Description
Robert of Cricklade was an eminent scholar and writer who carried the name of Cricklade across England, Scotland and the Continent.
Much of what we know about Robert of Cricklade stems from his work in Oxford, in particular his association with the priory of St Frideswide.
The convent of St Frideswide was one of the earliest religious institutions in the city, dating to the 8th century.
Robert of Cricklade joined a priory of Augustinian canons on the site which had been established in 1122. In 1141 he became Prior.
As well as his religious and administrative duties as leader of the Priory, he translated a text from Pliny the Elders “Natural History” which he called “A Garland” and which he dedicated to Henry II. This “Defloratio” consisted of nine books of selections taken from Pliny’s manuscripts; a mid 13th Century copy is in Hereford Cathedral Library. At about the same time he was collecting all the translations of Josephus that he could for the Oxford canons.
He knew Thomas Becket and he features in Canterbury Cathedral’s Thomas Becket miracle Window.
