Malton Priory facts for kids
West front of Malton Priory church
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| Monastery information | |
|---|---|
| Other names | St Mary's Priory Church |
| Order | Gilbertine |
| Established | 1150 |
| Disestablished | December 1539 |
| People | |
| Founder(s) | Eustace fitz John |
| Site | |
| Location | Malton, North Yorkshire, England |
| Grid reference | SE 79861 72549 |
Malton Priory is an old monastery located in Old Malton, North Yorkshire, England. It's very close to the town of Malton. This priory was started around 1150 by a man named Eustace fitz John. He was the lord of Malton Castle.
Eustace fitz John founded Malton Priory as a home for the Gilbertine Order. This was a special group of monks and nuns. He also founded Watton Priory around the same time. Some people believe he did this as a way to make up for supporting the Scots in a big battle called the Battle of the Standard.
Later, after the priory was closed down in 1539, its land was bought. A man named Robert Holgate bought it in 1540. He used to be in charge of the Gilbertine Order. He later became a very important church leader, the Archbishop of York. Holgate helped start three grammar schools in Yorkshire, including Malton School. This school was built on part of the old monastery's land.
The Priory Church Today
The most important building left from Malton Priory is its church. This church is still used today as a regular parish church. It's the only church of the Gilbertine Order that is still in use.
Over the years, the priory church has changed a lot. For example, in the 1730s, the top part of the nave (the main area of the church) was removed. The roof was also made lower. You might not notice this at first glance. The front of the church still looks tall. But if you look closely, you can see that the upper parts of the main window are now blocked off.
What you see today is the lowered main part of the church, called the nave. One of the two original towers on the west side is also still standing. Many other parts of the church are gone. These include the side areas of the nave, the central tower, the transepts (the arms of the cross-shaped church), and the chancel (the area near the altar).
However, you can still see some parts of the original chancel pillars. These are now ruins located east of the nave. There are also remains of a small chapel. This chapel used to be on the south side of the chancel. You can still see parts of its archway, some walls, and a special basin called a piscina.
The nave of the church also shows signs of a big fire that happened in 1500. This fire caused parts of the church to be rebuilt. The church also had a major repair and update in the 1800s. This work was done by an architect named Temple Moore.
See Also
