A Note on the Seals of Lenton priory.

By Rose Graham, D.Litt., F.S.A.

Seals of Lenton.
Seals of Lenton.

(1) The earliest known seal of the monastery dates from the 12th century. The colour of this impression is dark green, the shape a pointed oval, the size 2¾ inches by 1¾inches. The design is Our Lord in Majesty, seated on a rainbow throne, holding a fleur-de-lys sceptre. The legend is

The fine impression is attached to a document in the Muniments of the Dean and Chapter of Lichfield, MM81. An imperfect impression of the same seal, the colour orange-red, is attached to a charter at the British Museum, Harley 44 F. 19, which may be dated 1201-1212.2

(2) The seal of Prior Peter is on the reverse of the seal of the monastery attached to charter Harley 44 F. 193. The colour is orange-red, the shape a pointed oval, the size 1½ inches by 1 inch. The design is the prior half-length, holding in his right hand a staff with a fleur-de-lys, and a book in his left; in the base, a of Lichfield. The colour is dark green, the shape round, the size inches. The design is two conventional lions face to face. The legend is

(3) The seal of the sub-prior Alan is on the reverse of the seal of the monastery attached to the document dated 1252 in the Muniments of the Dean and Chapter of Lichfield. The colour is dark green, the shape round, the size 1¼ inches. The design is two conventional lions face to face. The legend is


Seals of Lenton.

(4) The seal ad causas, dating probably from before 1250, is reproduced from a cast at the Society of Antiquaries. The shape is round, the size 1¼ inches. The design is the Holy Trinity, God the Father seated on a panelled throne holding the Crucifix ; on the right, a crescent and a star. The legend is

(5) The seal of Thomas Elmham, prior of Lenton (1414-1427), is attached to a document dated 1418 in the Muniments of King's College, Cambridge, 2 W. 71. The colour is red, the shape a pointed oval, the size 2¼ inches by 1¾ inches. The design is under a canopy with side niches the Holy Trinity, God the Father seated, holding the Crucifix ; in the base, under a depressed arch the prior kneeling. The legend is

(6) The 15th-century seal of the monastery is reproduced from a cast at the Society of Antiquaries. The shape is round, the size 21/2 inches. The design is under a canopy with side niches the Holy Trinity, God the Father seated, holding the Crucifix on which rests the Dove; on either side a shield, on the left that of the Trinity, on the right that of the Passion. The legend is

It is a pleasure to record my thanks to the Dean and Chapter of Lichfield for the gift of photographs of seals (1) and (3), by Mr. W. Morrison of Lichfield, and for permission to reproduce them ; to the Provost of King’s College, Cambridge, for a gift of the cast of seal (5) and for permission to reproduce it, and to Mr. John Saltmarsh, F.S.A., for his kind help when I had the privilege of examining the documents of the Cluniac priory of St. James’s, Exeter, which are in the Muniments of King's College; and to Mr. H. S. Kingsford for calling my attention to the casts of seals (4) and (6) in the Collection at the Society of Antiquaries, and for his help in describing them.

(1) Cf.  Magnum Registrant Album, ed. H E. Savage, Dean of Lichfield, p. 69 (William Salt Society, 1924).
(2) Reproduced in Victoria County Histories, Nottingham, Vol. II, Monastic Seals Plate I.
(3) Ibid.