Burford Priory facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Buford Priory |
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| OS grid reference | SP2499612363 |
| Built | 1580s |
| Built for | Lawrence Tanfield |
| Rebuilt | 17th century |
| Restored | 1912 |
| Restored by | Walter Godfrey |
| Owner | Elisabeth Murdoch and Matthew Freud |
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Listed Building – Grade I
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| Designated | September 11, 1955 |
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Burford Priory is a very old and important country house in Burford, West Oxfordshire, England. It used to be a priory, which is a type of monastery. Today, it is a private home. It is so special that it has a "Grade I listed" status. This means it is considered a building of great historical interest.
Contents
History of Burford Priory
How Burford Priory Started
The land where Burford Priory stands was once home to a hospital in the 1200s. This hospital was run by Augustinians, a group of monks.
In the 1580s, a new house was built here by Lawrence Tanfield. He used some parts of the old hospital building. This new house was built in the Elizabethan style, which was popular when Queen Elizabeth I was queen.
In 1603, King James I even stayed at the priory for three nights!
Later, in the 1600s, the house was changed again. It was updated to the Jacobean style. This probably happened after 1634. That's when William Lenthall bought the house. It stayed in the Lenthall family until 1828.
In 1912, a kind person named Emslie Horniman bought Burford Priory. He was a philanthropist, meaning he gave money to good causes. He worked with an architect named Walter Godfrey to fix up the house and its chapel.
Burford Priory as a Home for Nuns and Monks
From 1949, Burford Priory became home to a group of Church of England nuns. They were part of a community called The Society of the Salutation of Our Lady.
In the 1980s, there were fewer nuns. So, in 1987, the community changed. It became a home for both nuns and Benedictine monks.
In 2008, the community sold the property. It went back to being a private house. The nuns and monks moved to a new monastery in Worcestershire. They named their new home Mucknell Abbey.
Who Owns Burford Priory Now?
Today, Burford Priory is owned by Elisabeth Murdoch. She is a businesswoman in the media industry. Her ex-husband, Matthew Freud, who owns a public relations company, also lives there with their family.
In 2011, a famous party was held at the house. Many well-known people attended this event.
Local Legends at Burford Priory
Burford Priory is a very old place, and like many old places, it has some interesting local legends about ghosts!
The Little Brown Monk
People say that the area where the old monks were buried is haunted. A small, sad-looking monk in a brown robe is sometimes seen there. He is said to pass through walls.
This monk is often linked to the sound of bells. These bells are heard coming from the old rectory at 2 AM. Sometimes, people also hear chanting sounds with the bells.
The Gamekeeper Ghost
Another ghost reported on the grounds is an elderly gentleman. He wears old-fashioned clothes and carries an old gun, like a flintlock or blunderbuss.
He is seen late in the evenings, especially during October. He usually appears near the old vegetable garden. If anyone tries to get close to him, he vanishes. This ghost is linked to a gamekeeper from long ago. Some people believe that the prayers of the nuns, when they lived there, might have helped this ghost find peace.
The Poltergeist Room
There is also a room in the Priory that is not used. People say it has an active poltergeist. A poltergeist is a ghost that can make noises or move objects. Visitors to this room sometimes feel a strange, heavy feeling.
