List of monastic houses in Staffordshire facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

This article lists the monastic houses that once existed in Staffordshire, England. Monastic houses were places where groups of people, like monks or nuns, lived together under religious rules. They dedicated their lives to prayer, work, and study. These places were often called abbeys or priories.

What are Monastic Houses?

Monastic houses were communities where monks or nuns lived apart from the rest of society. They followed strict religious rules. These rules often included vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. Monks and nuns spent their days in prayer, reading, and manual labor. They also contributed to society in many ways. They ran schools, cared for the sick, and copied books.

Different Types of Monastic Orders

There were several different types of monastic orders, each with its own rules and traditions:

Benedictine monks and nuns: This was one of the oldest and most common orders. They followed the rules of Saint Benedict. Their motto was "Ora et Labora," meaning "Pray and Work."
Augustinian Canons Regular: These were priests who lived in a community. They followed the Rule of Saint Augustine. They often served local churches.
Cistercian monks: This order focused on a simple, strict life. They often built their abbeys in remote areas. They were known for their farming and wool production.
Cluniac monks: This order was known for its grand churches and elaborate ceremonies. They were a branch of the Benedictines.
Franciscan Friars Minor (Greyfriars): Friars were different from monks. They lived among people and begged for their food. Franciscans focused on helping the poor.
Dominican Friars (Blackfriars): Dominicans were known for their preaching and teaching. They often lived in towns and cities.
Knights Templar and Knights Hospitaller: These were military religious orders. They protected pilgrims and cared for the sick. They also fought in the Crusades.

How Monastic Houses Were Founded and Dissolved

Monastic houses were usually founded when a wealthy person donated land or money. This allowed a group of monks or nuns to build a monastery. They would then live there and follow their religious life.

Many monastic houses in England were dissolved (closed down) in the 1530s. This happened during the reign of King Henry VIII. He wanted to take control of the Church's wealth and power. The land and buildings of these monasteries were often sold off. Sometimes, new houses or farms were built on their sites.

Monastic Houses in Staffordshire

Staffordshire was home to many different monastic communities. Here is a list of some of the most important ones:

Baswich Priory

Community: Augustinian Canons Regular
Founded: Around 1174 by Gerard de Stafford.
Dissolved: In 1538. Today, Priory Farm stands on the old site.
Dedicated to: Saint Thomas the Martyr.

Blithbury Priory

Community: First Benedictine monks, then Benedictine nuns.
Founded: After 1129 by Hugh Malveysin.
Dissolved: The monks' priory closed between 1158 and 1165. The nuns' priory closed before 1315.

Brewood Priory (Black Ladies Priory)

A view of Brewood Black Ladies Priory today.

Community: Benedictine nuns.
Founded: Before 1150.
Dissolved: In 1538. A country house was built on the site later.
Dedicated to: Saint Mary.

Burton Abbey

Community: Benedictine monks.
Founded: In 1002 by Wulfric Spott. King Ethelred confirmed its founding in 1004.
Dissolved: In 1539 by King Henry VIII. It was briefly refounded as a college but dissolved again in 1545.
Dedicated to: Saint Mary and Saint Modwen.

Calwich Priory

The old stable block at Calwich Priory.

Community: Started as a hermitage, then Augustinian Canons Regular.
Founded: Between 1125 and 1149. It was first a cell (a smaller branch) of Kenilworth Abbey.
Dissolved: Between 1535 and 1536. A Georgian-style house was built there later.
Dedicated to: Saint Margaret.

Canwell Priory

Community: Benedictine monks.
Founded: Around 1142 by Geva, daughter of Hugh, Earl of Chester.
Dissolved: Between 1524 and 1526. Its property was used to help fund Cardinal Wolsey's college at Oxford.
Dedicated to: Saint Mary, Saint Giles, and All Saints.

Colwich Abbey

Community: Benedictine nuns. They came from Cannington, Somerset.
Founded: The community started in Paris in 1651. They moved to England in 1795 after the French Revolution. They settled in Colwich in 1836.
Status: It became an abbey in 1928.
Dedicated to: Our Lady of Good Hope.

Cotton Abbey (Chotes Abbey)

Community: Cistercian monks.
Founded: In 1176.
Transferred: The community moved to Croxden Abbey in 1178.

Croxden Abbey

The ruins of Croxden Abbey.

Community: Cistercian monks. They moved here from Cotton Abbey.
Founded: The community arrived here on May 17, 1178.
Dissolved: On September 17, 1538.
Dedicated to: Saint Mary.

Dieulacres Abbey

A drawing of Dieulacres Abbey church.

