# Cerne Abbey > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Cerne_Abbey > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Cerne_Abbey.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cerne_Abbey > Source revision: 1354922145 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Abbey in Cerne Abbas, United Kingdom Abbey House Abbey Guest House Abbot's Porch Tithe barn **Cerne Abbey** was a [Benedictine](/source/Benedictine) [monastery](/source/Monastery) founded in 987 in the town now called [Cerne Abbas](/source/Cerne_Abbas), Dorset, by [Æthelmær the Stout](/source/%C3%86thelm%C3%A6r_the_Stout). ## History The abbey was founded in 987 by [Æthelmær the Stout](/source/%C3%86thelm%C3%A6r_the_Stout). [Ælfric of Eynsham](/source/%C3%86lfric_of_Eynsham), the most prolific writer in [Old English](/source/Old_English), spent time at the abbey as a [monk](/source/Monk) and teacher.[1] [King Cnut](/source/King_Cnut) plundered this monastery during an attack upon the town, but afterwards became a benefactor of it.[2] By the time of the [Domesday Book](/source/Domesday_Book), the abbey had added substantially to its endowment.[2] Much of this wealth has been credited[3] to the [veneration](/source/Veneration) of [Saint](/source/Saint) [Eadwold of Cerne](/source/Eadwold_of_Cerne), a 9th-century [hermit](/source/Hermit) reputedly a brother of [Edmund, king of East Anglia](/source/Edmund_of_East_Anglia). Eadwold lived as a hermit on a hill about four miles from Cerne. The later history appears to have been relatively uneventful; *A History of the County of Dorset* says that its history is "perhaps the least eventful of any of the Dorset houses with the exception of that of the sisters at [Tarrant Kaines](/source/Tarrant_Abbey)".[2] The abbey's history ended on a less positive note, with the last [abbot](/source/Abbot), Thomas Corton, accused of various offences including that of allowing the abbey and lands to become ruinous, and of keeping a mistress who seems to have borne him children. The accusations were taken seriously enough to warrant inspection by commissioners, and the abbey was closed in 1539.[2] Following [Dissolution of the Monasteries](/source/Dissolution_of_the_Monasteries), the buildings were mainly demolished. Abbey House, a Grade I [listed building](/source/Listed_building), occupies the site of the [gatehouse](/source/Gatehouse) and incorporates parts of it. Most of the house dates from after a fire in the middle of the 18th century in which the gatehouse was seriously damaged.[4] The late 15th-century Guest House of the abbey is also Grade I listed,[5] as is the very elaborate stone vaulted porch of the abbot's hall, built around 1500, which survives in the midst of a wooded lawn,[6] with a Grade II* listed, early 16th century barn lying to its north.[7] A Grade I listed, 14th-century [tithe barn](/source/Tithe_barn), converted to a house in the late 18th century, lies to its east.[8] ## Abbots of Cerne - Ælfric, appointed about 987, on the refoundation of Cerne as a Benedictine monastery - Alfric Puttoc, occurs 1023 - Withelmus, occurs 1085 - Haimo, deposed 1102 for [simony](/source/Simony) - William, occurs 1121 - Bernard, became abbot of Burton in 1160 - Robert, occurs 1166 - Dionysius, occurs 1206, resigned 1220 - R., elected 1220 - William de Hungerford, elected 1232 - Richard de Suwell or Sawel, elected 1244, died 1260 - Philip, elected 1260 - Thomas de Ebblesbury, elected 1274 - Gilbert de Minterne, elected 1296, died 1312 - Ralph de Cerne, elected 1312, died 1324 - Richard de Osmington, elected 1324 - Stephen Sherrard, elected 1356 - Thomas Sewale, elected 1361, died 1382 - John de Hayle, elected 1382, died in same year - Robert Symondsbury, elected 1382 - John Wede, elected 1411, died 1427 - John Winterborne, elected 1427, died 1436 - John Godmanston, elected 1436, died 1451 - William Cattistoke, elected 1451, died 1454 - John Helyer, elected 1454, resigned 1458 - John Vanne, elected 1458, died 1471 - Roger Bemyster, elected 1471, died 1497 - Thomas Sam, elected 1497, died 1509 - Robert Westbury, elected 1510, died 1524 - Thomas Corton, elected 1524, surrendered his abbey 1539[2] ## References 1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** [Hutchinson Encyclopedia](/source/Hutchinson_Encyclopedia) (1988), p. 14 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-bho_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-bho_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-bho_2-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-bho_2-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-bho_2-4) Page, William. ["Houses of Benedictine monks, The abbey of Cerne"](http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=40139). *A History of the County of Dorset, vol. 1*. British History Online. Retrieved 6 December 2013. