1372 Great Charter Roll created
The Great Charter Roll During this time the town of New Ross were trying to convince King Edward III to break Waterford’s monopoly on ships entering the harbour and to give the ports equal trading rights. In 1372 the Mayor had to search the City archives to prove to Edward III that his predecessors had given Waterford a trading monopoly. The City’s charters and other documents were stitched together to form a long roll measuring four metres in length and beautiful colour illustrations were added to flatter the King. The Charter Rolls show that the citizens of Waterford saw themselves very much linked to the English crown. As merchants engaged in overseas trade they needed these ties with the English crown for a number of reasons: 1. 2. 3. 4.
They traded with areas controlled by the crown, They used crown courts if debtors didn’t pay, They expected the King to provide them with protection on the seas from piracy, and As subjects of the King they didn’t have to pay the taxes paid by foreign merchants.
The Great Charter Roll appears to have won over King Edward III as he allowed the City to retain its trading privileges over New Ross.
Choristers Hall and Medieval Undercroft The Great Charter Roll still exists today and is on display in the Medieval Museum along with other artefacts from the city’s medieval period. The medieval undercrofts are cellar like structures located under the early 18th century Deanery (now the Motor Tax office) and are unique in Ireland. The earliest undercroft dates from the 13th century and was built as a Deanery. The 13th century undercroft is linked by a series of steps to an upper undercroft which dates from the early 15th century and belonged to Waterford’s most famous Mayor, James Rice. The undercrofts Ch ll ori s t are incorporated into the Chorister’s Hall which is a state of the art o r ’s H a medieval museum
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