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long entertained, of founding a religious house. ‘‘ When,” says 
the Book of Lacock, ‘Ela had now survived her husband for 
seven years in widowhood, she was directed in visions that she 
shall build a monastery in honor of S. Mary and 8. Bernard, in 
the meadow called Snails’ Mead, near Lacock. Accordingly on 
the 16th April, 1232, she founded two monasteries in one day, in 
the morning that of Lacock, in which holy canonesses might dwell 
continually and most devoutly serving God, and in the afternoon 
the Priory of Hinton of the Carthusian Order.” Primo mane apud 
Lacock, et Henton port nonam. This is the current story of the two 
foundations, but its accuracy may be doubted, though there is no 
physical impossibility with regard to the transaction, the distance 
being between the two places not more than 15 miles. Canon 
Bowles, in his ‘‘ Annals of Lacock Abbey,” questions the truth of 
this double foundation on the same day, on the authority of the 
Chronicle before referred to, which fixes the date of the founda- 
tion of Hinton on the 6th November, 1227, and other documents, 
but the story is a quaint one and ought to be mentioned in this 
connexion. 
Ela’s object in founding the Hinton Priory was no doubt in 
part attributable to respect for her husband’s memory and wishes. 
Longespé had founded a Carthusian House at Hatherop, in 
Gloucestershire,* under the name of “ Locus Dei,” but the monks 
had apparently found the place unsuitable, and Ela accordingly 
translated the foundation, granting in exchange for Hatherop her 
Manor of Hinton with the advowson of the Church and also the 
Manor and advowson of Norton, to found a Carthusian House in the 
honour of God, the Blessed Mary, St. John the Baptist and All 
Saints, to be erected in the Park of Hinton.+ Ela herself took 
the veil on Christmas Day, 1238, in the seventh year after the 
foundation of Lacock; and, on the Feast of the Assumption of 
* Near Fairford. 
+ The name “ Locus Dei” was also transferred from Hatherop, 
