Aldermanshaw Priory facts for kids
 Location in Leicestershire
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| Monastery information | |
|---|---|
| Order | Cluniac |
| Established | C.1220-35 |
| Disestablished | In ruins c.1450 |
| Mother house | Bermondsey Abbey |
| Diocese | Diocese of Lincoln |
| Site | |
| Location | Woodhouse, Charnwood Forest, Leicestershire, England |
| Coordinates | 52°43′34″N 1°15′29″W / 52.726005°N 1.257961°W |
| Visible remains | None. Materials may have been reused in later house on the site. |
Aldermanshaw Priory was once a special kind of monastery called a Cluniac priory. It was located in the beautiful Charnwood Forest area of Leicestershire, England. A priory is a religious house, usually smaller than an abbey. The Cluniac order was a group of monks who followed strict rules.
Contents
History of Aldermanshaw Priory
When Was Aldermanshaw Priory Built?
Aldermanshaw Priory was built a long time ago, sometime between 1220 and 1235. It was not a completely independent monastery. Instead, it was a "cell" of a much larger monastery called Bermondsey Abbey in London. A cell was like a small branch of a bigger monastery. It depended on the main "motherhouse" for support and guidance.
What Does the Name Mean?
The name "Aldermanshaw" might come from a person named Alwin (or Alwinus) Child. He was the person who founded Bermondsey Abbey, the motherhouse of Aldermanshaw Priory.
What Happened to the Priory?
Sadly, Aldermanshaw Priory did not last forever. By the year 1450, it was already in ruins. This means it was falling apart and no longer used as a monastery.
What Is There Now?
The priory was located in a small village called Woodhouse. Many years later, in the 1600s, a cottage was built on the same spot. This cottage was known as Alderman's Haw. Some of the stones used to build this two-story cottage look very old. It is possible that these stones were taken from the ruined priory and reused to build the new house. This means parts of the old priory might still exist within the cottage today!
