Ordulph's Tomb, Tavistock Abbey, Devon (1807)

J. Greig
  • image IMAGEFORDA2643
RepositoryLibraryShelf
Devon West Country Studies M SC2752
Devon PLY I/S
Illustration Reference
SC2752
Location
CD 42 DVD 6
Publication Details
Date
1807
Publisher
Scope and Content
Evans, Rachel. Home scenes. Tavistock: T. W. Greenfield, 1875. pp. 3-4.In the time of Athelstan the Dan-monii were driven beyond the Tamar; and Tavistock became the residence of a Saxon heretoge or Earl. Hordgarius or Ordgar is the first of whom we have some notice. Tradition places his residence at Hurdwick, which is a contraction of Ordwick or Ordgar's wick. […] Tradition relates that in after years Ordgar was admonished in a dream to dedicate a portion of land to the service of God. Accordingly he founded and endowed the noble abbey of Tavistock. […] Stately buildings arose on every side, the monastery was solemnly dedicated to the Virgin Mary and St. Rumon, and a colony of Black Monks, or Benedictines, was speedily assembled to occupy the favoured spot. Ordgar was assisted in the completion of his pious work by his son Eadulphus or Ordulph, who appears to have been a second Sampson in strength and ability. He was of gigantic stature, and is reputed by Prince, in his "Worthies of Devon," to have performed prodigies of valour. At one time when travelling with king Edward the Confessor, he wrenched off the iron bars of the gates of Exeter, with the greatest ease imaginable, while with his foot he broke the hinges and laid the gates open. He is also said to have stepped across rivers ten feet wide!! a very useful accomplishment in a country in which rivers were plentiful and bridges few.It is not surprising therefore, that our hero should have prosecuted his father's wishes in a style of magnificence, which would seem to belong to a later age. Lands and benefactions were heaped upon the monks of Tavistock, until their monastery exceeded all others in the country in wealth and power. It would appear that Ordulph had partly in view to provide a splendid burial place for himsel+f. His bones were collected in a stone sarcophagus and laid in the cloisters of the abbey; one arch of which still remains over what is said to have been "Ordulph's tomb". The sarcophagus is preserved in the vicarage garden. Some large sized bones are still exhibited in the parish church as those of Ordulph.[Text may be taken from a different source or edition than that listed as the source by Somers Cocks.]
Author
Format
Copper l.engr
Dimensions
61x85mm
Series
S032. THE ANTIQUARIAN & TOPOGRAPHICAL CABINET.
Aspects
Monuments
Counties
Subjects
Dates
1807