Otterton Priory facts for kids
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Otterton Priory was an old monastery located in a place called Otterton, in Devon, England. It was started a very long time ago, even before the year 1087! A priory is a type of monastery, which is a home for monks or nuns who live together and follow religious rules. This priory was closed down in 1414. Today, the tall tower of the local church, St Michael's, is the main part that still stands from the old monastery. The big house nearby, called the manor house, might also have parts of the original priory buildings in it.
The Story of Otterton Priory
Otterton Priory was founded sometime before 1087. It was a special kind of monastery called an "alien priory." This meant it was a branch or a smaller part of a much larger monastery located in another country. Otterton Priory belonged to the famous Mont St. Michael Abbey in Normandy, France.
In 1332, it's recorded that King John helped to set up the priory for four monks. It's possible he didn't start it from scratch but instead gave more money and improved the buildings for a monastery that was already there.
Later, in 1332, the priory was briefly sold for £120. But a monk from the main monastery in France probably came back and reopened it. Finally, in 1414, the priory was officially closed down. The land and everything connected to it were then given to another monastery called Syon Abbey, which was in Middlesex.
What Remains Today
The priory buildings likely stood to the east of the current church, St Michael's. The church tower would have been between the part of the church used by local people (the nave) and the part used by the monks.
Other than this tower, you can't see any other parts of the old monastery buildings today. After the time known as the Dissolution of the Monasteries, which was when many monasteries were closed down in England, a man named Richard Duke got the priory lands. Sometime after 1539, he built a large house, called the manor house, using some of the old monastery's stones and parts. This manor house has now been changed into several small homes for people in need, known as almshouses.
