One of the largest was Croydon, though it is not known
exactly when the archbishops first acquired it, or from whom. King Coenwulf of Mercia and his
council met there in the year 809, Croydon then being described as a monastorium,
suggesting that the then archbishop, Wulfred, had some substantial buildings around a major
church (or minster) staffed by priests. A document drawn up by Archbishop Aethelred and an
Ealdoram Aelfred is further proof of the archbishops' interest in Croydon in the 9th century. This
deed granted Aelfred use of the archbishops' manor of Croydon during his lifetime
in return for a bequest to Canterbury of his own estate in Chartham. This deed is not dated, but
Aethelred was archbishop between 870 and 888.
SAXON TIMES: Archbishops of Canterbury have always
been important religious and political figures, but in earlier times they were also wealthy and
powerful landowners. The Saxon archbishops owned many properties in addition to Canterbury,
and by the Norman Conquest had become responsible, with their community of monks, for
almost 90 manors. Many of these were of considerable size, with houses grand enough to
accomodate them and their households; for as well as bringing in revenue, they
were used by archbishops as bases while attending to business in their archdiocese.