Marmont Priory facts for kids
Marmont Priory was a special kind of religious house in Cambridgeshire, England. It was also known as Welles or Mirmaud. This priory was home to a group of Gilbertine Canons. Canons were like monks, but they followed a specific set of rules.
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What Was Marmont Priory?
Marmont Priory was a small religious community. It was founded by a rich landowner named Ralph de Hauvill. He was also in charge of two of the King's falcons. The priory was set up as a place for three canons to live and pray. They prayed for Ralph and his wife, Maud.
How It Started
Maud, Ralph's wife, had a special experience. Fifteen years before the priory started, she had a vision. She saw Gilbert of Sempringham, a very important religious figure, going to Heaven. This happened on the day he died.
In May 1204, King John gave permission for the priory to be built. He agreed to the gift of land and money for the priory. But there was a condition. The canons had to pray every day for the soul of his mother. Her name was Eleanor of Aquitaine, and she had died that April.
Life at the Priory
Marmont Priory was never a very rich place. It owned some land in areas called Upwell and Walsoken. The canons used St Peter's Church in Upwell as their main church.
Where Was It?
The priory was once in the Isle of Ely. But the county borders changed over time. Now, the old site of Marmont is in Norfolk. It is located near Upwell, on an old path of the River Nene. Today, an 18th-century farmhouse called Priory Farm stands there. Some old bones have also been found at the site.
What Happened to It?
By the year 1538, Marmont Priory had become a small part of a larger priory. It was like a branch or "cell" of Watton Priory. In 1538, many religious houses in England were closed down. This was called the Dissolution of the Monasteries. Marmont Priory was closed down at that time too.
