annora restaurant || The history of annora

The Annora International Restaurant is named after one of the most notable of historical local residents - Annora the Anchoress.

In 1207 King John quarrelled with William de Braose, (or Briouze), one of the most powerful barons of the day, and one of a group of nobles seeking to enhance the administration of the law and promote greater fairness in public affairs ~ something of an affront to the king.

The king demanded de Braose’s children as hostages to ensure his continuing support, but William smuggled them to safety in Ireland. Subsequently, his wife and eldest son were captured, and were later starved to death in Windsor castle as an example to others. The king seized William’s extensive lands in Ireland, Wales and England, and he died shortly after, a poor man, in his home country of France.

De Broase’s twelfth child and daughter, Annora, was captured with her mother when attempting to flee from Ireland and was imprisoned for four years. She was released in October 1214, the year her husband, Hugh de Mortimer, succeeded to his lands, but when he died in 1227, the king allowed Annora to keep only a small income and parts of the manor of Tetbury, to maintain her as a recluse.

Annora granted some of her lands at Tetbury to Godstow abbey, where her sister Flandrina was later to become the abbess, and herself became an anchoress at nearby Iffley, living in a cell attached to the church  ~ the blocked up arch in the east end of the south wall may signify the presence of a window through which she would have been able to see the altar.

Henry III, John's son, was clearly ashamed of his father's cruelty and made gifts to Annora of grain and clothing as well as firewood and building timber from his forests.

The last gifts were made by the king in 1241 and some believe that Annora died then. It may be significant however that William de Braose, her grandnephew, came of age that year, recovering the Braose lordships of Bramber and Gower from the king, and it could simply be that he took over responsibility for her maintenance at that time.

Click here to return to the Annora International Restaurant main page

If you'd like to learn more about Annora the Anchoress there is a more detailed history on the website of the church at the heart of the legend - St Mary's of Iffley. Built in 1170, it is famous for its beauty and architectural interest. It is one of the finest examples of Romanesque architecture in the country. Why not pay it a visit during your stay with us? Perhaps a stroll down to the church after a spot of lunch in the Annora International Restaurant? Click on the picture to visit the site.