Paul of Caen

Paul of Caen [Paul of St Albans, Paul de Caen.] was a Norman Benedictine monk who became fourteenth Abbot of St Albans Abbey in 1077, a position he held to 1093 [ [http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=43312] , [http://bacchronicle.homestead.com/11thand12thC.html] .] He was a nephew of Lanfranc [David Knowles, "The Monastic Order in England" (2nd edition 1963), p.96.] .

He was an energetic builder at the Abbey [ [http://www.salbani.co.uk/Med%20Web/st._albans_abbey.htm St. Albans Abbey ] ] , having materials from the ruins of Roman Verulamium, collected by earlier abbots Ealdred and Ealmer, to work with [ [http://80.69.6.195/personalisation/object.cfm?uid=003KTOP00000015U049A0000] ] . He also took a firm line with older reverences, disregarding some Anglo-Saxon relics and tombs [Knowles. pp.118-9.] ; and allowing the incorporation of older religious stonework into foundations, thus paradoxically ensuring their preservation for archaeology [ [http://www.cinoa.org/art-and-antiques/detail/21581 CINOA: An Important Anglo Danish carved sandstone pillar slab , School of Bakewell ] ] . He encouraged the transcription of manuscripts [ [http://www.mainlesson.com/display.php?author=church&book=chantry&story=writing] , [http://www.mla.gov.uk/resources/assets//A/ail_report2004_pdf_5466.pdf PDF] p.36.] .

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