Chertsey, Surrey, South-East England, British Isles

In 666 Bishop Earconwald founded Chertsey Abbey [Map] for men and Barking Abbey [Map] for women. He served as Abbot Chertsey Abbey whilst his sister Æthelburh of Barking served as Abbess of Barking.

Bede. 674. This man, before he was made bishop, had built two famous monasteries, the one [Map] for himself, and the other [Map] for his sister Ethelberga, and established them both in regular discipline of the best kind. That for himself was in the county of Surrey, by the river Thames, at a place called Ceortesei [Map], that is, the Island of Ceorot; that for his sister in the province of the East Saxons, at the place called Bercingum [Map], wherein she might be a mother and nurse of devout women. Being put into the government of that monastery, she behaved herself in all respects as became the sister of such a brother, living herself regularly, and piously, and orderly, providing for those under her, as was also manifested by heavenly miracles.

Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. 964. This year drove King Edgar (age 21) the priests of Winchester out of the old minster, and also out of the new minster; and from Chertsey [Map]; and from Milton [Map]; and replaced them with monks. And he appointed Ethelgar abbot to the new minster, and Ordbert to Chertsey, and Cyneward to Milton [Map].

In 989 Archbishop Ælfstan aka Lyfing was appointed Abbot Chertsey Abbey.

Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. 1110. This year also died Earl Elias, who held Maine in fee-tail¹⁴⁰ of King Henry (age 42); and after his death the Earl of Anjou (age 21) succeeded to it, and held it against the king. This was a very calamitous year in this land, through the contributions which the king received for his daughter's (age 7) portion, and through the badness of the weather, by which the fruits of the earth were very much marred, and the produce of the trees over all this land almost entirely perished. This year men began first to work at the new minster at Chertsey [Map].

Note 140. That is, the territory was not a "fee simple", but subject to "taillage" or taxation; and that particular species is probably here intended which is called in old French "en queuage", an expression not very different from that in the text above.

English Historical Literature in the Fifteenth Century Appendix 13. [21st May 1471¹] In the same year, Henry VI, formerly called King of England, died in the Tower of London, and was buried in the monastery of Chertsey [Map], near the Thames, in the diocese of Winchester. And thus, no one remains among the living who may claim the crown from his line.

Eodem anno decessit Henricus sextus, olim dictus rex Anglie, apud turrim London., et sepultus est in monasterio de Chertesey iuxta Tamisiam, Winton. diocesis. Et sic nemo relinquitur in humanis qui ex illo stipite coronam petat.

Note 1. The date inferred from the following paragraph.

Chertsey Bridge [Map] is on the River Thames.

On 28th July 1667 Abraham Cowley (age 49) died in Porch House. He was buried in Westminster Abbey [Map] where John Sheffield 1st Duke of Buckingham and Normanby (age 19) subsequently commissioned a monument.