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Conference Papers by Harriet Mahood

This paper examines the history of the main gate of Reading Abbey, placing it within the context ... more This paper examines the history of the main gate of Reading Abbey, placing it within the context of medieval monsatic gatehouses and examining the functions of the gatehouse complex.

Presented at the British Archaeological Association's annual conference, in Peterborough 2015. T... more Presented at the British Archaeological Association's annual conference, in Peterborough 2015.

The great gates of medieval monasteries are a fascinating and highly varied category of building, both in their architecture and their function. As the public ‘face’ of the house, they sought to make an impression and their location on the periphery made them perfectly situated for interactions with the laity; Keeping them at arm’s length, whilst allowing the interaction that was sometimes a necessity. This area was often the scene of great drama due to its interactional nature and at Peterborough, under Abbot Godfrey of Crowland, (1299 to 1321), “certain persons” are recorded as having sought sanctuary at the chapel of St Thomas the Martyr by the abbey’s gate. These fugitives were eventually forcibly removed from the church by their pursuers and Bishop Dalderby placed the chapel under an interdict until those who had removed them, allowed them to return to their sanctuary.
This paper will examine the great gate of Peterborough as a complex, considering how this zone (and the interaction with the public) was managed by the abbey; Taking into consideration associated buildings such as the aforementioned chapel of St Thomas as well as the Hospital of St Thomas, but also the operation of the gatehouse itself.

Paper presented at Leeds IMC 2015 on the changing role of the medieval monastic porter in England

This paper was presented at the IMC 2014 during a session run by the University of Reading's GCMS... more This paper was presented at the IMC 2014 during a session run by the University of Reading's GCMS with the following abstract:
Satirists in medieval England and Wales made the ‘malice of monks’ notorious, and placed special emphasis on their hypocrisy and supposed greed for lucrative properties. St Colette of Corbie was accused of taking wrongful possession of houses in the great cities of Picardy and Burgundy under the cover of her reform movement. Meanwhile, monastic writers continued to describe the monastic enclosure, and especially the cloister at its heart, as sacred space evoking ideas of Eden and of paradise. This session draws upon case studies to examine both sides of the question, and to understand why urban property especially was so problematic.

This paper examines the bond between urban-based monasteries and the neighbouring townspeople, di... more This paper examines the bond between urban-based monasteries and the neighbouring townspeople, discussing how the eventual riots of the fourteenth century resulted from the culmination of discontent in the preceding centuries. These riots upset the delicate balance between town and monastery, in some places even leading to the murder of monks at the hands of the townspeople. Whilst the crown was quick to intervene, the issues at the heart of these conflicts were never truly resolved and thus remained an ever-present undercurrent throughout the duration of these ecclesiastical/lay relationships. How these issues were handled, and by whom, was crucial to the outcome; With resolution or conflict dependent on the personalities on both sides. The importance of these personalities forms the core of this paper and is integral to understanding how and why these conflicts were instigated or resolved.
To do this discussion justice, I will limit myself to considering four urban institutions: Abingdon, Reading, St Albans, and Bury St Edmunds. These monasteries all experienced a long history of conflict and resolution with their lay neighbours which for three of them, culminated in a dramatic and violent souring of relations.

"'At the Gate, At the Shrine: Laity and the Monastery’ focuses on the reception of laypersons wi... more "'At the Gate, At the Shrine: Laity and the Monastery’ focuses on the reception of laypersons within English Benedictine monasteries during the High Middle Ages. From the physical boundaries of gatehouses to the more transient boundary between saint and cure-seeker, monasteries were locations in which the temporal and spiritual spaces met, contrasted and combined.

This paper considers who in the laity entered this domain and how they spent their time within these monastic setting. So as to answer this, the paper considers evidence from various primary materials including gathering statistics and evidence from twelfth-century hagiographies and questioning the role of the porter, the ‘bouncer’ of the monastic gatehouse. By using accounts of miraculous healing it is possible to gain a greater understanding of lay use of this space and the willingness of monastic institutions to welcome, and promote, their presence through hagiographic representation. However, not only does this paper attempt to question who came but also how they used the space and where they were permitted to go. Many monasteries were willing to allow laity into their churches, especially in the cases of cathedral priories, these were also spaces meant for secluded spiritual reflection for the monastic brotherhood living there. Furthermore, whilst some were welcomed the paper will also reflect on the issue of those who were not as evidence of the distinction between lay and monastic space. The combination of Ruth and Harriet’s own research provides a paper which considers this issue of laity in the monastery on a multi-faceted front and in a very real way by focusing attention on the evidence for lay presence from the perspective of churchmen; the authors of these sources. What can be learnt, and what remains a mystery, about laity at the gate and at the shrine?"

Articles by Harriet Mahood

The Reading Medievalist: A Postgraduate Journal, Mar 2015

Hospitals and alms-houses formed an important part of monastery’s charitable activities, the impo... more Hospitals and alms-houses formed an important part of monastery’s charitable activities, the importance of which is emphasised at numerous points in the Rule of St Benedict and chapter 53 even begins with “Let all guests who arrive be received as Christ, because He will say: “I was a stranger and you took Me in”. Charity however varied greatly from house to house with food, money and even clothing given frequently but with no real consistency between institutions. This paper discusses the siting of hospitals, as well as alms-houses, within the gatehouse complex of these institutions and offer explanations as to why they were placed here, and what purpose they served. Whether this location was merely one of convenience, or inherently linked with the ideals of the religious community is considered, drawing comparisons with other hospital sites.

Taken from my undergraduate dissertation, this paper compares the foundations of Reading and Pais... more Taken from my undergraduate dissertation, this paper compares the foundations of Reading and Paisley to determine the relative effect of their founders, their location, the gifts they recieved and the agency monks who in habited them upon their histories.

Awards by Harriet Mahood

Posters by Harriet Mahood

Poster presented as part of the poster competitions at the University of Reading's annual PhD con... more Poster presented as part of the poster competitions at the University of Reading's annual PhD conference

Presented at the British Archaeological Association's annual conference, in Peterborough 2015. T... more Presented at the British Archaeological Association's annual conference, in Peterborough 2015.

Paper presented at Leeds IMC 2015 on the changing role of the medieval monastic porter in England

The Reading Medievalist: A Postgraduate Journal, Mar 2015