Pontefract Priory facts for kids

Pontefract Priory was a special kind of monastery called a Cluniac monastery. Monasteries were places where monks lived and prayed. This one was dedicated to Saint John the Evangelist. It was started around 1090 by a powerful person named Robert de Lacy, who was the 2nd Baron of Pontefract. The priory was located in Yorkshire, England.

Pontefract Priory existed for many years until the time of the dissolution of the monasteries. This was when King Henry VIII closed down many monasteries in England. Today, the church and other buildings of the priory are completely gone. However, the area where it once stood is still known by the name Monk-hill.

History of the Priory

Pontefract Priory was connected to a larger monastery in France called the Abbey of la Charité-sur-Loire. The first monks who came to Pontefract were sent from this French abbey.

We know a lot about the priory's history from its "Cartulary." This was a special book where all the important documents and records of the monastery were kept. Two important documents, called charters, from the founder Robert de Lacy, are mentioned in an old history book by William Dugdale.

Later, Robert's son, Henry de Lacy, also gave gifts to the church. His charter mentioned that the church was dedicated to both Saint Mary and Saint John. All these gifts and special rights were officially confirmed for the monastery by a Pope named Celestine. We are not sure if it was Pope Celestine II or Pope Celestine III. This confirmation also gave the priory certain ecclesiastical privileges, which were special rights for the church.

We have records from visits to the priory, called "Visitation Records." These records show how many monks lived there. In 1262, there were 16 monks. By 1279, the number had grown to 27 monks. At that time, the head of the priory, called the prior, was very good at his job. He was praised for his hard work, which helped the monastery reduce its debts from a very large amount (3200 marks) to a much smaller one (350 marks). Another record, from a later time, shows that the average number of monks was about 20.

In 1323, Stephen, who was the Prior of Pontefract, wrote a letter to Pierre, the Abbot of Cluny in France. Stephen explained that he could not visit other Cluniac monasteries in England because the king and his court were staying in Pontefract. This made it impossible for him to leave.

The year before, in 1322, a powerful nobleman named Thomas, 2nd Earl of Lancaster, was executed in Pontefract. He was buried in the priory church, near the main altar. People started to say that amazing things, like miracles, were happening at his tomb. This made King Edward II of England angry, because some people saw the earl as a hero or a "martyr." The king then took all the money that people had offered at the tomb.

However, not long after, a small chapel, called a chantry, was built at the place where the earl was executed. This chapel was dedicated to Saint Thomas. In 1343, the prior and the monks of Pontefract were given permission to hold church services and Masses there.

Important Burials

Many important people were buried at Pontefract Priory. Some of them include:

• Robert de Lacy
• Maud de Perche
• Ilbert II de Lacy
• Richard Plantagenet, 3rd Duke of York
• Thurstan
• Thomas, 2nd Earl of Lancaster

The Priory Closes Down

In 1535, a survey was done to find out how much money all the monasteries in England had. This survey was called the "valor ecclesiasticus." It showed that Pontefract Priory earned about £472 each year before expenses, and about £337 after all expenses were paid.

The last prior of Pontefract Priory was James Thwayts. On November 23, 1540, he and seven other monks, along with one young monk-in-training, officially gave the monastery over to King Henry VIII. This was part of the dissolution of the monasteries. As a result, James Thwayts was given a yearly payment of fifty pounds to live on.

Images for kids

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  Site of the former priory (2013)