Legbourne Priory facts for kids

Legbourne Priory was a special place where nuns lived a long time ago. It was located in a village called Legbourne in Lincolnshire, England. A priory is a type of monastery, which is a building or group of buildings where people like monks or nuns live together under religious rules.

What was Legbourne Priory?

Legbourne Priory was a home for nuns, who are women dedicated to a religious life. They lived, prayed, and worked together. These kinds of religious houses were very important parts of life in England many centuries ago.

How it Started

The priory was built around the year 1150. It was founded by a person named Robert Fitz Gilbert. The nuns who lived there originally came from another place called Keddington, which is sometimes also known as Hallington.

A Peek Inside: The 1440 Inspection

In 1440, an important church leader, Bishop Alnwick, visited the priory to check how things were going. This kind of visit was called a "visitation." He found a few things that needed to be fixed. His biggest concerns were about the Prioress, who was the head nun in charge of the priory.

The Bishop noted that the Prioress was spending too much of the priory's money on her own family. She also allowed a priest to preach in the church who wasn't officially approved. Even more, she told the nuns not to tell the Bishop about any problems during his inspection. These were serious issues for a religious house.

Why the Priory Closed Down

Legbourne Priory was eventually closed down in 1536. This happened because King Henry VIII decided to close many monasteries and priories across England. One reason for closing Legbourne Priory was that its income was less than £200 a year. The last Prioress of Legbourne Priory was a woman named Joan Missenden.

Even though the priory was being closed, it wasn't completely taken apart right away. During this time, there was a big protest known as the Lincolnshire Uprising. This was when people in Lincolnshire rebelled against the King's changes. The King's officials, Millicent and Bellow, were still working at the priory when an angry crowd pulled them out.

Legbourne Priory Today

Today, the place where Legbourne Priory once stood is a very old and important historical site. It is protected by law as an "ancient scheduled monument." This means it's recognized as a significant part of England's history and is preserved for future generations.