The Middleton Accounts of 1525: #20

The next entry in the Middleton accounts of Sir Henry Willoughby in 1525 was described as a reward to my Lady Abbess of Polesworth’s maids when Mistress Alice was fetched home from Polesworth. This entry was dated as the 18th August and the amount was 16 pence, which was the equivalent of about £29.42 today. Mistress Alice was Sir Henry Willoughby’s youngest daughter.

Polesworth Abbey often appears in our records. It had a long connection with Middleton, from the 12th century until its Dissolution in the 16th century. In the 12th century Polesworth Abbey was re-founded by the de Marmion family of Tamworth Castle, who also owned Middleton. It was agreed in a charter between Robert I de Marmion and the Abbey that the de Marmion family would be buried in the Chapter House of Polesworth Abbey. This is known to have occurred for most of the family. However, there was then the problematic case of Robert II de Marmion, who was excommunicated for his actions at Coventry in 1143 and thus could not be buried in the consecrated grounds of the Chapter House. In this case, the nuns of the Abbey actually walked to Coventry, collected his body and carried it back to Polesworth Abbey. They then buried him in the far corner of their orchard, which was just outside of the consecrated ground of the Abbey.

Polesworth Abbey was a Benedictine nunnery dedicated to St Editha. A large part of the Abbey was constructed by the de Marmion family, elements of which have survived despite its partial demolition after its Dissolution.

Colin Lea, Polesworth Nunnery Gateway, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Further Reading: W. H. Stevenson, Report on the Manuscripts of Lord Middleton, Historical Manuscripts Commission, 1911. p.378.

Author - Debbie Jordan, Middleton Hall Volunteer.

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