Blanchelande
Title
Blanchelande
Also Known As
Alta Brugeria, Blanca landa, Notre Dame de la Bruyère, Saint-Nicolas de Blanchelande
Dates
Founded 1154; dissolved 1790
Dedication
Mary; Nicholas
Affiliation
Medieval Diocese
Circary
History
Blanchelande had its origins in a community of hermits, and was founded in 1154/55 by husband and wife, Richard de la Haye and Mathilde de Vernon, lord and lady of La Haye du Puits. It joined the Premonstratensian Order before 1170, and its abbey church was consecrated in 1185.
Blanchelande possessed substantial holdings in England and the Channel Islands, but suffered economic difficulties in the 15th century. It was damaged by war in the 16th century, and became a commendatory abbey in 1664. Blanchelande was dissolved during the Revolution.
(Not to be confused with Blanchland (England))
Blanchelande possessed substantial holdings in England and the Channel Islands, but suffered economic difficulties in the 15th century. It was damaged by war in the 16th century, and became a commendatory abbey in 1664. Blanchelande was dissolved during the Revolution.
(Not to be confused with Blanchland (England))
Heads of Community
Abbots
Renouf de La Ronceie, by 1160-1169
Pierre le Poète, 1169-1217
Robert de Ravenoville, 1217
Pierre d'Éturville, 1217-1222
Pierre de Baudienville, 1222-1247
Robert Hairon, 1247-1253
Thomas de Sainte-Mère-Église, 1253-1260
Guillaume Aubert (or de Sainte-Mère-Église), 1260-1271
Thomas Fabien, 1271-1298
Robert Hardy, 1298-1331
Jean Pitteboult (or de Barneville), 1331-1337
Guillaume de Cressal, 1337-1349
Nicolas de La Bonneville, 1349-1362
Aubin Leroux, 1362-1377
Thomas des Iles, 1377-1400/12
Richard?
Thomas I de Saint-Lô, 1412?-1447
Thomas II de Saint-Lô, 1447-1461
Nicolas Mulot, 1461-1476
Pierre Pitteboult (or de Barneville), ca. 1476-1485
Robert Rosselin, 1485-1501
Pierre Le Febvre, 1501-1507
Laurent Mulot, 1507-1535
Nicolas I Le Maistre, 1535-1539
Nicolas II Le Maistre, 1539-1557
Renouf de La Ronceie, by 1160-1169
Pierre le Poète, 1169-1217
Robert de Ravenoville, 1217
Pierre d'Éturville, 1217-1222
Pierre de Baudienville, 1222-1247
Robert Hairon, 1247-1253
Thomas de Sainte-Mère-Église, 1253-1260
Guillaume Aubert (or de Sainte-Mère-Église), 1260-1271
Thomas Fabien, 1271-1298
Robert Hardy, 1298-1331
Jean Pitteboult (or de Barneville), 1331-1337
Guillaume de Cressal, 1337-1349
Nicolas de La Bonneville, 1349-1362
Aubin Leroux, 1362-1377
Thomas des Iles, 1377-1400/12
Richard?
Thomas I de Saint-Lô, 1412?-1447
Thomas II de Saint-Lô, 1447-1461
Nicolas Mulot, 1461-1476
Pierre Pitteboult (or de Barneville), ca. 1476-1485
Robert Rosselin, 1485-1501
Pierre Le Febvre, 1501-1507
Laurent Mulot, 1507-1535
Nicolas I Le Maistre, 1535-1539
Nicolas II Le Maistre, 1539-1557
Status
Abbey
Archival Sources
Caen, Archives départementales du Calvados
G 1055
H 20 (12th-17th c.)
H 7499
73FI/25 (ca. 1986; photograph)
Caen, Bibliothèque municipale
Coll. Mancel 299. (19th c.; cartulary)
Cherbourg-en-Cotentin, Médiathèque Jacques Prévert
MS 114, p. 230. ("De confraternitate abbatiae Sancti Nicolai de Blancalanda, ordinis Praemonstratensis... 1469")
MS 260, fol. 21.
Flers, Bibliothèque municipale
MS 15 (anc. F 8). (19th c.; cartulary extracts)
Kew, The National Archives
SC 8/81/4016 (ca. 1297)
Nancy, Bibliothèque Stanislas
MS 1751 (992 vol. 4), fols. 238-248r
Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France
G 1055
H 20 (12th-17th c.)
H 7499
73FI/25 (ca. 1986; photograph)
Caen, Bibliothèque municipale
Coll. Mancel 299. (19th c.; cartulary)
Cherbourg-en-Cotentin, Médiathèque Jacques Prévert
MS 114, p. 230. ("De confraternitate abbatiae Sancti Nicolai de Blancalanda, ordinis Praemonstratensis... 1469")
MS 260, fol. 21.
Flers, Bibliothèque municipale
MS 15 (anc. F 8). (19th c.; cartulary extracts)
Kew, The National Archives
SC 8/81/4016 (ca. 1297)
Nancy, Bibliothèque Stanislas
MS 1751 (992 vol. 4), fols. 238-248r
Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France
Coll. Baluze 58, 207-209
MS lat. 10065. (18th c.; cartulary)
Saint-Lô, Archives départementales de la Manche
The majority of the abbey's archives were once held here, and were destroyed during WWII.
H 830. (17th c.; cartulary extracts)
Reference
Bibliography
Bouvris, Jean-Michel. “Autour des anciennes orgues de l’abbaye prémontrée de Blanchelande.” Bulletin de la Société des Antiquaires de Normandie 62, no. 2 (1997): 61–114.
Columbi, Jean. Dissertatio de Blancalandano Coenobio et Lucerna in pago Abrincensi. Lyon, 1660.
Demouy, Patrick. “Trois documents inédits sur l’abbaye de Blanchelande.” Revue du Département de la Manche 16, no. 64 (October 1974): 181–205.
Fournée, Jean. “L’Abbaye de Blanchelande: notice historique et descriptive.” Revue du Département de la Manche 20 (1978): 5–138.
Pontaumont, Emile de. “L’abbaye de Blanchelande.” Bulletin de l’Académie ébroïcienne 1 (1837): 116–25. https://books.google.com/books?id=cCAEAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA116.
Richomme, Florent. “Blanchelande, abbaye du diocèse de Coutances, commune de Varenguebec.” Annuaire du Département de la Manche 11 (1839): 380–84. https://books.google.com/books?id=0BcXAAAAYAAJ&pg=RA1-PA380.
Image Credit
Blanchelande Abbey, 2002. Wikimedia.
Last Updated
Oct. 2026.
Files
Collection
Citation
“Blanchelande,” A Premonstratensian Atlas, accessed October 16, 2026, https://yvonneseale.org/atlas/items/show/170.
Geolocation
Item Relations
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| Item: Notre-Dame-d'Allonne | DependentOn | This Item |
| Item: Octeville-l'Avenel | DependentOn | This Item |
| Item: Ravenoville | DependentOn | This Item |
| Item: Saint-Aubin-du-Perron | DependentOn | This Item |
| Item: Saint-Pierre-d'Allonne | DependentOn | This Item |
| Item: St. Lawrence | DependentOn | This Item |
| Item: Doville | DependentOn | This Item |
| Item: Brocqueboeuf | DependentOn | This Item |
| Item: Cammeringham | DependentOn | This Item |