280 



Aubrey, in his " Collections," says r 



On ttie east side of the house is a gTound facing east, with a delightful 

 prospect to tho south end, called Nj'mph Hay ; here old Jacques would say he 

 has seen forty or fifty sisters in the morning spinning with their rocks, and 

 ■wheels, and bobbing. He said the number was often 70. He might not be 

 mistaken in the number for there might be as- many lay sisters and pen- 

 sioners as nunnes, hut nunnes not so many. 



The buildings of this Nunnery are stated to have surroimded a 

 small square court, on the north side of which was the Chapel. 

 Some arches of the latter, with the buildings round the Chapel, 

 were standing about 1790. On the east was a large gai'den 

 walled round, with two raised terraces. In a valley in front were 

 the fishponds of the Nunnery. The house was converted into a 

 family mansion by Sir R Long, which Aubrey says was " a very 

 pleasante seate." He adds that in his day neither glass, chancel, 

 nor monument remained in the Chapel. It has long since been 

 converted into a farmhouse. 



Names of Prioresses of St. Mary's, Kington St. Michael. 



Eleanor. 1280, Claricia ; Edith of Bristow ; Amice; Christina Charlton; 

 Cecilia. 1319, Joan Duredent. 1326, Dionysia ; Isabel Husee. 1349, Lucia 

 Paas. 1431, Alice More. 1434, Joan Donyton ; Susanna ; Alice Hankerton; 

 Christina Nye 1454, Alice Lawrence. 1492, Katherine Moleyns. 1506, 

 Alice Staunton. 1511, Cicely Bodenham. 1534, Elizabeth Pede; Mary 

 Dennis. 



She was last prioress, and pensioned with £5 a year. She was 

 of an old flimily at Pucklechurch, and died in Bristol in 1593 "a 

 good olde maide, veri vertuose and godlye, and is bmied m the 

 Church of the Gaunts on the Grene." 



Mtnchin Barrow Priory. 



Extracts from Somersetshire ArchBeological and Natural History 



Society, 1863—1864. 



The founder was without doubt a member of the family of Goumay or 

 Gumey, lords of Stoke Hamden. (The History of the family has been 

 written by D. Gurney, Esq., " Eecord of House of Goumay," 4to., Lond.) 



It was evidently founded before 1212 for Benedictine nuns and dedicated to 

 the Blessed Virgin Mary, St. Edward, King and Martyr, and also later to 

 the Trinity. 



Eobert de Goumay held land at Engliscumb. 



It seems to have been a poorly endowed house, and to have given the Bishops 

 some trouble in its internal management. 



