 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
Fountains Abbey: History
Fountains Abbey: Buildings
|
The administration of Fountains in the fifteenth century (2/10)
A number of surviving sources shed considerable light on the administration and organisation of Fountains and its estates in the later Middle Ages, particularly during John Greenwell’s abbacy. Less is known about the spiritual well-being of the monks and the nature of their devotions. Still, details regarding the provisioning of the abbey, building and repair work, the nature of the abbot’s duties and the abbey’s servants can reveal much about daily life at this time. The main sources for this period are the Bursar’s Book, an extensive record of purchases and payments from 1456-9, and ‘Thomas Swinton’s Memorandum Book’, which documents his dealings as a chief official (obedientiary) of the abbey with the servants and tenants of Fountains. It covers the years 1446-58, and lists expenses, receipts, rents and debts. In addition, there is a fifteenth-century stock book, and what is known as the ‘President’s Book’, a chronicle of the abbots of Fountains, setting out their dates of office, place of burial, and occasional remarks. |
