Key Dates in the History of Wherwell & Wherwell Abbey
Date | Event |
955 | Wherwell, Andover and Clere bequeathed to Hyde Abbey, Winchester in the Will of King Edred (946 – 955) |
978 | King Edward the Martyr stabbed in the back at Corfe Castle by order of Elfrida (Aelfthryth, wife of Edgar) |
987 | Wherwell Abbey founded by Queen Elfrida |
1002 | Queen Elfrida died, falling into River Test at Wherwell. King Ethelred (son of Elfrida) appointed a new Abbess Haenfled, endowed the Church and endowed nuns ‘in the aforenamed place of Wherwell’ |
c.1040 | Queen Emma, wife of King Canute, takes refuge at Wherwell |
1051 | Queen Edith (Eadygth), wife of Edward the Confessor, took refuge at Wherwell |
1086 | Domesday Book – The Wherwell Hundred comprises the six Manors of Wherwell, Tufton, Goodworth (Clatford), Ann, Middleton (Longparish) and Bullington. Annual revenue amounted to £14 10s. |
1141 | During the Rout of Winchester, Empress Matilda’s forces (commanded by Robert of Gloucester) attempted to fortify Wherwell and were defeated by King Stephen’s forces (commanded by William of Ypres) and the Abbey was destroyed by fire. |
1186 | Abbess Maud ‘of sweet memory’ rules for 40 years |
1215 | King John grants the Abbey a right to hold an Annual Fair |
1226 | Abbess, ‘The Blessed Euphemia’ (d.1257) rebuilds the Abbey and doubles the number of Nuns from 40 to 80 |
1266 | Abbess and successors granted a weekly market by King Henry III |
1348 | Plague ‘The Black Death’ 1348-1350 kills 1.5 million people (population 4 million) |
1523 | Wherwell provided 52 Archers and 118 Billmen, part of the Hampshire contingent for Henry VIII’s war with France. |
1535 | Cromwell commands Abbess, Morphuet Kyngesmill to resign |
1539 | Dissolution of the Monasteries (Wherwell had 25 nuns) |
1540 | Manor lands sold to Sir Thomas West, Lord de la Warr |
c.1600 | Church name changed from the pre-reformation name of Church of the Holy Trinity to Church of St. Peter and Holy Cross |
1649 | Abbey ruins grown over and a commemorative plaque erected outside the Church |
1695 | Manors bought by Edward Boulter, merchant of London. Outlying Manors sold, except Goodworth Clatford |
1709 | Wherwell Manor bequeathed to John Fryer, Pewterer, Alderman of London |
1726 | Manor left to three daughters, Bithia, Susannah and Delicia |
1742 | Delicia married Joshua Iremonger |
1743 | Bithia and Susannah bought out by Joshua Iremonger |
1826 | A monument called Dead Man’s Plack erected in Harewood Forest by Col. Iremonger |
1856 | Railway built by London & South Western Railway (LSWR) – closed in 1931 (passengers) and 1956 (completely) |
1856 | Work commenced on building a ‘new’ Church overlaying the footprint of the Norman Church. Architect – Henry Woodyer, Builder – Mr Holdway |
1859 | Church of St Peter & Holy Cross consecrated by Bishop of Winchester, Very Reverend Charles Richard Sumner and Iremonger family mausoleum built |
1872 | A mother and daughter in the Iremonger family succumb to a harsh winter |
1899 | Countess of Lovelace (mother of Colonel “Teddy” Jenkins) rented Wherwell from the Iremonger family |
1911 | Church clock installed to commemorate the coronation of George V |
1914 | Wherwell Priory Estate bought by Sir Ernest Cassel and passed into the hands of Colonel and Mrs Jenkins (niece) |
1920 | Wherwell War Memorial unveiled by Major General Sir Robert Wigham |
1936 | The first Wherwell Pageant performed in the grounds of Wherwell Priory |
1952 | Priory Estate switches to the National Grid, power from the River Test moth-balled |
1959 | Wherwell Priory Estate bequeathed by Mrs Jenkins to her daughter Marjorie, Countess of Brecknock |
1989 | Death of Marjorie, Countess of Brecknock |
1990 | James, Clare and Domini Hogg move into The Priory, Thomas-Neil Hogg arrived 1991. |
1996 | Geophysical survey of the Abbey site conducted by Southampton University |
2008 | The Downs Benefice was formed; Wherwell joins Littleton, Crawley, Sparsholt and Chilbolton, with Rev. Juliet Montague the minister in charge. |
2011 | Major fund-raising campaign successfully puts a new roof on the Church and Spire |
2012 | Ellacombe Chiming Apparatus installed and the church clock renovated, including a new automatic winding mechanism |
2013 | PCC decides to not pursue registration of the Chancel Repair Liability and Charity Commissioners informed |
2014 | Revd Jax Machin appointed Rector of the Downs Benefice |
2020 | Detailed survey of graffiti in Wherwell church by the Hampshire Medieval Graffiti Project |
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