List of monastic houses in Shropshire facts for kids

This article tells you about the monastic houses in Shropshire, England. Monastic houses were places where groups of religious people, like monks, nuns, or friars, lived together. They dedicated their lives to prayer, study, and work. These places were very important in medieval times.

In Shropshire, there were many different types of monastic houses. Some were large abbeys led by an abbot, while others were smaller priories led by a prior. There were also friaries, which were homes for friars who often lived among the public.

What Were Monastic Houses?

Monastic houses were communities where people chose to live a religious life. They followed strict rules, often focusing on prayer, work, and helping others.

Types of Monastic Communities

• Monks and Nuns: These groups lived in monasteries (for monks) or convents (for nuns). They usually stayed within their community walls.
  • Benedictine monks followed the rules of St. Benedict. They were known for their scholarship and farming.
  • Cistercian monks were a stricter branch of Benedictines, often living in remote areas.
  • Cluniac monks were another Benedictine group, known for their grand churches and ceremonies.
  • Savignac monks were similar to Cistercians and later joined their order.
• Canons Regular: These were priests who lived in a community under a religious rule, similar to monks. They often served local churches.
  • Augustinian Canons Regular followed the Rule of St. Augustine.
• Friars: Unlike monks, friars often traveled and preached to people in towns and cities.
  • Franciscan Friars (Greyfriars) focused on poverty and helping the poor.
  • Dominican Friars (Blackfriars) were known for their preaching and teaching.
  • Augustinian Friars (Austin Friars) also focused on preaching and study.
  • Carmelite Friars (Whitefriars) were known for their simple lives and devotion.
• Knights Templar and Knights Hospitaller: These were military religious orders. They protected pilgrims and cared for the sick. Their homes were called preceptories.

The Dissolution of the Monasteries

Most of these monastic houses in England were closed down in the 1530s. This happened during the reign of King Henry VIII. He wanted to take control of the wealth and land of the monasteries. This event is known as the Dissolution of the Monasteries. After they were closed, many buildings were destroyed, while others became private homes or parish churches.

Monastic Houses in Shropshire

Abbeys and Priories

Shropshire was home to several important abbeys and priories.

• Alberbury Priory was first home to Augustinian Canons, then Grandmontine monks. It was dissolved around 1441. Later, its church became a farmhouse.
• Bromfield Priory started as a college of priests before 1061. Later, it became a Benedictine priory linked to Gloucester Cathedral. Its church is still used today.
• Buildwas Abbey was founded in 1135 by Savignac monks, who later joined the Cistercian order. It was dissolved in 1535, and parts of its buildings are now a private house.
• Chirbury Priory housed Augustinian Canons and was founded around 1190. It was dissolved in 1536.
• Haughmond Abbey was an Augustinian priory, possibly founded around 1110. It became an abbey and was dissolved in 1539. Today, its ruins are managed by English Heritage.
• Lilleshall Abbey was an Augustinian abbey that moved from Donnington Wood around 1148. It was dissolved in 1538. Its ruins are also managed by English Heritage.
• Morville Priory was a Benedictine priory, a smaller part of Shrewsbury Abbey. It was dissolved in 1540.
• Ratlinghope Priory was a small Augustinian priory, dissolved in 1538.
• Shrewsbury Abbey was a major Benedictine monastery founded around 1083. It was dissolved in 1540, but part of its church is still used as a parish church today.
• Wenlock Priory has a long history. It started as a Saxon nunnery around 680. Later, it became a Cluniac priory for monks. It was dissolved in 1540, and its ruins are a popular historical site.
• White Ladies Priory was home to Augustinian Canonesses (nuns) and was founded around 1199. It was dissolved around 1538, and a house was built on its site.
• Wombridge Priory was an Augustinian priory founded between 1130 and 1135. It was dissolved in 1536, and its church continued to be used by the local community.

Friaries in Shropshire

Friars lived differently from monks and nuns. They often lived in towns and cities, preaching and helping people.

• Bridgnorth Greyfriars was a home for Franciscan Friars, founded in 1244 and dissolved in 1538.
• Ludlow Austin Friars housed Augustinian Friars, founded in 1254. It was dissolved in 1538.
• Ludlow Whitefriars was a Carmelite Friary, founded in 1350 and dissolved in 1538.
• Shrewsbury Austin Friars was a community of Augustinian Friars that moved to a new site in Shrewsbury between 1290 and 1298. It was dissolved in 1538.
• Shrewsbury Blackfriars was a Dominican Friary, founded before 1232 and dissolved in 1539.
• Shrewsbury Greyfriars was a Franciscan Friary, founded around 1245-1246 and dissolved in 1538.
• Woodhouse Austin Friars was another Augustinian Friary, founded around 1250 and dissolved in 1538.

Other Monastic Sites

Shropshire also had other types of religious sites:

• Halston Preceptory was a home for the Knights Hospitaller, a military religious order. It was dissolved before 1540.
• Hatton Grange was a farm belonging to Buildwas Abbey, used by Cistercian monks.
• Lydley Keys Preceptory was a site for the Knights Templar, another military religious order. It was dissolved between 1308 and 1312.
• Stanton Long Camera was a smaller property or farm belonging to the Knights Templar.

Some places like Beth centuryote, Emstrey, Minsterley, and Whitchurch are thought to have been early religious sites, possibly Saxon minsters, but there is less clear evidence for them being large monastic houses. Lizard Abbey was an early site for Augustinian Canons before they moved to Donnington Wood and then Lilleshall. Snead Priory was also an early Augustinian site before its community moved to Chirbury. Stitt Cell is a possible small religious cell, but evidence is lacking.

Images for kids

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  The church at Bromfield Priory.

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  The ruins of Buildwas Abbey.

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  The remains of Haughmond Abbey.

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  Lilleshall Abbey today.

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  Shrewsbury Abbey, with part still in use.

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  The historic ruins of Wenlock Priory.

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  White Ladies Priory, now a ruin.

See also

• List of monastic houses in England
• List of monastic houses in Wales

Sources

Bibliography