Totnes Priory

Totnes Priory was a priory at Totnes in south Devon, England.

It was founded by Juhel de Totnes, feudal baron of Totnes.

The foundation charter dated circa 1087 is held at the Devon Heritage Centre in Exeter under reference 312M/TY1, the text of which, translated from Latin, is as follows:

Juhellus filius Aluuredi. To God and martyrs ss. Sergius and Bachus, and the Abbot of the place, and d. Tetbaldus, monk, personally representing all the brothers. A) The Church of S. Mary de Tottenes, with the fees of the priests Hurbertus, Anschitillus, Suuetinus and Ansgotus, the fee of Rodbertus Tornator, and the land beneath the Church, tithes and a dam for a fishery. Also four linen copes, an altar covering, two hangings, one white garment, one silver gilt cross and two wooden ones.

There is appended to it a note of divisions of tithes in the manors of Roger de Nunant, Juhel's successor in the barony of Totnes. Mentioned are: Bredefort, Asprintona, Conourda, Turlestagno, Buccelanda, Cherletona, Pola, Briseham, Cherchetona, Clauatona, Trecechota, Paurdan, Tressetona, Essleia, Urdihella, Lega, Brutefort; tithe of Radulfus de Eschagriis, Rogerius de Estancomba; of Coleton, Totenesio, Corno-orda; of Robert son of David of Bocchedona and Loleurda and Samarus the priest. "Given by Gaufridus dapifer sancto Sergio by his proxy Turgisu, who placed the gift on the altar of S. Mary. Videntibus landrico milite et turgiso monacho et fulcone et harduino et hetdiuo presbitero quin eciam de omnibus emptionibus quas facturus est similiter donum super altare sancte marie portauit". (No seal).

At the Dissolution of the Monasteries the Priory and some of its lands were purchased by Walter Smith (d.1555), a merchant of Totnes, whose Easter Sepulchre type monument survives in the south chancel aisle of St Mary's Church, Totnes.[1] In 1544 he conveyed the properties to feoffees for the uses of himself and his son Bernard Smith (by 1522-1591), MP for Totnes in 1558, mayor of Totnes 1549-50 and c.1565-6 and escheator of Devon and Cornwalll 1567-8.

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