Goldcliff Priory facts for kids
Goldcliff Priory was an old Benedictine monastery in Goldcliff, Newport, South Wales. It was started in 1113 by Robert de Chandos. This priory was connected to the Abbey of Bec in Normandy, France.
The priory was located where Hill Farm is today, right by the sea. Even in the 1950s, people could sometimes see outlines of the old buildings in the grass. By the 1970s, only a small part of a cellar in the farmhouse remained.
In 2010, special aerial photos showed old building foundations. These were from a large building, about 37 meters (121 feet) long. It was inside a big square area, about 75 meters (246 feet) wide.
Contents
History of Goldcliff Priory
How the Priory Started
In 1113, Robert de Chandos gave land in Monksilver, near Williton in Somerset, to help the new priory. This land was later called "Monksilver" because the monks owned it.
Robert de Chandos's son, Robert, died in 1120. He was buried at the Goldcliff church. The priory had many monks at times. In 1295, there were 25 monks living there! Even later, there were still eight monks. They also had four chaplains (religious helpers) in 1297.
Interestingly, the monks at Goldcliff wore white robes. This was different from most other Benedictine monks, who usually wore black robes.
Life at the Priory
In 1322, the leader of Goldcliff Priory was William de Saint Albin. There are old documents that show how the priory's drainage system worked. Many local farmers believe the monks built the large "Monksditch" and helped make the surrounding land useful for farming.
In 1334, the prior (leader) Phillip Gopillarius faced a problem. He was accused, along with a monk and many other people, of stealing wine and other goods from a ship that crashed near Goldcliff.
Challenges and Changes
In 1424, the prior wrote to the king about a big problem: the sea was constantly washing away the land. The priory walls were almost destroyed. He said that "half the parish church of the priory was destroyed by the sea."
Later, King Henry VI gave control of the priory to Henry Earl of Warwick. In 1442, with the Pope's approval, Goldcliff Priory became part of Tewkesbury Abbey. The priory was worth about £200 a year. The abbey was supposed to keep a prior and two monks living there.
In 1445, Welsh people forced the three monks from Tewkesbury out of Goldcliff. But in 1447, they got it back. Their time there was short, though. In 1450, King Henry VI gave the priory to Eton College.
So, when monasteries were closed down in England, Goldcliff Priory was already owned by Eton College. Eton College kept control of the parish and the valuable salmon fishing rights. Even in 1901, Eton College was still the biggest landowner in the area. Many old records about the priory are kept at Eton College.
See also
In Spanish: Priorato de Goldcliff para niños
