Ombersley Abbots Palace

Description

Ombersely, held by Evesham Abbey from 706 AD until the dissolution, except for 36 years, was an important residence, perhaps a palace, of the mitred abbots of Evesham, whose privileges ranked with those of the Bishops of Worcester. Certainly such a residence existed here from C13 and evidence exists of grants of warrens, fishstews and a park at some place called Lineholt. A late C14 description of the buildings and appurtenances, which included a chapel, dovecote and mills, survives and a further detailed survey was taken in 1584 when the principal buildings were restored. The fishponds referred to are probably those at SO 840626, south of which lie cropmarks which might be related to this ecclesiastical residence. The present Ombersley Court (SO 842633) was built about 1710. (PastScape)

Free warren at Ombersley was granted in 1251 to the Abbot of Evesham, and in 1275–6 it was presented at the assizes that he had made a new warren without licence. Various improvements were made in the manor of Ombersley during the 13th and 14th centuries. Abbot Ralph (1214–29) made a fish stew at Lineholt and two other stews under the court. His successor, Abbot Thomas of Marlborough, assarted 2 carucates of land at Chattesley, having obtained the permission of Walter de Beauchamp, who had common at Chattesley. John de Brokhampton (1282–1316) erected a room with a vault at Ombersley Manor, and Abbot John Ombersley (1367–79) added a hall and two rooms, one in the west and one in the north, a stable outside the lower door and a small grange in the outer court. He also obtained licence from the king in 1376 to inclose 300 acres of land and water in the manor called the wood of Lineholt and to make a park there. Abbot Roger Zatton (1379–1418) restored the fish-pond called Trylpole and mills at Ombersley, and rebuilt the dovecot, kitchen and chapel. Abbot William de Bois died at Ombersley in 1367. At the time of the surrender of Evesham Abbey the manor of Ombersley was bringing in the considerable revenue of £121 7s. 9 d. to its owners. (VCH 1913)

Comments

Should not really be in the Gatehouse database as not a royal or bishops palace. However, the mitred abbot of Evesham had a similar status to a bishop and the Abbey Chronicle gives some interesting historical background to the site. The early C14 reference to the building of a cameram cum volta (Chron. Evesham p. 288) is translated as a room with a vault in the VCH but many references to cameram do seem to refer to small residential (solar) towers and this reference, with the express vault, may well be to a tower, although this may well not have had any 'fortifications.' Nothing remains of the medieval buildings.