More information : (SP 515059) St Frideswide was head of a convent, 'more or less
Benedictine'[but not listed under Benedictine Nuns], founded about 727 AD by her father, Didanus, a petty King, on what later became the site of Christ Church Cathedral (SP 50 NW 100). It was dispersed during the Danish wars in about AD 874 (?). In 1002 when the Danes were massacred the church was burnt down and in 1004 rebuilt by the King for secular canons. By 1122 it was converted into a regular priory for Augustinian canons. In 1524 it was suppressed for Cardinal Wolsey's college on and adjoining the site (SP 50 NW 100).
A church of St Frideswide is first recorded in 1170-80. It was situated close beside the priory church and may have been built after the foundation of the priory to fulfil parochial needs. The church was closed in 1298. For extant remains of priory site see (SP 50 NW 100). (1-2)
Full description of the post-Conquest architectural development of the buildings, and of recent archaeological and historical research of the pre-Conquest minster and monastery. (3) |