The Abbey at St Albans and its relationship with its lordship in the Later Middle Ages

Abstract

This thesis aims to examine the relationship between the monks and monastery of St Albans, and the townspeople and the tenants on the manors it held, including a case study on the manor of Codicote, by considering how the nature of this relationship changed throughout the history of the abbey from one of dependency to independence, and of animosity to acceptance. It will analyse events from the foundation of the monastery when the town grew around the abbey, to the problems of the fourteenth century, and finally, the Dissolution.

This thesis concludes that the relationship between the monastery and the town of St Albans and its surrounding manors had three phases: the first phase took place from the foundation of the abbey through to the fourteenth century, where the town and monastery were dependent on one another. The second was during the fourteenth century, where the townspeople fought for their freedoms while the third was from the end of the fourteenth century through to the Dissolution when the town was able to function without the monastery, but still maintained a productive relationship that continued until after 1539 when the abbey was dissolved.

This thesis is an addition to the work that has already been completed on both St Albans and Benedictine monasteries. It will go beyond the vast historiography on the subject by examining the relationship between town and abbey not as a simple political or financial one, but instead, as a complex changing relationship with multiple layers evolving over time.

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