Community: Cistercian monks. They moved here from Poulton, Cheshire.
Founded: In 1214.
Dissolved: On October 20, 1539. The site is now privately owned.
Dedicated to: Saint Mary and Saint Benedict.

Dudley Priory

Community: Cluniac monks. It was first a "daughter house" of Wenlock Priory in Shropshire.
Founded: In 1161 by Ralph Painell.
Status: It became independent in 1395.
Dissolved: In 1539.
Dedicated to: Saint James.

Farewell Priory

Community: Started with hermits, then Benedictine nuns.
Founded: Before 1148 by Roger de Clinton.
Status: It was briefly an abbey but became a priory again before 1210.
Dissolved: In 1527. Today, St Bartholomew's Church stands on the site.
Dedicated to: Saint Mary.

Hawkesyard Priory

Community: Dominican Friars.

Hulton Abbey

Community: Cistercian monks. It was a daughter house of Combermere Abbey in Cheshire.
Founded: On July 26, 1219, by Henry de Audley.
Dissolved: On September 18, 1538.

Hansury Nunnery

Community: Possibly Benedictine nuns.
Founded: Around 680 by Saint Werburgh.
Destroyed: In 875 during raids by the Danes.

Keele Preceptory

Community: First Knights Templar, then Knights Hospitaller.
Founded: Land was granted to the Knights Templar in 1168–1169. The Knights Hospitaller took over around 1312.
Dissolved: The Templars were dissolved between 1308 and 1312. The Hospitallers were dissolved after 1338. Keele Hall was built on the site later.

Lapley Priory

Community: Benedictine monks. It was a "foreign house" dependent on St-Remi, Riems (in France).
Founded: By Ælfgar (Algar), Earl of Chester.
Dissolved: In 1415.

Lichfield Greyfriars

Community: Franciscan Friars Minor.
Founded: Around 1237 by Alexander, Bishop of Lichfield.
Dissolved: In 1538.

Little Haywood Abbey

Community: Benedictine nuns.
Dedicated to: Saint Mary.

Newcastle-under-Lyme Blackfriars

Community: Dominican Friars.
Founded: Before 1277.
Dissolved: In 1538. The site is now a superstore.

Oulton Abbey

Community: Benedictine nuns.
Founded: In 1853. It later became a care home.
Dedicated to: Saint Mary.

Radmore Abbey

Community: Started as a hermitage, then Cistercian monks.
Founded: Between 1135 and 1139 by King Stephen.
Transferred: The monks moved to Stoneleigh in 1155. The site became a royal hunting lodge.
Dedicated to: Saint Mary.

Ranton Priory

The ruins of Ranton Priory.

Community: Augustinian Canons Regular. It was first a cell of Haughmond Abbey in Shropshire.
Founded: Between 1135 and 1166 by Robert fitz Noel.
Status: It became independent from 1246–1247.
Dissolved: In 1536.
Dedicated to: Saint Mary.

Rocester Abbey

Community: Augustinian Canons Regular.
Founded: Around 1146 by Richard Bacon.
Dissolved: In 1538.
Dedicated to: The Blessed Virgin Mary.

Stafford Austin Friars

Community: Augustinian Friars.
Founded: In 1344 by Ralph de Stafford.
Dissolved: In August 1538.

Stafford Greyfriars

Community: Franciscan Friars Minor.
Founded: Before 1274.
Dissolved: On August 10, 1538. A house called 'Grey Friars' was built on the site later.

Stone Priory

Community: Started as secular canons, then Benedictine nuns, then Augustinian Canons Regular.
Founded: The first community was around 670 by King Wulfhere of Mercia. It was destroyed by Danes. The Augustinians were founded around 1135.
Status: The Augustinians became independent after 1260.
Dissolved: In 1536.
Dedicated to: Saint Wulfad and Saint Rufin.

Trentham Priory

Community: Possibly Benedictine monks, then Augustinian Canons Regular.
Founded: The Augustinians were refounded before 1153–1155 by Ranuph II, Earl of Chester.
Dissolved: In 1537.
Dedicated to: The Blessed Virgin Mary and All Saints.

Tutbury Priory

Community: Benedictine monks. It was a "foreign house" dependent on S-Pierre-sur-Dives (in France).
Founded: After 1080 by Henry de Ferrers.
Status: It became independent after 1431–1433.
Dissolved: On September 14, 1538. Part of the old church is still used today.
Dedicated to: Saint Mary Virgin.

Images for kids

A view of Brewood Black Ladies Priory today.
The old stable block at Calwich Priory.
The ruins of Croxden Abbey.
A drawing of Dieulacres Abbey church.
The ruins of Ranton Priory.