Sheen Friary facts for kids

Sheen Friary, also known as Richmond Priory, was a special kind of monastery in Surrey, England. It was home to Carthusian monks from 1414 to 1539. Later, during the reign of Queen Mary I (1553-1558), it was briefly reopened for Carthusian monks again by Maurice Chauncy.

Where Was Sheen Friary?

Sheen Friary was one of nine Carthusian monasteries in England during the Middle Ages. The Carthusian order was known for its monks living very quiet and private lives, often in silence. They focused on prayer and helping others.

The friary was located in what is now Richmond, Surrey, which is part of Greater London. Today, houses and businesses stand where the friary once was. It was right next to the old Richmond Palace.

How Sheen Friary Started and Grew

A Royal Beginning

In 1414, King Henry V started this priory, calling it "the House of Jesus of Bethlehem." He wanted it to be a home for forty Carthusian monks.

The friary was built on a large piece of land north of the royal manor house. The buildings were big, with thirty sets of rooms around a large courtyard. Carthusian monks lived and ate alone in their own rooms. They only met together for prayers and important meetings.

The king gave the friary many gifts, mostly land and money from other monasteries that had been closed down. These included places like Ware Priory and Hayling Priory. He also gave them fishing rights and other lands. Another special gift from the king was four barrels of red wine every year!

These lands had belonged to French monasteries, but because of wars between England and France, King Henry V took them. This caused some protests. For example, a French monastery called St. Evroul wrote to Sheen in 1416, asking for their property back. They said they had lost most of their income and had to reduce their monks. They argued that it wasn't fair, but their protests failed.

A Monk's Life at Sheen

Life for a Carthusian monk at Sheen was very strict. When someone wanted to join, the leader (the prior) would ask them four questions:

• Had they been part of another religious group?
• Did they have any reason they couldn't become a priest?
• Were they suffering from any serious illness?
• Did they owe any money?

If their answers were good, the prior would ask the other monks if they thought the person was a good fit.

If accepted, the prior would explain the very strict rules:

• Monks had to wear a rough hair shirt and a wool shirt, with a cord around their waist.
• They slept on straw or a bed of chaff (plant husks) with only one blanket.
• They could never eat meat, even if they were very sick.
• For much of the year, like during Advent and Lent, they couldn't eat "white meats" (like dairy products).
• They had to fast (eat only one meal a day) for many months of the year.
• Silence and being alone were very important, except when the rules allowed them to speak or if they asked for permission.

New monks also had to do humble tasks, like cleaning altars, sweeping churches, and cleaning candlesticks. The monks believed that doing these simple, humble jobs helped them become better people and closer to God.

Growing and Royal Visits

King Henry V left money in his will to make sure the friary was completed for forty monks.

In 1416, a small hermitage (a place for someone who wanted to live alone and pray) was built near the friary.

Later kings, like Edward IV, also supported Sheen Friary. In 1461, Edward IV confirmed the friary's founding charter and gave them more land. He asked them to pray for him, his mother, and his ancestors.

In 1466, the monks got permission to build an underground pipe to bring water from a spring called 'Welwey' because their old water supply wasn't enough.

Kings and queens sometimes visited or gave gifts. In 1510, King Henry VIII visited and gave money. Queen Katharine of Aragon also gave money in 1529.

Dr. John Colet, a famous dean of St. Paul's, was allowed to build a place to stay within the friary's grounds. He retired there when he was sick and died there in 1519.

In 1530, the prior (the leader of the friary) traded some of the friary's lands in Lewisham and East Greenwich with King Henry VIII for other lands.

A Guild in Bagshot

In 1480, the prior of Sheen, along with others, was allowed to start a "guild" or "fraternity" in Bagshot. This was a group of men and women who would help each other. They would choose a leader each year and had a special seal. The guild was called the Guild of St. Mary. They were allowed to buy land and money to help pay for a chaplain (a priest) to pray for the king, queen, and all the guild members.

A Lost Tomb

It is said that the body of King James IV of Scotland was buried above ground at Sheen Friary after the Battle of Flodden in 1513. However, some historians from Scotland have always argued that the body found and brought to Sheen was not actually his.

Changes Under King Henry VIII

Like other Carthusian monasteries in England, Sheen Friary was very hesitant to accept King Henry VIII as the head of the church in England in 1534. This was a big change from the Pope being the head.

At first, the prior and monks at Sheen seemed to agree to the king's demands. However, the priors of Sheen and London's Charterhouse were both put in the Tower of London. Some monks at Sheen were willing to follow the king, but others felt they could not change their beliefs and would rather die. One monk, John Pyzaunt, asked for help for those who were "obstinate" (stubborn) in their beliefs.

In 1535, a report showed that Sheen Friary was quite wealthy, with an annual value of about £800.

Some monks at Sheen even reported to King Henry VIII's chief minister, Thomas Cromwell, that the king's new rules were not being fully followed at the friary.

Eventually, in early 1539, Sheen Friary gave up its lands and buildings to the king. The prior, Henry Man, was given a large pension (money every year) and later became a bishop.

Maurice Chauncy, who was the last prior of Sheen, was one of the few monks who agreed to the king's wishes to save his life. He later regretted this and felt he should have been a martyr (someone who dies for their beliefs). During Queen Mary I's reign, Maurice Chauncy gathered the remaining Carthusian monks at Sheen for a short time. But when Queen Elizabeth I became queen, these monasteries were closed again. Maurice Chauncy and the other monks went into exile (left the country).

What Happened to the Buildings?

After the friary was closed, its buildings were given to Edward Seymour, who later became the Duke of Somerset. When he lost favor with the king, Henry Grey, Duke of Suffolk, lived on the site.

As mentioned, Queen Mary I briefly brought the Carthusian monks back to Sheen in 1557. She made Maurice Chauncy their prior again and gave them some money. But when Elizabeth I became queen, she closed these religious houses once more, and Sheen became property of the Crown again.

Friary Seals

The friary used special seals to mark important documents.

• One old seal from the 1400s showed the birth of Jesus, with the Star of Bethlehem above. It also had the royal symbols of France and England.
• A smaller seal from the same time also showed the Nativity scene and the royal symbols.
• A seal from the time Queen Mary I reopened the friary had a simpler picture of the Nativity.