Nunburnholme Priory facts for kids

Nunburnholme Priory was a special kind of religious house for Benedictine nuns (women who dedicated their lives to God) in a place called the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It was a quiet place where nuns lived, prayed, and worked together.

What Was Nunburnholme Priory?

Nunburnholme Priory was like a home and a church all in one for a group of nuns. It was called a "priory" because it was led by a "prioress," who was the head nun. These nuns followed the rules of Saint Benedict, which meant they lived simple lives focused on prayer, study, and helping others.

When Was It Built?

The priory was started a very long time ago, during the time when Henry II of England was king. This was in the 1100s. It was founded by an ancestor of a powerful person named Robert de Merlay, who was a lord from Morpeth.

How Much Land Did It Have?

Nunburnholme Priory didn't own a lot of land or property around it. It mainly had its own main area, which was called its "demesne." This was the land directly used by the nuns for their buildings, gardens, and farming. Compared to other similar places, it was quite small.

A Branch Monastery?

In the year 1313, the prioress of Nunburnholme made an interesting claim. She said that another monastery, called Seton in Coupland, was a "cell" of Nunburnholme. A "cell" was like a smaller branch or outpost of a main monastery. This meant Seton might have been connected to Nunburnholme in some way.

The Priory's End

By the year 1521, there were only a few people living at Nunburnholme Priory. Just five nuns and the prioress were left. Not long after, on August 11, 1536, the priory was "suppressed." This means it was officially closed down. This happened during a time in English history known as the Dissolution of the Monasteries, when many religious houses were closed by the king.

Nunburnholme Priory was known as the smallest and poorest of the Benedictine nunneries in Yorkshire that were still open at that time.

Where Was Nunburnholme Priory Located?

The priory was located to the northeast of a village also called Nunburnholme. It was situated between two paths known as Nun's Walk and Back Lane.

Today, the old site of the priory is a protected historical place called a "Scheduled Monument." This means it's important and needs to be preserved. When people look at the site, they can still see "extensive earthworks." These are like old bumps and ditches in the ground that show where buildings and other features once stood. There are also "well preserved but now dry fishponds," which were probably used by the nuns to keep fish for food.