'Index Monasticus' (1821) by Richard Taylor

Here is a short post about a most marvellous book I have just acquired: 

'Index Monasticus'

Title page

Richard Cowling Taylor (18 January 1789 – 26 October 1851) was an English surveyor, geologist and antiquarian. Taylor was born in Hunton, Suffolk, and educated nearby at Halesworth. Following his training as a land surveyor and geologist he moved to Norwich in 1813, where he lived and practiced as a land surveyor until 1826, when he moved to London. It was during this period that his antiquarian curiosity became ignited by the numerous monastic buildings and ruins in Norfolk and Suffolk. In 1821, having raised funds for publication by subscription, he published ‘Index Monasticus’, which was a survey of the religious foundations across the medieval diocese of Norwich. I have wanted a copy of this since 2002 when, during an archaeological study weekend, Dr Tim Pestell mentioned it to me. During the next eighteen years, I never set my eyes on a single copy. However, due to the incredible generosity of a friend I have known for most of my life, I now have my own copy. I’m certain that this will be a working book; one that I will dust down whenever I’m due to give a talk or tour relating to pre-Reformation Norwich and Norfolk. 

Bookplate

Finally, I note that the book plate on the inside cover is one ‘William Taylor’ and note, also, that he is listed as a subscriber (ie a sponsor of the work). It could well be one of his two brothers. Anyway, here are a few photographs of this large work:
 

Religious houses of medieval Norfolk

Map of Suffolk (part of the medieval diocese of Norwich)

Prospect of Norwich (inspired by Cunningham's prospect of 1558 by the look of it)

Map of Norwich's religious houses

Hand tinted arms of the religious orders

 Colin Howey, March 2020

Tending Our Gardens - Philip Miller's 'Gardener's Kalendar', 1732

Philip Miller

A few years ago I was visiting a local bookseller's and noticed a small disbound volume stashed high up on the shelf near his counter. As soon as I held it in my hands and saw its title page I knew that (a) I had to have this one, and (b) I would bring it 'back to life' by getting it rebound. So I did!

What I had acquired was an early eighteenth century planting calender written by the Head Gardener of what was once 'The London Apothocary Garden' (still going, but now named, 'The Chelsea Physic Garden'). Like many of you, I have been spending more time in my garden, and have gained great enjoyment pottering about and observing, with anticipation, the buds about to burst into blossom. 

This reminded me of the little book I had purchased and 'revived' and so, today, I sat in the sunshine and read through Miller's entries for March. Now, whilst I have a small suburban garden, the London Apothocary Garden was on another scale altogether and by the time of its writing was bursting with plants from all parts of the planet, gathered in the wake of Britain's imperial expansion. 

I am sure that Norwich once had similar gardens; for instance, that owned by Sir Thomas Browne just beyond the cathedral precinct during the seventeenth century would surely have been brimming with a diverse range of plants - almost an outdoors horticultural 'cabinet of curiosities' no doubt. The city had a strong tradition of gardens and gardening; not least, those owned by the medieval Cathedral, stocked for, both, food and herbal medicines. This tradition recieved another injection of energy with the coming of 'The Strangers' to Norwich in the second half of the sixteenth century. The Dutch, Flemish and Walloon refugees all brought with them a keen interest in cultivation - not least, in the form of a fascination with tulips. It is no coincidence that, by the seventeenth century, the city held regular flower festivals. In the middle of that century, the clergyman and antiquarian, Thomas Fuller, described the city in his 'Worthies of England' (1662):

'Norwich is (as you please) either a city in an orchard, or an orchard in a city, so equally are the houses and trees blended within it.' 

Anyway, my point is that, as we potter in our gardens we are part of a long tradition. But what of that early eighteenth century London Apothocary Garden? Well, the pages of Miller's Kalendar are teeming with an amazing diversity of planting - too diverse to describe here. So instead, perhaps it is best to just show you a few pages so that you can read it for yourself. We'll start with the preface and then look at the first few pages for the month of March...

 

 

Tragedy at Cantley, 1343

Earlier today (Tuesday 17^th March, 2020 – regrettably, our last meeting for the while, so long as the Coronavirus threat persists) club members listened to a fascinating talk about the Norfolk wherries by club member and river dweller, Martin. At the end of this, I mentioned a mid-14^th century record about the sinking of a ‘keel’ (the medieval predecessor of the wherry).

Now that our face-to-face meetings are suspended, I have decided to try and post some material here so that folk can continue to learn about our history. I therefore thought it appropriate to start with the aforementioned inquest (taken from ‘The Records of the City of Norwich’ by Hudson & Tingay, 1906).

‘Inquest on Persons drowned at Cantley, 1343

Concerning those drowned near Cantele [modern-day, ‘Cantley’]

It chanced one the night of Sunday next after the feast of St Luke Evangelist in the 17^th year of the reign of King Edward the 3^rd (19^th October, 1343) […] that a certain boat called Blitheburghesbot [‘Blythburgh’s Boat’] loaded with men and goods coming from Great Yarmouth to Norwich sank near Cantele in the King’s river called Wensom belonging to the City of Norwich. On hearing which Thomas de Morlee, Coroner of the lord King for the City of Norwich, Roger Verly and Richard de Bitering, Bailiffs of the said City came to the said place belonging to the City of Norwich on Monday next following and made inquest concerning the same, as follows:

Inquest held in the suburb of the City of Norwich in the King’s river which is called Wensom belonging of old to the liberty of the said City outside Conesford near Cantele on Monday […] before Thomas de Morlee [etc…] and there present by William de Blitheburgh, John Bullock, Richard the clerk, Richard de Walsingham, Nicholas de Weston, John son of Hubert de Hakeford, Walter le Messager, John Pauy, John Salle, John de Brigge, William de Melton and Richard Bayle, jurors of the Leet of Conesford, to enquire concerning a boat called Blithburghesbot loaded with divers[e] goods, men and women accidentally sunk in the said river near Cantele; Who say upon their oath that the said boat was laden with sea coal of the value of 10s.; salt in gross value, 12d.; 3 barrells of iron called ‘Osmond’, value 1 mark [‘Osmonds’ were small bars of Swedish iron, imported in barrels, fourteen barrels making a ‘last’ containing 4,800 lbs of iron ie the boat was carrying just over 1,000 lb of iron]; 1 quatron of bord called Ringold (ie ‘board’ or timber from Riga, a Hanseatic port in Latvia], value 4s.; onions and herrings value, 2s.; and with men and women drowned in the river Wensom near Cantele to the number of 40, which river belongs to the City of Norwich. And the said sinking happened there on the night of Sunday […] And they say that the cause of the said misfortune and sinking was from a great rain that fell that night and the darkness of the night and the great and strong wind and the immoderate loading of goods and people which the boat could not bear [10 bodies were recovered…] They say that the nearest neighbours to the said river are Richard Bullok, Richard le Clerk and William de Melton. And they say that Henry de Happisburgh and Nicholas Eghe, who were in the boat, escaped alive and gave the above testimony.’