Grace Dieu Priory facts for kids
The remains of the South Range of Grace Dieu Priory
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 Location in Leicestershire
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| Monastery information | |
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| Order | Augustinian: "The White Nuns of St. Augustine" |
| Established | 1239 |
| Disestablished | 1538 |
| Dedicated to | Holy Trinity and St Mary |
| People | |
| Founder(s) | Rhosese (or Roesia) de Verdon |
| Site | |
| Location | Near to Thringstone, Leicestershire, England |
| Coordinates | 52°45′39.50″N 1°21′24.06″W / 52.7609722°N 1.3566833°W |
| Visible remains | South range, chapter house, east end of conventual church - all to a height of not more than one storey |
| Public access | Yes: Free to enter. |
The Grace Dieu Priory was an old monastery for nuns near Thringstone in Leicestershire, England. It was started by Roesia de Verdon around 1239. The priory was closed down in October 1538. It was a special place dedicated to the Holy Trinity and St Mary.
History of Grace Dieu Priory
Grace Dieu Priory was founded, or started, around 1239. A woman named Rhosese (also called Roesia) de Verdon created it. She gave the priory land and villages, like Belton, Leicestershire. She also gave them the right to choose the priest for Belton Church.
This priory was special because it was independent. This means it didn't have a boss from another monastery. The nuns called themselves "the White Nuns of St. Augustine." It's believed there were no other groups of these nuns in England.
The priory was quite big. In 1337, there were sixteen nuns living there. It also had a hospital that took care of twelve poor people. The nuns had a very strict rule: they were never allowed to leave the pri priory's grounds.
Grace Dieu Priory managed to stay open when many smaller monasteries were closed. This was part of a big change in England called the Dissolution of the Monasteries. However, the priory was finally closed for good in 1538.
What Happened After the Priory Closed?
After the priory was closed, the land was given to Sir Humphrey Foster. He then sold it to John Beaumont in 1539. John Beaumont changed the priory buildings into a home. His family lived there until 1684.
Then, a rich lawyer named Sir Ambrose Phillipps bought the priory. He also built a large house nearby called Garendon Hall. Sir Ambrose had most of the old priory buildings pulled down. By 1730, only ruins were left, with just two parts still having roofs.
The priory ruins were passed down through different families. In 1833, Charles March Philips gave the priory to his son, Ambrose Lisle March Phillips. Ambrose later changed his name to "De Lisle." He built a new house, Grace Dieu Manor, about 300 meters (300 yd) south of the priory ruins. This house was built in a style that looked like old Tudor castles.
The March Phillips de Lisle family owned Grace Dieu Manor for a long time. They eventually sold the house in the 1970s. Grace Dieu Manor then became a Catholic school.
Today, the priory buildings are still ruins. A project to protect and fix the remains was finished in 2005. A group called the Friends of Grace Dieu Priory helps keep the site open for people to visit for free.
Mysteries and Ghosts at Grace Dieu Priory
Grace Dieu Priory is known for strange and unexplained events. Some people think this is because it's near a geological fault line called the Thringstone Fault. It's also close to some old "ley lines" and might have been a special place for ancient people.
The ruins are said to be home to a famous ghost called the White Lady.
Many people have reported seeing things at the priory since 1926. These stories often describe similar sightings. People see white or grey ghost-like figures. They are often described as robed, without hands or feet. These figures seem to float or glide above the ground. They usually appear across the road from the priory, near an old bus shelter.
A writer named Paul Devereux wrote about the Grace Dieu events in his 1982 book. He suggested that these sightings might be a natural event. He thought they could be caused by unusual electromagnetic fields. These fields might happen near fault lines and affect the atmosphere.
Research has shown that Grace Dieu Priory is right above the Thringstone Fault. This is a crack in the Earth's crust. There's also an old standing stone near the priory. These stones are often found near geological faults. Ancient tools found near the stone suggest the area was important long ago.
Some people think the priory was built here because it was already a sacred place. However, it's also possible the monks chose the spot for practical reasons. For example, it was close to a fresh water source.
