinsman at Clinton."
Blacklock says, "The ancestors of Kenelm had a residence or Castle to the north-east of Leominster at a place called Kenelbaldston, now known as Kimbolton. The road leading to this place from the town was known as Comish Way" (Gainsford T. Blacklock, The Suppressed Benedictine Minster & Other Ancient & Modern Institutions of the Borough of Leominster, Leominster Folk Museum, 2nd Edition, 1999).
Leofric was the Earl of Hereford, who gave much money to the Priory and partly rebuilt it; he also rebuilt the Benedictine Abbey of the Holy Trinity at Wenlock in Shropshire. Leofric was also responsible for the founding of the Monastery of Coventry. He was the son of the Earl of Mercia and the husband of the famous Lady Godiva of Coventry. Leofric died in 1055 and was buried at Wenlock. Leofric was also a duke in the army of King Cnut or Canute the Great.
It is said that his improvements to the Priory were expensive and decorative with the roof being decorated with gold and silver. At the time that Blacklock was writing (1897) there was said to have been a carved beam at the end of the South Nave, which survived the fire of 1699, and on this beam could be seen traces of precious metal. In honour of this great and good benefactor of the Priory the town changed its name from Llanlieni to Leofminstre.
Swein or Swegin was the brother of Harold Godwinson (later King Harold) and he was a fierce and powerful Earl. In 1046 he led a raiding party into Wales, and on his return through the county he abducted the Abbess of Leominster, held her hostage and raped her. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle records the story thus: "Here Earl Swein went into Wales and Gruffyd, the northern king, together with him, and he was granted hostages. Then, when he was on his way home, he commanded the abbess in Leominster to be fetched to him, and he kept her as long as it suited him and after let her travel home". (The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, Abingdon Manuscript, translated and edited by Michael Swanton, J.M. Dent, 1996, p. 164)
This passage is also important as it implies that there were nuns at the Priory at this time. However, this does not mean that there were no longer monks there.
In 1046, Prince Gruffyd ap Llewelyn, Prince of Wales, led an army into the district of Leominster, causing great and vast destruction and levying heavy tribute on the monks. He was driven back by Swein, Earl of Hereford (see above). In 1055 Llewelyn again rode over the border into Herefordshire and occupied Leominster alongside a confederation of forces of the Welsh chieftains, and again he levied heavy taxes on the Priory. Ralph, Earl of Hereford at this time, marched to Leominster with his army to aid the people there. Llewelyn was prepared for the attack.
Blacklock says that at this time the south side of Leominster (which would have been the side that Ralph entered from) was protected by an earthwork rampart and ditch as well as a stone castle, which would have been situated in the area behind the present Minster School on South Street. The two forces met at the drawbridge to the castle and unfortunately Ralph was defeated and suffered great losses of men. Prince Llewelyn then marched on to Hereford and seized the city and the cathedral. It was not until Earl Harold (soon to be king) arrived with the troops of the Crown to fight alongside the earls of the area that the Welsh prince was defeated and sent back across the border. During this battle Leofgar, the Bishop of Hereford, was killed.
According to the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle it was about this time that Earl Harold "had a dyke built round the town" [of Hereford] (The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, Abingdon Manuscript [AD 1055], p. 186).
[Original author: Miranda Greene, 2005]