Alnesbourne Priory facts for kids

Alnesbourne Priory, also known as Alnesbourn Priory, was a small religious house in Suffolk, England. It belonged to a group of monks called the Augustinians. The priory was located near Nacton, which is south-east of Ipswich. It was close to the River Orwell and where the A14 road is today.

What Was Alnesbourne Priory?

A priory is a type of monastery, which is a place where monks or nuns live and worship. Alnesbourne Priory was a home for Augustinian monks. These monks followed the rules of Saint Augustine.

When Was It Built?

Alnesbourne Priory was probably started in the 1200s. A person named Albert de Neville likely founded it. It might have been a smaller, connected part of Woodbridge Priory, another monastery nearby.

What Happened to the Priory?

At some point in the 1400s, perhaps around 1466, the monks from Woodbridge took over Alnesbourne Priory. By 1514, the priory was described as "ruinous," meaning it was falling apart.

Today, you can still find parts of the old priory church. These remains are built into the walls of the Alnesbourne Priory Country Club. Because of these old parts, the building is listed as a Grade II listed building. This means it's an important historical building that needs to be protected.

What Was Hallowtree?

The priory was located in an old parish called Hallowtree or Halghetree. A parish is a small area, often with its own church. The church of Hallowtree was part of the priory's land.

The village of Hallowtree is mentioned in the Domesday Book. This was a very old survey of England made in 1086. The Domesday Book said Hallowtree was a tiny village with about four households. One of these houses was probably Pond Hall Farm. Before the Normans took over England in 1066, the church of Alnesbourn St Andrew owned this village. Later, during the Domesday survey, a person called Roger of Poitou held the village.