Priory of Douglas facts for kids
The former Priory of Douglas was an old monastery for nuns on the Isle of Man. It was a Cistercian monastery, which means the nuns followed a specific set of rules for their religious life. The priory was likely started by King Rǫgnvaldr Guðrøðarson, who was a ruler of the Isles.
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The Priory's Story
The Priory of Douglas was probably founded by King Rǫgnvaldr Guðrøðarson. A record from the 1500s mentions this, but we don't know much more about how it began.
A famous visitor came to the priory in 1313: Robert I, King of Scotland. He is also known as Robert the Bruce.
The priory was closed down in 1540. This happened during a time called the Dissolution of the Monasteries. This was when King Henry VIII of England closed many monasteries. At that time, only the prioress (the head nun) and three other nuns lived there.
The Baroness of Douglas
The prioress, who was the leader of the monastery, also held a special title. She was known as the Baroness of Douglas. This was a secular title, meaning it wasn't just about religion. It was a title of nobility.
This title gave her a lot of power and money. She received a lot of income from the lands she owned. Her privileges were almost as great as those of the Lord of Mann, who was the ruler of the island.
- The prioress could hold her own court to settle disagreements.
- She could even call her vassals (people who owed her loyalty) back from the Lord of Mann's prison.
- She could try them with a jury made up of her own tenants.
All the barons, including the prioress, were sometimes called to Tynwald Hill. This was a special place where they would promise their loyalty to the Lord of Mann. If they didn't show up within 40 days, they could lose their lands and title.
Historians say that in 1422, Sir John Stanley, who was the Lord of Mann, called all eight barons. Only three showed up, including the prioress and the Bishop of Sodor and Man. Some barons might have been off the island. Because they didn't appear, they likely lost their lands.
The title of Baroness of Douglas ended when the priory was closed.
Leaders of the Priory
Here are some of the known prioresses:
- Katherine (around 1349)
- Margaret Goodman; she was the daughter of William Goodman. In 1536, she married Robert Calcot, who became the Comptroller of the Isle of Man in 1538.
What Happened After the Priory Closed?
After the monastery was closed, the Crown (the king's government) took its lands. In 1609, these lands were leased to the Lord of Man.
Some of the priory's former lands became a private estate called The Nunnery. This estate was lived in by the family of Robert Calcot and his wife, Margaret Goodman, who was the last prioress.
By the 1700s, an inn was set up on the site. Today, the location serves as the main office for the Isle of Man International Business School.
