| Summary : The remains of the Cluniac Priory of St Mary which was founded as a dependent house of the Cluniac Priory of St Pancras at Lewes in 1121. It became denizen between 1351-74. The priory was supressed during the Dissolution in 1536 and sold to Thomas Audley. By the time the estate was resold to Richard, Lord Rich, ten years later, the majority of buildings were probably already demolished and the prior's lodging and refectory converted into a farmhouse. The estate passed to the Earl of Nottingham in 1678. It was later acquired by the Scratton family and, in the 19th century, sold off by Daniel Scratton who retained only the house and its immediate grounds. In 1917 these were purchased by Robert Jones who converted the house and landscaped the grounds, presenting both to the borough in 1920. The priory church and the majority of the conventual buildings survive only as foundations and buried remains, although portions of the south and west arms of the claustral range still stand, retained within a post-Dissolution country house which now serves as the Priory Museum. The surviving stone church replaced a small wooden oratory around 1150. The priory range was enlarged from 1180 onwards with the refectory, chapter house and dorter arranged around the cloister garth. The Priory Museum (Listed Grade I) retains substantial elements of the priory range - principally the 12th century refectory and 14th century prior's chambers which, respectively, formed parts of the southern and western arms of the claustral range. It is said that excavations below the church revealed an Iron Age occupation site along with clear evidence of a Saxon defended settlement (see Saxon burial ground TQ 88 NE 14). Scheduled. |
More information : TQ 87698734. Prittlewell Priory and remains of (NAT)
St Mary's Priory (NR) (Cluniac) (NAT). (1)
St Mary's Priory (Cluniac) first mentioned 1121 and dissolved in 1536. Existing remains restored 1917-22 consist of 12th century frater, 15th century western range and uncertain remains of church, grade I. Excavations revealed Iron Age occupation site below church (7) and clear evidence of a Saxon defended settlement (6) (see also Saxon burial ground TQ 88 NE 14) (2-7)
Prittlewell Priory was founded in the C11-12 by the Cluniacs Order as a cell to the Priory of St Pancras at Lewes. It was one of the lesser monasteries housing not more than 18 monks. It survived some 400 years before it was dissolved in 1536 when much of the building was destroyed. Grade I. (5)
As above. Frater centred at TQ 87658733. West Range centred at TQ 87648734 and the remains of the church in the form of a single wall, bounding the north side of the cloisters, extending from TQ 87658736 to TQ 87678736. (8)
TQ 876873. Excavations within the cloister revealed limited evidence of earlier monastic buildings. Details of the post-monastic buildings, including the 19th century wing and a culvert running from it, were recorded. Survey revealed an aperture containing raised stonework, in the west wall of the outer cellar which overlay disturbed soil containing stoneware and a Nuremberg token. (9) |