ANCIENT CHURCH WITHIN THE CASTLE OF EXETER.
BY THE REV. GEORGE OLIVER, D.D.
On a former occasion (Arch. Journal, vol vii., p. 128) a detailed account was given of the Castle of Exeter and its military and civil annals, and in order to render that account more complete, we now subjoin the history of the ancient church within its walls, founded for four prebendaries at a very remote period. In letters patent, addressed by William Avenel to Robert Chichester, Bishop of Exeter, it is styled "Ecclesia de Castello Exonie cum quatuor Prebendis."—Mon. Dioc. Exon., p. 136. Robert Chichester was bishop of the see from 1128 to 1150. We have not been able to meet with the original grant, but tradition attributes the foundation of the church to the family of De Briwere; it is not improbable, however, that its existence was coeval with that of the castle. It was dedicated to the Virgin Mary, and not to the Holy Trinity, as stated in the Chantry Rolls. Annexed to the church were the four prebends, Hayes, Cutton, Carswell, and Ashclist, the patronage of all belonging to the Barony of Okehampton.
In a deed, dated 14th of Feb., 1259, is mentioned a spot of ground "in prebenda de Heghe," charged with the yearly payment of threepence at Easter, "luminari B. Marie in Capella B. Thome Martyris." This chapel stood "in capite Pontis Exonie." Amongst the obligatory yearly payments of the Prior and Brethren of St. John's Hospital, Exeter (Cartulary, p. 37), is half a pound of wax to be offered at St. Mary's Chapel within the Castle of Exeter, on the feast of her Assumption (15th of August).
1. Hayes or Heghe, as it stood first in rank, appears also to have been the richest of the Prebends. John Stephyns, prebendary thereof, in consideration of a fine of 40l., leased it on 10th of October, 1543, to Anthony Harvey, of Culm John, Esq., for a term of twenty-one years, under the yearly rent of 37l. 7s. 11d., which was its yearly value in King Henry VIII.th's taxation, eight years before. The said Prebendary,
