Ramsey Abbey

Ailwin (Ailwyn), Duke of East Anglia and foster brother of King Edgar, is traditionally recorded as founding the Abbey at Ramsey in about 969 AD.

According to the Saxon Chronicle on a visit to Glastonbury he informed his host, Archbishop Oswold that the had created a hermitage at Ramsey. Archbishop Oswold encouraged Ailwin with his idea and promised him a dozen (12) monks and an experienced Prior to help him with his new venture.

Ailwin returned to Ramsey and commenced his construction of the Abbey with the building of a wooden chapel dedicated to Our Lady, Saint Benedict and all Holy Virgins. Supported by his brother, the King, the Abbey thrived and grew.

In 975 AD just before his death King Edgar, presented the Abbey with it's Charter where all it's rights and privileges were confirmed. In 991 Archbishop Oswold visited the Abbey to perform a re-dedication that was attended by many people.

For 24 years, Ailwin, was Abbot of Ramsey and he endowed it with vast munificence including an organ and considerable amounts of silver plates and gems. The Abbey was also visited by the great scholar, Abbo, who came to instruct the monks and it was during this period that the Abbey came into possession of a number of relics including the bones of the Princes Ethelbert and Ethelred which were enshrined in the Abbey along with the remains of St. Ivo. Although St. Ivo may well have been an invention it all added to the importance of the Abbey and brought many visitors and pilgrims who only added to it's wealth.

Even King Cnut of the Danes provided funds to the Abbey, he actually had work started on a new Monastery but this was never completed. The Abbey grew further under the reign of Edward the Confessor and just before the Norman invasion was granted four manors in Bedfordshire.

William the Conqueror was quick to confirm the Abbeys Charter which he did in 1077 and the Abbey was unusual in that he allowed it to keep it's English Abbots, a privilege which continued until 1113. By 1135 the reign of King Stephen saw England in it's first Civil War.

Ramsey Abbey's Charter from Henry II, 1155-1162

[The charter is recorded as an 'inspeximus' in the charter of confirmation of Edward III for Ramsey Abbey, dated 10 June 1334. Rolls Series vol.79, part i, p.251 (Cartularium Monasterii de Rameseia; from which the version above is taken).

Versions with slight variants are given in part ii, 60, 61 and vol.83, p.291 (no 351) (Chronicon Abbatiae Rameseiensis); in these versions, the surname is spelled 'Argenton' and 'Argentoin' respectively. The charter is dated to between 1155 and 1162 in Rolls Series vol.79.]