Detail View: Medieval Collection:

Image Number: 
Bookreader_Custumale_Roffense
Reference Number: 
DRc_R2
Parent Work Title: 
Custumale Roffense
Date Created: 
13th century [late] or 14th century [early]
Description: 
This is a small register, possibly composed of two parts of two books bound up together in the late seventeenth century but see below. It is commonly supposed to have been compiled by John de Westerham (who later became prior), since his name appears on the title page. The hand in which the text is written would seem, however, to be rather earlier than this. The Custumale Roffense was re-bound in Russia leather along with the Textus Roffensis (DRc/R1) by Jane Steel. Her bill can be found in the Treasurer's vouchers series and was settled on 15 July 1718, endorsed both belonging to the Dean and Chapter of Rochester (DRc/FTv 54/10). The book still preserves its Russia leather binding. Among other matters, the register contains the customs and rents due from the priory manors of Southfleet, Frindsbury, Denton, Stoke, Wouldham, Haddenham and Cuddington, Buckinghamshire; other rents pertaining to the priory and when they are due; rents due to the obedientiaries: the sacrist, cellarer, almoner, chamberlain and precentor; common rents; the prior's rents; and altar rents; the work of the various officials and servants of the priory, bakers, brewers, cooks, steward, janitor, usher, granger, infirmarer's servant; tailors and launderers, their wages and perquisites; notes of the titles due to the priory; payments due for the upkeep of the piers of Rochester bridge; the farms of priory manors and when they are due; the bishop of Rochester's xenium; alms due from the obedientiaries and from the priory manors for deceased brethren; customs due from the Archbishop of Canterbury to the bishop of Rochester; and masses for benefactors. The Custumale Roffense was extensively used by John Thorpe and published by him in his book of that name in1788 as a companion volume to the Registrum Roffense.
Language Code: 
lat-GB
Subject: 
Great Britain--Church history
Subject: 
Great Britain--Social life and customs
Category of Material: 
Manuscripts
Sub-Category: 
Codex
Technique Used: 
Handwriting
Technique Used: 
Gold tooling
Support: 
Parchment
Support: 
Leather
Item Height: 
168 mm
Item Width: 
129 mm
Item Depth: 
030 mm
Current Repository: 
Medway Archives
Provenance: 
Rochester Cathedral, Kent Archives Office in Maidstone in 1969. Rochester upon Medway City Archives Office, Medway Archives, Strood, 1990. Administered by Kent County Council until 1998 and thereafter Medway Council.
Rights Holder - Image: 
Dean and Chapter of Rochester Cathedral
Rights holder - Work: 
Dean and Chapter of Rochester Cathedral
References: 
The Archives of the Dean and Chapter of Rochester c.1100 - 1907, Part 1 - Vol 2, Kent Archives Office, 1970
Date Captured (yyyy-mm-dd): 
2013-09-18
Image Creation Technique: 
Digital capture by The University of Manchester Library
Date Image Added (yyyy-mm): 
2014-10
Metadata Language: 
eng-GB
Collection Code: 
Medieval