| Summary : Site of Alien Priory (1137-1399) and Benedictine Priory of Folkestone, 1399 to the reformation. In 1137, William de Albrinsis was granted permission to move the priory from its original site at the castle at Folkestone (TR23NW48) to a new church a little to the East of the castle bailey. Always a poor house, some of its barely conventual looking buildings lasted until the 18th century, south and west of the parish church of Saints Mary and Eanswith, whither the community was moved in 1137. The move may have not only been because of erosion, but also because Stephen wanted to refortify the castle site. It became a Benedictine Priory in 1399. In the visitation of 1535 the Priory was described as ruinous, there being a Prior and a sick monk. There was a hall, kitchen, parlour and some barns. As a result of this report, the Priory was surrendered in November 1535. The King granted the site to Edward Lord Clinton in 1539-40. A building discovered at The Bayle during excavations in 1975 (TR 23 NW 94) may have formed part of the monastic complex, but this is only speculative. |
More information : (TR 22943585) Site of Priory (NR) (Benedictine. Founded AD 1137) (1)
An alien priory, dependent on the Benedictine Abbey of Lonlay, was
founded in 1095 at Folkestone in the castle bailey. It was moved from there, c.1137, to a new site at the present parish church (as OS publication), where its ruins are shown on a map of 1782 and on other early maps (1625 and 1698). It became independent after 1399 and was dissolved in 1535.
The first site, in the castle bailey, would have been at c.
TR 23153591 (See TR 23 NW 53), and possibly occupied the site of the earlier St. Eanswith's nunnery (TR 23 NW 48). It was evidently
deserted because of erosion (see Nov. Leg. Ang) and its final
destruction was imminent when Leland saw the ruins. (2-8)
There are no visible remains of either priory; the first was probably
entirely destroyed by erosion some time ago. (9)
Folkestone. A new priory was founded in AD 1095 by Nigel de Muneville within the 'castle bail'. About 40 years later the monks petitioned to be moved from the cliff edge to a safer spot. A new church, dedicated to St Mary and Eansuythe, was built and a new priory established between the church and the sea on the site of the present Parish Church. (10)
Nigel de Muneville gave the church of Folkestone to Ranulph, Abbot of
the church of St Mary of Lonlay in 1095. This with other lands and
revenues was confirmed to them by William de Abrincis, Lord of
Folkestone. (11)
A number of documents survive relating to the Benedictine priory of
Folkestone. These provide evidence of tension between the church and
the priory in the early 15th century. The prior from 1464 until the
latter part of the 15th century was Thomas Banes. In 1493 he was
summoned to Lambeth by the Archbishop as the priory was heavily in
debt, he had used the revenues for his own purposes and the monastic
building had been allowed to fall into ruin. (12)
Folkestone minster became untenable under Danish raids, and Christ
Church enjoyed its revenues for a time. After 1095 an alien cell, of
Lonlay, took its place. Always a poor house, something of its barely
conventual looking buildings lasted until the 18th century, south and west of the parish church, whither the community was moved in 1137 from the site, some distance to the east, held by all later tradition
to have been that of St Eanswith's minster (TR 23 NW 48). This was
the castle-yard or Bayle, the triangle lying seaward of the street
so-named. The move may have not only been because of erosion, but
also because Stephen wanted to refortify the site. In later 18th
century much of what remained was disturbed and occupied by a fort,
but a part still remains. Leland in the 1540s noticed a burial ground within it, and impressive ruins, which he had no doubt were ecclesistical and ascribed to the ancient minster, not to the Norman
priory. (13)
The Bayle, Folkestone. A building discovered during excavations in
1975 (TR 23 NW 94) may have formed part of the monastic complex, but
this is only speculative. (14)
The "visitation" of Henry VIII's inspectors came to Folkestone in 1535 and persuaded the prior to surrender the priory with a pension. In 1539-40 the site along with other lands was granted by the King to Edward Lord Clinton. (15)
|