Great Bricett Priory facts for kids
Great Bricett Priory was an old monastery in Great Bricett, Suffolk, England. It was built a very long time ago, during the Middle Ages. Today, part of its chapel is still used as a church, called St Mary and St Lawrence.
Contents
The Priory's Beginning
Around the year 1110, a couple named Ralph FitzBrian and his wife Emma started this priory. They built it for a group of monks called Austin canons. These monks followed the rules of St. Augustine. The priory was dedicated to St. Leonard.
When they founded the priory, Ralph and Emma gave it many gifts. They gave it a share of the crops (called tithes) from Bricett and another place called 'Losa'. They also gave it part of a church in Steeple, Essex, and another church in Stangate, Essex. The monks also received land and gardens nearby. Ralph even said that whenever he was in Suffolk, the monks should be his personal chaplains. He also promised them a share of his food and drink.
Becoming an Alien Priory
In the early 1200s, another monastery from France, called Nobiliac, said that Great Bricett Priory belonged to them. This was a big deal because it meant the priory would be controlled by a foreign group. At first, the English monks didn't agree.
However, in 1295, they reached an agreement. Great Bricett Priory officially became an alien priory. This meant it was linked to the French monastery. This agreement was confirmed again in 1310 by the Bishop of Norwich. In 1295, the priory was even described as a "cell" (a small branch) of the Noblac priory in France.
Changes in Ownership
Over the years, parts of the land and rights connected to the priory changed hands. In 1325, a couple named Thomas and Margaret Durant gave a share of the manor of Great Bricett to John de Bohun. This included the right to choose the head of the priory, which is called an advowson.
Later, in 1331, the prior and canons received more land. Thomas le Archer and his brother gave them three-quarters of the manor of Great Bricett. In 1346, Richard Hacoun and his wife Anne gave them the last quarter of the manor. This meant the priory now owned the entire manor of Great Bricett.
Royal Control and Decline
In 1346, the head of Great Bricett Priory, along with leaders from many other alien priories, was called to a meeting in Westminster. The king wanted to talk about important matters. If they didn't show up, they could lose their priory, land, and goods.
In 1414, the king took control of all alien priories in England. This meant Great Bricett Priory became property of the Crown. Sadly, in 1416, the priory building burned down. However, it was rebuilt and used again, as the prior was mentioned in records in 1443.
In 1444, King Henry VI gave all the priory's possessions to a new college in Cambridge. This college later became King's College, Cambridge. This gift was confirmed by King Henry VI again in 1452 and by King Edward IV in 1462.
What Remains Today
In 1926, people did some digging (excavations) at the site. They found that the current Church of St Mary and St Lawrence is built on top of the old priory church. They found clues like old doorways and walls that showed where the monastery used to be.
They even found a wooden archway from around 1270 inside a farmhouse! This showed that the farmhouse was actually part of the old monastery's western side.
The building today might look small, but it has many signs of its long history. The area where the monastery's courtyard used to be is now the garden of Great Bricett Hall. This hall was also part of the monastery and is connected to the church. Nearby are old cottages that once belonged to King's College, Cambridge, and the village hall, which used to be the village school.
Priors of Bricett
Here are some of the leaders (Priors) of Great Bricett Priory:
- William Randulf (appointed 1312)
- John de Essex (appointed 1337)
- Alan de Codenham (appointed 1372)
- Nicholas Barne (appointed 1399)
