Several fragments of pottery have been found. These are of glazed ware, brown or green. In the opinion of experts they were made at the Nottingham kilns in the 15th century.
BEAUVALE MANOR FARM.
On the opposite side of the valley, some 500 yards to the south of the Priory and overlooking the whole district, stands Beauvale Manor Farm. (Plate X.) It contains some interesting early 15th century remains, consisting of a gate-house with oak bressumers, and within the court a retaining wall with a flight of steps leading to a small arched doorway.
Plate X. The Manor Farm.
Several interments have been found here, and a worn slab of local sandstone, 6ft. by 3ft. 6in. by 5in., bevelled on three sides, by the pump in the yard, has the appearance of an altar slab. It is not possible to assert any connection between this farm-house and the neighbouring Priory, for the lay brethren who attended to the farms belonging to the Carthusians were generally housed in the monastery itself.
In the farm-house are two medallions of Dutch or Flemish glass, leaded into one of the windows. These are popularly supposed to have been taken from the Priory, but this is quite erroneous, as they are undoubtedly the work of the 17th century. The subjects are well-executed figures in brown enamel outline with yellow stain, representing two female saints; St. Lucy of Syracuse, with a palm branch in her hand and a sword piercing her neck, to denote her martydom; and St. Agatha holding a breast in a pair of pincers, in reference to their miraculous restoration when cut off in torture.
Medallions in the window of Manor Farm (8" diameter). Flemish glass of the 17th century.
Careful search has been made throughout the neighbourhood of the Priory, and it does not seem likely that any remains other than those mentioned in this report will be met with.
The monastery seal and Prior Wartyr's seal.
The illustration of the Seal of the Monastery is taken from a wax impression in the British Museum of the Seal attached to the Deed of Surrender—Our Lord, seated in a canopied niche, with a cruciform nimbus, lifting up the right hand in benediction, in the left hand an orb topped with a long cross. In base, under a round headed arch, with carving, a monk, kneeling to the right in prayer.
Inscription:—[S] : COMVNE : DOMVS : BELLE : VALL : ORD : C[ART] .
The drawing of the Prior’s Seal is taken from a “Grant by Nicholas Wartyr, prior of the House of the Holy Trinity Beauvale de Bella Valle, to Thomas Samon, of lands &c in Annesley Wodehouse and Kirkeby Wodehouse, which the said prior held of the feoffment of Richard Willughby, in exchange for divers messuages, lands, woods, coals, &c in Selston, Bagthorp, Risshall in the parish of Selston, Underwood in the same parish, Brynnesley and Brynnesley Asshe, and lands, &c. in Newthorp in the parish of Gresley, a messuage and garden in Nottingham, and a rent issuing out of land in Newthorp 10 August 5 Henry VII.” (Augmentation Office.)
Nicholas Wartyr was the compiler of the “Registrum Prioratus de Greseley sive Bella Valle,” now in the MS. department of the British Museum.
Note.—Further excavation has proved that the church terminated with a square east end, at the point marked on the plan. Also, that the alley on the north side of the church led to a chamber 18ft. wide, occupying part of the space between the two eastern buttresses. This was probably the Chapter House.
- Download plan of Beauvale Charterhouse (Adobe Acrobat file)