haunted nunnery

Godstow Abbey, near Oxford

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Isisbridge ^club

Hookykate says:
"Fair Rosamund , the mistress of Henry II, was, according to legend, murdered by Henry's wife, Queen Eleanor, who offered her the choice between a dagger and a cup of poison.

Rosamund took the poison and died straight away. This was at Woodstock, where Henry had 'made her a bower'. But it seems that she actually died here at the convent at Godstow and was buried with honour before the high altar. But not for long. Bishop Hugh of Lincoln, in 1191, asked whose tomb it was, covered in silk and lit by candles, and told the nuns to take the harlot out and bury her outside! So she was buried in the cloisters. But that tomb too was destroyed, at the Reformation. The convent had become a private dwelling, and was burnt down during the Civil War. So only these ruins remain.

But that doesn't answer why the ghost of Fair Rosamund is said to walk, rustling in a silk gown, at Creslow Manor, Bucks. Dates all wrong for that, but probably because Rosamund's surname was Clifford (as was the later Creslow Manor's lot). It is certain that Rosamund did withdraw to live at Godstow Nunnery after Henry married Eleanor of Aquitaine, and she died there in 1177, but i don't know what became of the two children she bore Henry. Perhaps Eleanor got rid of them, too!"

9 years ago. Edited 20 months ago.

Skipper

Very evocative and well composed. Tones and silhouettes are very appealing.

9 years ago.

Isisbridge ^club

Britain Express - Godstow Abbey
www.britainexpress.com/cities/oxford/godstow-abbey.htm

The ruins of a 12th-century abbey, or nunnery, stand in a meadow beside the River Thames at Godstow, just north of the city. Godstow Abbey is famed as the burial place of 'Fair Rosamund' de Clifford, Henry II's mistress.

The abbey was founded by Edith of Winchester, the widow of Sir William Launceline, in 1133. Edith, or Ediva, had a vision telling her to settle near Oxford and wait for a token from God bidding her to build a place in his name. She dwelt for some time at Binsey, until one night she heard a voice bidding her to 'go where a light from heaven' reached the ground, and there build a nunnery for twenty-four gentlewomen. She looked north and saw a light over Godstow. Edith went to Henry I and told him of her vision, and the king approved of her new foundation.

She was granted land on an island in the River Thames by John of St John, a local landowner, and established a Benedictine nunnery dedicated to St Mary and St John the Baptist. The abbey was enriched by a further grant of land by St John, and the church was finished by 1139.

20 months ago. Edited 12 months ago.

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See also...

ruins ruins

OXFORDSHIRE OXFORDSHIRE

Thames Path Thames Path

Godstow Godstow

twilight twilight

Oxford Thames Oxford Thames

winter winter

Port Meadow Port Meadow

Churches in Oxfordshire and its bordering counties Churches in Oxfordshire and its bordering counties

England England

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