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The acquisition of lands and possessions
(2/15)
A checklist of lands
The ‘Foundation Narrative’ of Kirkstall, which dates from the
early thirteenth century, lists the lands acquired during Alexander’s
abbacy: Barnoldswick with Elfwynthorp; Brogen with its appurtenances; Cliviger
(near Accrington) – one carucate of land with its appurtenances and
pasture for horses and herds; Oldfield (near Keighley); Cookridge; Brearey;
Horsforth; Allerton; Roundhay; Micklethwaite; Thorpe; a messuage in York;
Hooten; Bessacar with two granges neighbouring the abbey (these were probably,
Moor Grange and Bar Grange).
[The Foundation of Kirkstall, ed. and tr. E. Clark, Publications
of the Thoresby Soc. IV (Leeds, 1895), pp. 180-1]. |
The community acquired many of its holdings
in the twelfth and early thirteenth centuries, following its relocation
to Kirkstall
in 1152. These were mostly situated in the near vicinity and
included places such as Allerton, Cookridge, Headingly, Horsforth
and Seacroft. By the end of Alexander’s
abbacy, c. 1182, Kirkstall had established holdings in all
the areas where it
would later develop its great estates.(2) It
had also begun to establish a series of granges, which were
agricultural centres
worked by
the lay-brothers,
through which the community could exploit its lands directly.(3)
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