Ruislip Priory facts for kids

Ruislip Priory was a special kind of religious house, like a small monastery, located in Middlesex, England. It wasn't a place where many monks lived together, but more like an office and home for managing lands.

The Beginning of Ruislip Priory

The story of Ruislip Priory began around 1086 or 1087. At that time, a large area of land called the manor of Ruislip was given to a famous French monastery called Bec Abbey. This gift was made by a person named Ernulf de Hesdin.

Bec Abbey needed a way to manage all the lands it owned in England. So, before the year 1200, they set up an administrative center at Ruislip. This center became known as Ruislip Priory. It helped the abbey look after its properties and collect money from them.

Managing the Lands

In the early 1200s, Bec Abbey owned more than 20 manors in England. To help manage these many properties, they shared the work with another priory called Ogbourne Priory in Wiltshire. Ruislip Priory was one of these important places for administration.

What Was an Alien Priory?

Ruislip Priory was known as an alien priory. This term was used for religious houses in England that were controlled by monasteries in other countries, usually France. Because of wars and political changes between England and France, these alien priories often faced different challenges. Their fortunes could change a lot depending on who was in charge and what was happening between the two countries.

Not a Typical Monastery

Unlike many other priories, Ruislip Priory was always more like a manor-house. A manor-house was a large country house that served as the main residence for the lord of the manor. It didn't have the usual buildings you'd find in a full monastery, such as a large church, cloisters, or dormitories for many monks. It was mainly a place for managing the estate.

A New Owner for Ruislip

After 1404, the lands managed by these foreign priories were reorganized. Ruislip Priory and its lands were given to a new owner: St Nicolas College, Cambridge. This college was later renamed King's College, which is still a very famous college today.

Reading More About Ruislip Priory

If you want to learn more about the lands owned by Bec Abbey, you can read this book:

• Marjorie Chibnall, The English Lands of the Abbey of Bec, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 1946.