Dureford Abbey facts for kids

Dureford Abbey was an old monastery in Sussex, England. It was a home for a special group of monks called the Premonstratensians. A man named Henry Hussey started the abbey in 1161. He gave land near Rogate, in Sussex, to the abbot of Welbeck Abbey so they could build this new community.

A History of Challenges

The founder, Henry Hussey, and other rich landowners gave a lot more land to Dureford Abbey. They also gave the monks permission to use a stone quarry. This quarry was important for getting stones to build the monastery buildings.

Early Troubles

Life at the abbey wasn't always easy. In 1317, the abbot (the head monk) reported that the abbey had been broken into and robbed. A visit from the King in 1324 also cost the abbey a lot of money. There were many more thefts and acts of damage. By 1335, the monks were reportedly very poor.

More Difficult Times

The next hundred years brought even more problems. In 1417, lightning struck the tower of the abbey church, and it fell down. Later, an abbot was forced out of his job by monks from Dureford and from Bayham Abbey. He was very scared when he left. The monks from Bayham also took many valuable items, including special robes, worth a lot of money.

In 1444, another abbot named Stephen Mersey was removed from his position. This was because he didn't take care of the monastery buildings. He also caused the abbey to fall deeply into debt.

Attacks and Illness

In the 1450s, Sir Henry Hussey, a descendant of the abbey's founder, attacked the monastery three times. He came with armed groups and threatened to burn the buildings and harm the abbot. During one of these attacks, a conflict occurred where someone was harmed.

By 1482, the abbey had managed to pay off its debts. However, most of the monks had sadly died from an illness like the Black Death. There were also more fires that damaged the buildings, leading to new debts. The cloister, an important part of the monastery, was in ruins. In 1497, the monks were criticized for not doing their duties well and for leaving the monastery grounds too often.

The End of the Abbey

By 1535, the monastery was in very bad shape and had a lot of debt. A king's official named Richard Layton even jokingly called it "Dirtforde" because of its poor condition. That same year, the abbey's income was checked as part of Henry VIII's big survey of church money. The abbey's income was £108 13s. 9d.

Because of this low income, Dureford Abbey was chosen to be closed down. This was part of King Henry VIII's plan to close monasteries, known as the Dissolution of the Monasteries. In 1536, the king officially closed the abbey. The land was then given to Sir William Fitzwilliam. The last abbot, John Sympson, became the head of Titchfield Abbey for a short time before he resigned. He later became a priest in Horsted Keynes.

What's Left Today

Today, a farmhouse built in 1784 stands where the abbey used to be. Only a few small pieces of carved stone and a coffin lid can still be seen. The only original building that remains is a medieval barn. You can also find some small parts of an old water-mill nearby.