Cerne abbey

Today, I received a new translation that shows that our Sir Roger Newburgh had some affiliation with Cerne Abbey. A confraternity document archived at the Dorset History Center declares his affiliation by the abbot. The document is absolutely gorgeous and has a partial wax seal still attached.

If you've seen my book about medieval Lulworth you will note that the cover is a painting done by a friend of mine - Richard Wilkin. He is an architectural painter and he has rendered the interior of St. Mary's Church at Cerne. The abbey of course was pretty much demolished during the Dissolution. (I loathe Henry VIII for all the history he destroyed.) The only other original architecture still standing from the 15th century is the what they call The Abbot's Hall.

In both St. Mary's and Abbot's Hall, the Newburghs are represented in the stained glass. Although, I have never been able to find photos of the  Abbot's Hall glass there are descriptions.

Richard Wilkin has done a beautiful rendering of St. Mary's. The stained glass behind the rood screen in the chancel has the Newburgh's impaled with the Brownings. However, it is still unknown who the Brownings married and when. I am hoping Abbot's Hall will give us more information about Sir Roger's wife and mother, that is . . . if and when we can get good photos. Here is Richard's rendering of St. Mary's https://www.richardwilkin.com/photo_16748825.html#photos_id=16748825

The chancel shot shows the Newburgh's impaled with the Browning arms in the upper left corner.

There is also a new archaeological dig happening at Cerne.  Check it out here: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ctpRkJvZUvo
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and here:

https://www.archaeological.org/fieldwork/cerne-abbas-a-lost-medieval-abbey-rediscovered/