Henwood Priory facts for kids

Henwood Priory, also known as Estewll Priory, was a special kind of religious building called a monastery in medieval England. It was located in the area we now call the West Midlands. Today, you won't find any old ruins or mounds of earth where it once stood. The land was flattened a long time ago for agriculture. However, there might still be a ditch that was once part of a moat around the priory.

What Was Henwood Priory?

Henwood Priory was a place where nuns lived and prayed. These religious houses were very important in medieval times. They were centers for learning, prayer, and sometimes even helped people in the local community.

When Was Henwood Priory Built?

The priory was founded a very long time ago, around the year 1161. Some people think it might have been built even earlier, possibly in 1149. This was during the time of King Stephen or King Henry II. A person named Ketelberne (also known as Katelbern) de Langdon started the priory. It even received a special blessing from Pope Gregory IX in 1228. The priory was made bigger in 1232, showing it was growing.

Why Did Henwood Priory Disappear?

Sadly, by the early 1530s, Henwood Priory was already falling apart. It was then completely destroyed in 1536 by King Henry VIII during a big change in England called the Reformation. During this time, King Henry VIII closed down many monasteries and priories across the country.

After its destruction, the ruins of Henwood Priory were given to a man named John Higford around 1539 or 1540. We don't know exactly what happened to the ruins after Higford died in 1602. Eventually, the remaining parts of the priory were completely taken down. The land was cleared to make way for a large field, and that's why nothing is left of it today.

The Black Death and Henwood Priory

The place where Henwood Priory once stood is said to be haunted by 12 nuns. These nuns supposedly died from a terrible sickness called the Black Death in 1349. The Black Death was a very serious plague that swept across Europe and killed many people.

In the summer of 1349, there were 15 nuns living at Henwood Priory. But by August 19, 1349, 12 of them had died from the Black Death. This included the Prioress, who was the head nun, named Millicent de Fokerham. Even though people say the site is haunted, these supposed "ghosts" haven't been seen since 1976.