Reading Abbey

The Abbot: Hospitality and Ownership

The Abbot gave hospitality to visiting dignitaries such as the king and his retinue, lesser nobility, and other church leaders both bishops and abbots. Of the eighteen monarchs who reigned during the time of the Abbey all but five visited on some occasion, including Henry VIII whose policies led to the closing of the Abbey. These visits could be for weeks at a time. Some kings were on intimate terms with the Abbot of Reading; John for instance entrusted him with the records of state. In addition the Abbot of Reading was one of the few Abbots whose duties included attending the king in Parliament to advise on matters of state.

Finally the Abbot was responsible for the upkeep of the properties of the monastery outside Reading. Much land was owned in Berkshire but there was property as far away as Kent, Warwickshire and at one time in Scotland. At Leominster in Herefordshire was the daughter priory of Reading under the authority of the Abbot. These properties had been given to the Abbey, often by the king himself, to provide income for its upkeep and running, and their efficient administration was therefore important for its financial prosperity. At the time of Henry VIII Reading was one of the six wealthiest Abbeys in England. But administration did not always go well and in the thirteenth century the finances had got into such a poor state that Edward I took over to put them to rights.

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