Molycourt Priory facts for kids
Site of Molycourt (Mullicourt) Priory, now occupied by a farm.
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| Monastery information | |
|---|---|
| Full name | Priory of St Mary de Bello Loco |
| Other names | Mullicourt Priory |
| Order | Benedictine |
| Established | pre-1066 |
| Disestablished | 1536/7 |
| Mother house | Ely Cathedral |
| Dedicated to | Virgin Mary |
| Diocese | Diocese of Ely |
| Site | |
| Location | Outwell, Norfolk, England |
| Visible remains | none except recorded inhumations |
| Public access | private |
The Molycourt Priory was a small religious house for monks, known as a Benedictine priory. It was located in a place called Outwell, in Norfolk, England. A priory is like a smaller monastery, where monks live, pray, and work together.
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What Was Molycourt Priory?
Molycourt Priory was officially called the Priory of St Mary de Bello Loco. It was home to Benedictine monks, who followed the rules of St. Benedict. These monks dedicated their lives to prayer, study, and work.
Early Days of the Priory
We don't know much about when Molycourt Priory first started. It seems to have been built even before the Norman Conquest in 1066. This means it was a very old building!
The priory was never very rich. It often struggled with money. Big storms and floods caused a lot of damage to its land. Because of this, the land could only support one monk at a time. This was a tough situation for the priory.
Becoming Part of Ely Priory
By the year 1446, things changed for Molycourt Priory. King Henry VI allowed it to become a "cell" of Ely Priory. A cell is like a small branch or outpost of a larger monastery. This meant Molycourt Priory was now connected to the much bigger and more important Ely Priory.
The End of the Priory
The priory came to an end during a time called the Dissolution of the Monasteries. This happened in England around 1539. During this time, King Henry VIII closed down many monasteries and priories across the country.
When Ely Priory was closed, Molycourt Priory also shut down. It seems there were only two monks living there at the time. They might have been older monks from Ely who had moved to the smaller priory.
What Remains Today?
Today, there are no buildings left of Molycourt Priory. The land where it once stood is now a farm.
In 1974, some human bones were found at the site. This suggests people were buried there, likely monks or others connected to the priory. Later, in 1998, a special digging project tried to find the exact spot of the priory building. However, they couldn't find any clear traces of the old walls or foundations.
