North Ormsby Priory facts for kids
North Ormsby Priory was a special kind of religious house called a priory. It belonged to the Gilbertine Order, which was a unique English group of monks and nuns. You could find it in North Ormsby, a place in Lincolnshire, England.
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What Was North Ormsby Priory?
North Ormsby Priory was a place where people dedicated their lives to God. It was home to both nuns (women) and canons (men) who followed the rules of the Gilbertine Order. This order was special because it was the only one founded in England.
How the Priory Started
The priory was founded by a man named Gilbert, who was the son of Robert of Ormsby. He started it with the permission of a powerful lord, William, Earl of Albemarle. Gilbert's father, Robert, was an important helper to another lord, William of Percy. Robert gave the nuns of the priory some churches, land for animals to graze, and other pieces of land.
Rules and People at the Priory
Saint Gilbert, who started the Gilbertine Order, set rules for how many people could live at the priory. He said there could be up to 100 nuns and lay sisters (women who helped but weren't full nuns). There could also be up to 50 canons and lay brothers (men who helped but weren't full canons). This shows it was quite a large community for its time.
The End of the Priory
In 1534, the leader of the priory, called the prior, agreed to the king's new rule that the king was the head of the church in England. This was part of a big change in England at the time. A few years later, in 1538, the priory was closed down. The prior, Christopher Cartwright, along with 5 canons and 9 nuns, officially gave the priory to the king. This was part of what is known as the Dissolution of the Monasteries, when many religious houses in England were closed.
What Remains Today
Even though the priory is long gone, you can still see parts of where it once stood. The site is visible as earthworks, which are bumps and hollows in the ground that show where old buildings used to be. Because of its historical importance, the site is now a scheduled monument. This means it is protected by law to make sure it is preserved for the future.
