Julia Burrow wrote....
As a general rule in medieval England (throughout the whole period from the
reign of Edgar to the Dissolution) the wealthiest houses were Benedictine
ones of pre-Conquest foundation. Most of these were in what historically had
been the kingdom of Wessex, though several very wealthy ones were in
the Fens where they had been set up in the 960s-70s by supporters of King
Edgar, and there are a few others in Kent and in what had been Mercia.
Burton fits into this general pattern (it was Mercian) and is only exceptional
in being the northwesternmost of the late Anglo-Saxon Benedictine foundations.
This is interesting for two reasons, firstly was the beneditine order the
chose of the wealthest and most powerful in the pre Norman england? If this
is the case why - what was so attractive to the men of power ? Secondly, this
wealth may explain the initial wealth of such houses but how did they continue
to thrive - surely the Normans would have invested in such houses and yet if
Julia is to be believed they never managed to equal the wealth of the
Bendictine monks and their late english benefactors. The final point I would
like to ask is to do with the implied geographical spread. Why was it that
the relgious houses which appear to be the wealthest were in the south of the
country ?
Again I thank you for your help.
Simon Marchini
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