June 2021

7 Buckden Roundabout June 2021 Offord Cluny ’ s French Connection Offord Cluny ’ s French Connection Richard Storey Secretary to the Buckden Local History Society Offord Cluny can trace its history to before the Doomsday Book but its French connection is through a knight called Arnulf de Hesdin. Arnulf was probably born in the second half of the 11th century in the old fortified town of Hesdin, on the bank of the Canache river, approximately 6 km from the modern town of Hesdin (approximately 60 km SE of Boulogne). His family were minor landholders and vassals to the Count of Hesdin, ie. tenant farmers who gave military support to the Count, Enel- gram. Enelgram, like his predecessor, was a deeply religious and generous man. Arnulf was a close associate of Engelram and both became benefactors of religious establishments. Little more is known of Arnulf's early career but later he emerges as a companion of William the Conqueror. A chroni- cler at the time recorded Arnulf as "tall in stature, outstanding in activity, well - supported by possessions" – which accords with a successful military career. Owing to his subsequent great wealth and power it is assumed, but not proven, that Arnulf served William the Conqueror with distinction at the Battle of Hastings. It is known that after the Norman Conquest the manor of Offord passed from Bului to Arnulf. However this is just part of his acquisitions. The Domesday Book in 1086 records Arnulf as the Lord of a considerable number of holdings - at least 38, in 11 different counties. Also, he is recorded as being Tenant - in - chief of a fur- ther 54 holdings, including Offord (Cluny), in the hundred of Toseland, Huntingdonshire. The Domesday Book records the following against Offord: Arnulf was generous in his grants to a number of Benedictine monasteries. In 1080 he donated the church at Newbury, to- gether with the priest's house and land. Then nn 1081 he gave the manor of Linkenholt to Gloucester Abbey. Sometime be- fore 1086 he gave 3 manors, including Offord, to Cluny Abbey at Saône - et - Loire in France which is approximately 90 km north of Lyon. Cluny Abbey was founded by Duke William I of Aquitaine in 910. It was noted for its strict adherence to the Rule of St Ben- edict and, because of the way it was organised and led, Cluny became acknowledged as the leader of western monasticism. Unlike the Benedictine tradition of monasteries being autono- mous, Cluny Abbey created a large and federated order in which the administrators of subsidiary houses served as depu- ties of the Abbot of Cluny. In these Cluniac houses or priories, the priors met at Cluny Abbey once a year to deal with admin- istrative issues and to report to the Abbot. Cluny Abbey was probably the wealthiest monastic house in the Western world. Managers and workers were hired to do the traditional labour of monks allowing the Cluniac monks to devote themselves to almost constant prayer, thus elevating their position into a profession. Despite the normal monastic ideal of a frugal life Cluny Abbey commissioned many items composed of solid silver, gold and precious gems. Also the monks enjoyed luxurious food, wines and cheeses and wore the finest linens and silks. Cluny Abbey's influence spread into the British Isles in the 11th century, first at Lewes, and then elsewhere. In total there were 22 Cluniac priories in England and 3 in Scotland, all of which were subordinate to the Abbot at Cluny. The exception was the priory at Paisley which was raised to the status of an abbey in 1245 and answered directly to the Pope. While the priors were expected to attend the annual meeting at Cluny Abbey it is recorded that the Abbot visited Britain 5 times in the 13th century and twice in the 14th century. The Cluny Abbey library was one of the richest and most im- portant in Europe. Unfortunately it was sacked and much of the Abbey destroyed in 1790 during the French Revolution. Arnulf himself came to a sad ending: in 1095 the king was chal- lenged by a baronial revolt and Arnulf was implicated. Proba- bly innocent of the charge, Arnulf, along with the other ac- cused barons were brought to trial by combat in 1097. Arnulf was represented by his own champion who defeated the king ’ s representative. In spite of this success Arnulf was so disgusted at the accusation that he renounced all his lands in England and left the country for ever. Later that year he enlisted in the First Crusade and was killed during the Siege of Antioch a few months later. British History Online gives a complicated description of Offord Cluny ’ s subsequent “ ownership ” but it looks like it finally re- turned to the British Crown in 1445. References: https://www.british - history.ac.uk/vch/hunts/vol2/pp319 - 322 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cluny_Abbey https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ernulf_de_Hesdin https://opendomesday.org/place/TL2167/offord - cluny/ http://www.cliffehistory.co.uk/domesday_book.html https://thehistoryofengland.co.uk/resource/glossary - of - medieval - terms/ Households: 20 villagers, 8 smallholders, 1 priest Land and resources Ploughland: 10 ploughlands, 5 lord's plough teams, 5 men's plough teams Other resources: Meadow 24 acres, 2 mills of value 2 pounds 10 shillings, 1 church Valuation Annual value to lord: 10 pounds in 1086; 10 pounds in 1066