Moatenden Priory facts for kids
Moatenden Priory was a special religious house, a type of priory, located near Headcorn in Kent, England. It was about six miles south of the city of Maidstone.
History of Moatenden Priory
How it Started
Moatenden Priory was built in 1224. It was founded by a man named Robert de Rokesley. He was an important official, a "seneshal," who worked for King Henry III. This priory was very important because it was the very first one in England for a religious group called the Trinitarian Order.
What Happened to It
The priory had a large moat around it, which was like a ditch filled with water. This moat was about 120 meters by 110 meters. There were also fishponds nearby. Both the moat and the fishponds are still there today!
However, the priory did not last forever. In 1536, during a time known as the Dissolution of the Monasteries, King Henry VIII closed down many religious houses in England. Moatenden Priory was one of them. After it was closed, a farmhouse was built on the same spot. Only a small part of the old medieval building remains today.
It's interesting to know that the name "Moatenden" doesn't actually come from the moat itself. The priory was originally called Mottenden or Moddenden.
After the Priory Closed
During a big change in England called the Reformation, the land where the priory stood was given to a powerful man named Thomas Cromwell. He was an important advisor to King Henry VIII. Cromwell gained control of the priory's land and other properties that had belonged to the religious order.
