Colne Priory facts for kids
Colne Priory was a special kind of monastery called a Benedictine priory. It was located in Earls Colne, a village in Essex, England. A priory is like a smaller monastery, and this one was first connected to a bigger monastery called Abingdon Abbey in Berkshire.
Colne Priory was started by a man named Aubrey de Vere I and his wife Beatrice. They founded it around the year 1111 or even earlier. Their oldest son, Geoffrey, had sadly passed away at Abingdon Abbey a few years before and was buried there. Before he died, Geoffrey had given some land and a church in Kensington to Abingdon Abbey. His parents and brothers agreed to this gift, and even King Henry I confirmed it.
Aubrey and Beatrice grew very fond of Abingdon Abbey. However, they lived mostly in Essex, and as they got older, it became hard for them to travel there often. So, they decided to build Colne Priory. It was the only priory connected to Abingdon Abbey. They wanted monks from Abingdon to be close to them. It also became a special burial place for their family. Around 1112, Aubrey I went to live at the priory, and his youngest son, William de Vere, joined him. Both of them died there soon after.
Colne Priory became the main burial site for the Earls of Oxford. Almost all of them were buried there until 1703.
What Happened to Colne Priory?
In the 16th century, there was a big event called the Dissolution of the Monasteries. This is when King Henry VIII closed down many monasteries in England. After this, the King gave Colne Priory to John de Vere (who lived from 1482 to 1540). He was the 15th Earl of Oxford, and he received the priory on July 22, 1536.
The old tombs that were still at Colne Priory, some with carved statues of people, were moved in the 1930s. They were taken from the house that now stands on the priory's original site (this house is also called Colne Priory). These tombs are now in St Stephen's Chapel, which is near Bures in Suffolk.
There is also an important old book from the late 12th century called a cartulary. A cartulary is a collection of copies of important documents, like land deeds and agreements, that belonged to the priory.
Over time, the relationship between Abingdon Abbey and its smaller Colne Priory sometimes had problems. In the 13th century, Colne Priory became an independent priory, meaning it no longer depended on Abingdon Abbey.
Important People Buried Here
Many members of the de Vere family, especially the Earls of Oxford, were buried at Colne Priory. Here are some of the notable people:
- Aubrey de Vere I and his wife Beatrice (who founded the priory)
- Aubrey de Vere II
- Aubrey de Vere, 1st Earl of Oxford
- Aubrey de Vere, 2nd Earl of Oxford
- Agnes of Essex, Countess of Oxford
- Hugh de Vere, 4th Earl of Oxford and his wife Hawise de Quincy
- Robert de Vere, 5th Earl of Oxford and his wife Alice de Sanford
- Robert de Vere, 6th Earl of Oxford
- John de Vere, 7th Earl of Oxford and his wife Maud de Badlesmere, Countess of Oxford
- Thomas de Vere, 8th Earl of Oxford
- Robert de Vere, Duke of Ireland
- Richard de Vere, 11th Earl of Oxford and his wife Alice Serjeaux
- John de Vere, 13th Earl of Oxford
- John de Vere, 14th Earl of Oxford
