DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.49977#0038
16
A HISTORY OF GARDENING IN ENGLAND.
Prior’s, Canon’s, Infirmarian’s, and the Sacrist’s, as well as the
great garden, kitchen-garden, and orchard is shown, and this
quantity of distinct gardens is not in excess of the usual number.*
As a rule the Prior had an enclosure of his own. At Melsa there
was both “ the garden which is called the Prior’s,” and “ the
garden of the Abbot’s chamber.”f At the Abbey of Haghmon,
in Shropshire, the Prior was allotted “ for his recreations a
certain chamber under the dormitory, . . . with the garden
of old called ‘ Longenores gardine,’ annexed to the chamber
before-mentioned, together with the dovecote in the same.” J
At Norwich, payments occur to the gardener from the Lord
Prior for a “ parcel of the garden,” or small piece reserved for
his special use. The “little garden,” or “garden within the
gates,” at Norwich, was let to the cellarer. The Sacristan, the
Treasurer, the Precentor, and the “ Custos operum,” all had
separate gardens at Abingdon, and paid rent for them to the
gardinarius. At Winchester, the payment to the gardener,
“ Roberto Basynge, custodi gardini conventus,” occurs in the
Receiver’s account (a.d. 1334) as well as charges for mowing
the Almoner’s garden, and besides these the “ custos operum ”
defrayed the expenses of a garden called “ Le Joye.” The
Infirmarian’s garden was usually an important one, as in it
he grew healing herbs for the sick of the monastery, and for
convenience this plot was, as a rule, placed near the infirmary
or hospital.
In all countries, heathen and Christian, and in all ages,
flowers have played an important part in ceremonies, such as
funeral rites and marriage feasts. England in the Middle
Ages was no exception ; and the use of flowers in the services
of the Church, in crowning the priests, wreathing candles, or
adorning shrines, was very general.
The gardens within the monastery walls for providing these
flowers were under the care of the Sacristan. At Abingdon, he
paid the gardinarius four bushels of corn for the rent of his
* History of the Deanery of Bicester. J. C. Biomefield,
■f Abbot Burton’s Chronicle of Melsa, Vol. III., p. 242.
J Dugdale, Monasticon (new ed.), Vol. VI., p. 112.
A HISTORY OF GARDENING IN ENGLAND.
Prior’s, Canon’s, Infirmarian’s, and the Sacrist’s, as well as the
great garden, kitchen-garden, and orchard is shown, and this
quantity of distinct gardens is not in excess of the usual number.*
As a rule the Prior had an enclosure of his own. At Melsa there
was both “ the garden which is called the Prior’s,” and “ the
garden of the Abbot’s chamber.”f At the Abbey of Haghmon,
in Shropshire, the Prior was allotted “ for his recreations a
certain chamber under the dormitory, . . . with the garden
of old called ‘ Longenores gardine,’ annexed to the chamber
before-mentioned, together with the dovecote in the same.” J
At Norwich, payments occur to the gardener from the Lord
Prior for a “ parcel of the garden,” or small piece reserved for
his special use. The “little garden,” or “garden within the
gates,” at Norwich, was let to the cellarer. The Sacristan, the
Treasurer, the Precentor, and the “ Custos operum,” all had
separate gardens at Abingdon, and paid rent for them to the
gardinarius. At Winchester, the payment to the gardener,
“ Roberto Basynge, custodi gardini conventus,” occurs in the
Receiver’s account (a.d. 1334) as well as charges for mowing
the Almoner’s garden, and besides these the “ custos operum ”
defrayed the expenses of a garden called “ Le Joye.” The
Infirmarian’s garden was usually an important one, as in it
he grew healing herbs for the sick of the monastery, and for
convenience this plot was, as a rule, placed near the infirmary
or hospital.
In all countries, heathen and Christian, and in all ages,
flowers have played an important part in ceremonies, such as
funeral rites and marriage feasts. England in the Middle
Ages was no exception ; and the use of flowers in the services
of the Church, in crowning the priests, wreathing candles, or
adorning shrines, was very general.
The gardens within the monastery walls for providing these
flowers were under the care of the Sacristan. At Abingdon, he
paid the gardinarius four bushels of corn for the rent of his
* History of the Deanery of Bicester. J. C. Biomefield,
■f Abbot Burton’s Chronicle of Melsa, Vol. III., p. 242.
J Dugdale, Monasticon (new ed.), Vol. VI., p. 112.