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Fountains Abbey: History
Fountains Abbey: Buildings
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Abbot Huby at Fountains (10/10)
Although Huby was greatly involved with the affairs of the Order, he did not neglect his own community. He brought the same zeal and determination to his administration of Fountains and made a valuable contribution to the organisation and discipline during his abbacy and even prior to this - as the bursar of Fountains, Huby was Abbot Darnton’s right-hand man, and was affectionately referred to by the abbot as ‘My Marmaduke’. Indeed, Huby acted as Darnton’s deputy and carried out official business, such as in 1488, when he collected the subsidy demanded by Cîteaux.(120) Upon Darnton’s death in 1495, Marmaduke Huby was the obvious choice of successor. He presided over Fountains for a long and fruitful period of over thirty years. Recruitment soared, with numbers rising from twenty-two monks in 1495 to fifty-two professed members some twenty-five years later. His contribution to the building work at Fountains, both within and outwith the precinct was also quite remarkable. Indeed, a constant reminder of his achievement is the magnificent tower that still dominates the abbey site and is referred as ‘Huby’s tower, a fitting tribute to an abbot who contributed so much to the community here. Huby was no less concerned than his predecessor, John Darnton, to personalise his architectural work. His motto, ‘Honour and glory to God alone’ [Soli Deo Honor et Gloria], is inscribed on the tower and other buildings that he built or reconstructed, including the chapels at Marton-le-Moor, Bewerley, Brimham and How-Hill. Huby personalised his tower further by adding an inscription of his shield bearing his initials, ‘MH’, between a mitre and crozier; a carving of a head on the second story may be a representation of St Bernard, or even of Huby himself.(121) Huby’s abbacy was not, however, trouble-free. Only three years before his death, the aged and failing abbot was confronted with treachery. Talk of Huby’s resignation or impending death prompted some members of the community to think about a successor. Edward Tyrry formed a conspiracy against the abbot with six or eight of his fellow monks, one of whom may have been Marmaduke Bradley, the last abbot of Fountains. Huby successfully quashed this opposition and the offenders were duly punished, but the instance demonstrates that even an abbot as strong, successful and committed as Huby was vulnerable to rebellion.(122) The exact date of Huby’s death and his place of burial is not today known, a rather sad twist of fate for an abbot who contributed so much to the community and to the Order, and whose ideals and achievements are celebrated today through surviving documents and living monuments. |
