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A brief history of Rushen Abbey

The 14th Century

Troubled Times (1316-1348)

In 1316, "on the Day of Ascension of our Lord, early at sunrise", Rushen Abbey was pillaged by Irish raiders led by Richard de Mandeville and his brothers, and was "despoiled of all its furniture, its oxen and sheep, leaving nothing at all. When hey had thus pillaged for a month, they filled their ships with the choicest things of the land and returned to their own". This event must have been quite a blow to the Abbey, as the writing of "the Chronicle" was abandoned at this point.

Little else of the fourteenth century is known other than a few facts concerning William Russell who was Bishop between 1348 and 1374. He was a Manxman, a former Abbott of Rushen (1330-1348), was consecrated by the Pope at Avignon, and was buried at Furness Abbey in 1374. As Bishop he lived at Bishopscourt (between Kirk Michael and Ballaugh), some 17 miles away from the Abbey.

It is recorded that in 1343 he had  pay 300 marks to the King of Scotland "for a year's protection". This protection money was meant to bring peace and protect any cargoes being transported across the North Irish Sea from being captured by Irish pirates. On at least one occasion this "protection" failed and the Abbott and his servants were captured, together with a large sum of money and cargoes of corn and livestock. The Abbott and his servants were released, but others on board were not so lucky and were taken captive.       

1349 to 1373

In 1367 Franciscan "Friars Minor" came to the Isle of Man from Dublin and acquired a site in the neighbouring parish of Arbory. They were not allowed to own property and were rivals to the Cistercians, and may have been encouraged into the Island by William deMontecute II (Lord of Mann 1344 to 1392) in an attempt to reduce the power and influence of the Abbey. The buildings were consecrated in 1373.