Sidmouth Priory facts for kids
Sidmouth Priory was a special religious building in Devon, England. It was like a small branch of a much bigger monastery located far away in France!
This priory was an "Alien Priory." This means it was owned by a monastery in another country. Sidmouth Priory belonged to the famous Mont Saint-Michel in France. It was home to Benedictine monks, who are members of a very old Christian religious group.
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What Was Sidmouth Priory?
Sidmouth Priory was founded in the 11th century, which is over 900 years ago! It was set up because the monks from Mont Saint-Michel also owned another priory nearby called Otterton Priory.
A Gift from the King
The land for the priory was given by William the Conqueror. He was the King of England who came from France in 1066. The priory was closed down in 1414.
Later, around 1431, a different group of monks called Bridgettine monks used it. They were part of Syon Abbey.
Where is it Now?
Today, Sidmouth Priory no longer exists as a working priory. Parts of its old chapel, which was dedicated to Saint Peter, are now part of a building in Sidmouth. This building is called Dukes Seaside Inn, but it used to be known as the Marlborough Hotel.
The Chapel of St Peter
The earliest mention of the chapel was in 1322. At that time, the River Sid had changed its path. This meant the borders between Sidmouth and Salcombe Regis parishes needed to be redrawn. A new line was drawn from the chapel towards an area now called Port Royal.
Early Connections to Otterton Priory
There is some interesting history about who exactly owned the priory. The Domesday Book is a very old record from 1086. It suggests that Otterton Priory was managed by a group called the Canons Regular of St Mary of Rouen.
However, Mont Saint-Michel was a Benedictine monastery. So, it's not completely clear how these two groups were connected. What we do know is that by 1157, King Henry I had invited monks from Mont Saint-Michel to live at Otterton Priory. This shows a strong link between the French monastery and these English priories.
