Boxgrove Priory facts for kids
Boxgrove Priory is an old, ruined building in the village of Boxgrove in Sussex, England. It was once a home for monks and was built a long time ago, in the 1100s. A priory is a type of monastery, which is a place where monks or nuns live and pray.
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History of Boxgrove Priory
How the Priory Began
Boxgrove Priory was started around 1123 during the time of King Henry I. A man named Robert de Haia, who was the Lord of Halnaker, gave the land for it. There was already an old Saxon church on this spot before the Norman Conquest.
The priory was first built for just three Benedictine monks. These monks followed the rules of Saint Benedict. The priory was also connected to a larger abbey in Normandy, France, called Lessay Abbey.
A few years later, around 1126, the number of monks at Boxgrove grew to six. This happened when Robert de Haia's daughter, Cecily, got married. By 1187, there were 15 monks living there. Later, around 1230, another monk joined, making it 19 monks in total.
When the Priory Closed Down
In 1536, Boxgrove Priory was officially closed down. This was part of a big event called the Dissolution of the Monasteries. King Henry VIII decided to close many monasteries across England.
When the priory closed, there were eight priests and one new monk living there. There were also 28 servants and eight children. After the priory was shut down, its main church became the local church for the village.
Boxgrove Priory Today
The old priory church is still used today. It is known as the Church of St Mary and St Blaise. You can visit it and see parts of the original building.
A famous pilot from the Battle of Britain, Billy Fiske, is buried in the churchyard. The ruins of the priory are also very important. They are listed as a Grade I building, which means they are a very special historic site.
Notable Burials
- Thomas Poynings, 5th Baron St John
