The dissolution of the monasteries: As illustrated by the suppression of the religious houses of Staffordshire

About this book

Francis Aidan Hibbert’s work is a scholarly investigation of the Dissolution of the monasteries as it unfolded in Staffordshire. The author opens by declaring his intent to set aside the prevailing prejudices of earlier historians, to work from first‑hand documents, and to let the facts of the county dictate his conclusions. He explains that the study is deliberately confined to Staffordshire, avoiding any attempt to force the local story into a national narrative, and he promises transparent presentation of the original records that underpin his arguments. The opening pages outline the scope of the inquiry, financial accounts, land holdings, inventories of monastic goods, and the complex pattern of grants and sales that followed Henry VIII’s suppression, while acknowledging the difficulty of arriving at precise estimates of monastic wealth.

Written in the measured, evidence‑driven prose of late‑Victorian scholarship, the book reflects the author’s meticulous use of primary sources such as the Valor Ecclesiasticus, state papers, and local chartularies. Its tone is analytical rather than polemical, appealing to readers who enjoy detailed economic and administrative history, especially those interested in the regional impact of the Reformation, the mechanics of Tudor land redistribution, and the interplay between local and national forces in early‑modern England.

Opening lines

I hope it will not be inferred that I have learnt nothing from the scholars who have dealt with the subject, as such is very far from being the case. But I desired to investigate the history without being influenced by prepossessions and prejudices, and I have accordingly tried to work with a perfectly open mind. I have looked first at the facts, which have been obtained nearly always at first hand, and only then have I drawn deductions. The reason why I have strictly limited myself to Staffordshire is explained in my first chapter. I have made no attempt to fit the Staffordshire history into the general history of England: if the two do not always run on parallel lines it is all the more useful that the divergences should appear. …

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