For over 400 years since it's foundation, the great abbey of Tewkesbury under the patronage of the greatest families in the land, had been amassing enormous wealth until it had become one of the richest in England. In the year before it's dissolution in 1539, it's revenues were over �300,000 in todays money. The abbey was finally surrendered to the kings commissioners on 9th January 1540. It's possesions which were listed on 74 sheets of parchment were seized by the crown, and it's great Lady Chapel and monastic buildings were ordered to be dissmantled by the commissioners. The monks of the abbey were granted small pensions, and the last abbot, John Wakeman aquired forthampton court just north of Tewkesbury.The King also created him the first Bishop of the new see of Gloucester. His memorial, the Wakeman Cenotaph, can be seen at the abbey today. It depicts the Cadaver of a monk covered in vermin, with snakes, rats, snail and the like, all feasting on his rotting corpse! It is a memento mori - a reminder of death.
(30th October 2003)