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Tom Licence, Goscelin of St Bertin and the Life of St. Eadwold of Cerne, Journal The Journal of Medieval Latin [vol 16](http://brepols.metapress.com/content/l23064872q322525/) [Deprecated link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Archive.today_guidance) archived 2014-02-25 at [archive.today](/source/Archive.today) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** [Historic England](/source/Historic_England). ["Cerne Abbey (1323849)"](https://HistoricEngland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1323849?section=official-list-entry). *[National Heritage List for England](/source/National_Heritage_List_for_England)*. Retrieved 12 June 2016. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Historic England. ["Guest house of Cerne Abbey (1119470)"](https://HistoricEngland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1119470?section=official-list-entry). *National Heritage List for England*. Retrieved 12 June 2016. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Historic England. ["The Abbot's Porch (1152342)"](https://HistoricEngland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1152342?section=official-list-entry). *National Heritage List for England*. Retrieved 12 June 2016. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Historic England. ["North barn 75 metres north-north-west of the Abbot's Porch (1323850)"](https://HistoricEngland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1323850?section=official-list-entry). *National Heritage List for England*. Retrieved 12 June 2016. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Historic England. ["The Tithe Barn (1119439)"](https://HistoricEngland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1119439?section=official-list-entry). *National Heritage List for England*. Retrieved 12 June 2016. - Anthony New. 'A Guide to the Abbeys of England And Wales', p107-09. Constable. - Houses of Benedictine monks: The abbey of Cerne, A History of the County of Dorset: Volume 2 (1908), pp. 53–8. ## External links - [Official website of Cerne Abbey](https://cerneabbey.com) [50°48′38″N 2°28′31″W / 50.8106°N 2.4754°W / 50.8106; -2.4754](https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=Cerne_Abbey¶ms=50.8106_N_2.4754_W_type:landmark_region:GB) v t e Benedictine abbeys and priories in medieval England and Wales Independent houses Abbotsbury Abergavenny Abingdon Alcester Athelney Bardney Bath Battle Bedford Birkenhead Bradwell Brewood (Black Ladies) Buckfast Burton Bury St Edmunds Canterbury (Christ Church) Canterbury (St Augustine's) Canwell Cerne Chertsey Chester Cholsey Colchester Coventry Crowland Durham Ely Evesham Eynsham Farewell Priory Faversham Glastonbury Gloucester Humberston Luffield Malmesbury Milton Monk Bretton Muchelney Molycourt Norwich (Holy Trinity) Pershore Peterborough Ramsey Reading Repton Rochester St Albans St Benet of Hulme Sandwell Selby Sherborne Shrewsbury Snelshall Tavistock Tewkesbury Thorney Upholland Walden Westminster Whitby Winchcombe Winchester (New Minster) Winchester (St Swithun) Worcester York (St Mary's) Dependent houses Aldeby Alkborough Alcester Alvecote Beadlow Bedemans Berg Belvoir Binham Breedon Brecon Bristol Bromfield Cardiff Cardigan Cranborne Darenth Deeping Dover Dunster Earls Colne Ewenny Ewyas Harold Exeter Farne Felixstowe Finchale Freiston Great Malvern Hatfield Peverel Henes (Sandtoft) Hereford Hertford Holy Island Horton Hoxne Hurley Jarrow Kidwelly Kilpeck King's Mead Kings Lynn Lammana Langley Leominster Leonard Stanley Lincoln Little Malvern Littlemore Lytham Middlesbrough Monkwearmouth Morville Norwich (St Leonard's) Oxford (of Canterbury) Oxford (of Durham) Oxford (of Gloucester) Penwortham Pilton Redbourne Richmond Rumburgh St Bees St Ives Scilly Snaith Snape Stamford Studley (Oxfordshire) Studley (Warwickshire) Tickhill Tynemouth Wallingford Westbury-on-Trym Wetheral Wymondham Yarmouth Alien priories Allerton Mauleverer Andover Andwell Appuldurcombe Arundel Astley Aston Priors Atherington Avebury Axmouth Blyth Boxgrove Brimpsfield Burstall Burwell Caldy Carisbrooke Chepstow Clatford Cogges Corsham Covenham Cowick Creeting (St. Mary) Creeting (St. Olave) Debden Deerhurst Dunwich Ecclesfield Edith Weston Ellingham Everdon Eye Folkestone Frampton Goldcliff Grovebury Hamble Harmondsworth Hatfield Regis Haugham Hayling Headley Hinckley Holbeck Horsham St Faith Horsley Lancaster Lapley Lewisham Isleham Livers Ocle Llangennith Llangua Loders Minster Minster Lovell Minting Modbury Monks Kirby Monk Sherborne (Pamber) Monmouth Newent Ogbourne Otterton Panfield Pembroke Pill Ruislip Runcton St Cross St Dogmells St Michael's Mount St Neots Sele Spalding Sporle Standon Steventon Stogursey Stoke-by-Clare Stratfield Saye Swavesey Takeley Throwley Tickford Titley Toft Monks Totnes Tutbury Tywardreath Upavon Ware Wareham Warminghurst Warmington Wath Weedon Beck Weedon Lois West Mersea Wilsford Wing Winghale Wolston Wootton Wawen York (Holy Trinity) --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Cerne Abbey](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cerne_Abbey) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cerne_Abbey?action=history)). 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