Binham Priory facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Binham Priory |
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The Priory Church of St Mary and the Holy Cross
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| General information | |
| Type | Priory |
| Location | Binham, Norfolk |
| Coordinates | 52°55′12″N 0°56′43″E / 52.91997°N 0.94523°E |
| Completed | 11th century |
| Owner | Managed by English Heritage |
Binham Priory is an old Benedictine priory in the village of Binham, Norfolk, England. A priory is a type of monastery where monks live and pray. Today, much of the priory is in ruins. However, the main part of its church, called the Church of St. Mary and the Holy Cross, is still used for church services. English Heritage looks after the remains of this historic site. The priory's west side has the first example of a special kind of Gothic window design in England. This design was made even before Westminster Abbey was built.
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The Priory's Long History
Binham Priory was started in the late 11th century. This was around the 1000s. It was founded by a man named Peter de Valognes and his wife, Albreda. Peter was given land in Norfolk after the Norman Conquest. This land included the whole village of Binham.
How the Priory Was Built
The priory was connected to a bigger monastery, St Albans Abbey. Peter de Valognes gave the priory all the land in Binham village. This meant the head monk, called the prior, became the local lord. The priory also received money from thirteen other churches in Norfolk. This money was called tithes.
Life at the Priory
When it first started, Binham Priory had 8 monks. By the 1300s, this number grew to 13 or 14 monks. But just before the priory closed in 1539, there were only 6 monks left. The priory faced many challenges over the years. Some of its leaders had difficulties managing things well.
The Mysterious Fiddler
There's a local legend about a secret tunnel at the priory. People say it leads to an unknown place. Many years ago, a fiddler decided to explore these tunnels. People could hear his music for a while. Then, the music suddenly stopped. The fiddler was never seen again.
Binham Priory Today
The church part of Binham Priory is still used today. Local people attend services there. The priory was named after Mary, and the church after the Holy Cross. So, its full name is The Priory Church of St Mary and the Holy Cross. It's a wonderful place to visit and learn about the past.
Important People Buried Here
Many important people from the past are buried at Binham Priory.
- Peter de Valognes and his wife Albreda de Saint-Saveur, who founded the priory.
- Roger de Valognes, their son, and his wife Agnes FitzJohn.
Images for kids
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The Priory Church of St Mary and the Holy Cross
