Andover Priory facts for kids
| Monastery information | |
|---|---|
| Full name | Priory of Andover |
| Order | Benedictine |
| Established | post 1066 |
| Disestablished | 1414 |
| Mother house | St. Florent, Saumur |
| Controlled churches | St. Mary, Andover; Foxcote |
| People | |
| Founder(s) | William I of England |
| Site | |
| Location | Andover, Hampshire, England |
| Coordinates | 51°12′36″N 1°28′42″W / 51.210103°N 1.478321°W |
| Visible remains | one wall beside the current church |
| Public access | yes |
The Andover Priory was a special kind of monastery called an alien priory. It was home to Benedictine monks in Andover, Hampshire, England. A priory is a religious house, smaller than an abbey.
How Andover Priory Started
After the Norman Conquest of England in 1066, King William I gave many gifts to a Benedictine abbey in France called Abbey of Saint-Florent de Saumur. One of these gifts was the church in Andover. He also gave them land, a share of the crops from certain lands, and rights to use wood for fuel and building.
King William Rufus, William I's son, confirmed these gifts in 1100. He even said that any churches built under Andover's main church should either be destroyed or given to the monks. The French abbey then sent a group of monks to Andover to start the priory. Their homes were built right next to the church.
What Was an Alien Priory?
Andover Priory was known as an "alien priory." This meant it was controlled by a "mother-house" (a larger monastery) in another country, in this case, France. This made its situation a bit tricky, especially when England and France were at war.
During times of conflict, like the Hundred Years' War, the English king might take control of these French-owned priories. This meant their future was always uncertain.
In 1414, all alien priories in England were officially closed down. Andover Priory was then given to Winchester College, a famous school. The college had to pay yearly amounts to the Crown, to the queen, and to the last leader of the priory, Nicholas Gwyn.
Today, only a small, ivy-covered wall next to the current parish church is thought to be a part of the original priory.
