Hulton Abbey: a history

Tomkinson, John L

Abstract

This study embodies an attempt to construct a historical account of the Cistercian abbey of Hulton, in Staffordshire, together with an assessment of the effects of their agricultural and industrial enterprises upon their estates.
After some brief methodological considerations in the Introduction, Chapter One contains a brief survey of the evidence available upon which any history must be constructed. The opportunity is taken to examine in detail certain documents which, while prima facie very informative concerning the abbey, have very questionable origins, and whose contents turn out to be of dubious character.
Chapter Two is an attempt to set the scene for the foundation of the abbey by considering both the Order to which the monastery belonged, the character of the locality in which it was set up, and the previous career of the founder. Only by taking these background factors into account can we hope to understand the nature of the community, the reasons for their coming to north Staffordshire, and the explanation of the founder's munificence.
The date of the foundation is established in Chapter Three, and that sequence of events is placed in the wider context of national politics.
Chapter Four provides a systematic attempt to locate the Staffordshire estates which either formed part of the founding endowments or were acquired soon after that date.
The following chapters seek to present various facets of the subsequent history of the community on a thematic basis. Chapter Five, 'Patrons', simply provides a framework against which events and developments in Chapters Six to Twelve can be fitted. These largely deal with the personnel making up the community at Hulton, their relations with the neighbouring church.and with the rest of the Order, and with their agricultural, industrial and commercial activities.
The events leading up to the dissolution of the abbey are dealt With in Chapter Eleven, the fate of the ex-religious in Chapter Thirteen, and of the abbey estates in that following.
The last chapter traces the rather obscure subsequent history of the site, its decline into obscurity, and the scattering of assorted relics and traditions in the surrounding locality which were all that remained there of the abbey until archaeological investigations brought the past back into the light of day.
The conclusion presents a few observations on the general features of the history already outlined, and on the limitations of the sources and hence of the historical account of the abbey produced.

Citation

Tomkinson, J. L. (1985). Hulton Abbey: a history. (Thesis). Keele University. Retrieved from https://keele-repository.worktribe.com/output/830692

• Thesis Type: Thesis
• Deposit Date: May 21, 2024
• Public URL: https://keele-repository.worktribe.com/output/830692
• Additional Information: Indefinite embargo on electronic copy access - Non-compulsory. Enrolled pre Sept 2011 regulatory change and choosing not to permit electronic access. The full, final, examined and awarded version of the thesis is held by the University Library.; ; Hulton Abbey, Staffordshire and its interactions with its several environments written by John L. Tomkinson is available via Keele University Library https://keele.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/44KLE_INST/1t1jc2/alma991003972894702986
• Award Date: 1985