Eye Priory facts for kids
Eye Priory was an old monastery in the town of Eye in Suffolk, UK. It was a special type of monastery called a Benedictine Priory. This means it was home to monks who followed the rules of St. Benedict.
The priory was built around the year 1080 by a man named Robert Malet. It was first dedicated to St Peter. At the beginning, Eye Priory was an "Alien Priory". This meant it was controlled by a larger monastery in another country, specifically the Abbey of Bernay in Normandy, France.
Over time, Eye Priory became more independent. In 1385, King Richard II gave it a special document called a charter. This made the priory independent, even though it only had a few monks, usually just 3 or 4.
The priory eventually closed down in 1537. This was part of a big event in English history called the dissolution of the monasteries. During this time, many monasteries were closed by the king. After Eye Priory closed, its lands were given to Charles Brandon.
What Remains Today?
Today, most of Eye Priory is gone. Only the old gatehouse from the 15th or 16th century is still standing. A gatehouse is like a fancy entrance building. This gatehouse is now used as a barn.
This old building is very important. It is a "Grade II listed building". This means it's a special historical building that is protected by law.
Discoveries from the Past
People have done special digs, called excavations, at the priory site. During one dig, they found a very old seal-die. This was a tool used to make official stamps. It belonged to a bishop named Aethelwold and dates back to the 9th century (845-870 AD).
More excavations happened in 1926. These digs showed that the church and other buildings at Eye Priory were built to look just like the main monastery in France. The church had a central area called a nave with side aisles. It also had a rounded end called an apse for the main altar, and rounded chapels on the sides.
The buildings where the monks lived and worked, called the claustral buildings, were located to the north of the church. They were built around a square courtyard called a cloister, which was about 90 feet (27 meters) on each side. The entire site of the priory is now protected as an ancient monument.
