Audley Family History -
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Idonea Audley Abbess of Burnham
Idonea Audley Abbess of Burnham Abbey, Buckinghamshire
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Idonea Audley was the fourth Abbess of Burnham Abbey in Buckinghamshire. She was appointed by the bishop of Lincoln on 18th October 1314 after the election for the Abbess was quashed. She died shortly before 6th June 1324 and the 5th Abbess was appointed on 8th June 1324.
Burnham Abbey; the Abbey of St Mary was founded in 1266 by Richard (brother to King Edward III) King of the Romans and Earl of Cornwall. The first Abbess was a Nun from Goring under the rule of St Augustine. The abbey may have been for about 20 nuns and the income in 1291 was over £63. In 1530-6 there were 9 nuns besides the Abbess, with 2 priests and 35 servants. The Abbey was surrendered 19th September 1539 by the Abbess and 9 nuns, as part of the dissolution of religious housed instigated by King Henry VIII. |
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Idonea's Grave in Mid 1600s |
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Idonea was buried in the Chancel of Saint John the Baptist’s Church, Windsor, Berkshire. A drawing of the grave, was recorded by Elias Ashmole, in the mid 1600’s, in his Manuscript 850. (see image right)
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Idonea's Grave 1800 to 2025 |
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| In 1820 to 1822 the church of St John the Baptist, Windsor, was rebuilt. Approximately 50 graves in the floor of the old church were buried under the new floor and are no longer visible. One grave, that of Idonea ,was relocated from the Chancel to outside the main doors to the church. At this time, the brass matrice on the grave was replaced and a new inscription was added. |
In 2025 the inscription around 3 sides of the grave reads in English
On the top 4th side is the 3 line inscription (in smaller letter size).
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Relationship to Audley Family |
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| Her parentage has not been established. One other member of the “Audley Family” has been recorded as being a Nun around this time namely; Katherine the widow of Nicholas Baron Audley of Heleigh, in Staffordshire. She was the daughter of John Giffard, Baron of Brimsfield by Matilda de Clifford the widow of William Longespee, the Earl of Salisbury. She was born in 1272 and became a Nun in Ledbury in 1322. Whilst Katherine and Idonea were almost certainly alive at the same time the dates indicate that they cannot be the same person. | |
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