St Andrew's Priory, Northampton facts for kids

St Andrew's Priory was a special kind of monastery for monks in Northampton, England. These monks were part of the Cluniac order, which followed strict rules for their religious life.

The priory was started between the years 1093 and 1100. It was founded by a powerful local leader named Simon de Senlis, Earl of Northampton, and his wife, Maud. Later, a similar monastery for nuns, called Delapré Abbey, was also built nearby by their son, Simon II de Senlis, Earl of Huntingdon-Northampton.

At first, St Andrew's Priory was connected to a much larger monastery in France called La Charité. This meant it was an "alien house," which was a monastery in England that was controlled by a foreign one. However, in 1405, St Andrew's Priory became fully independent and managed itself.

Where Was the Priory Located?

The priory was built in the north-west part of Northampton, which was a walled town back then. It had its own protective wall around its grounds. Old maps from 1610 and 1632 show us where the main church and the gatehouse (the entrance building) might have been. The church was likely north of a street now called Lower Priory Street, and the gatehouse was north of Grafton Street.

Famous People at the Priory

A very famous Scottish thinker and religious scholar named John Duns became a priest at St Andrew's Priory. This happened on March 17, 1291. He is often known as Duns Scotus.

The End of the Priory

St Andrew's Priory was closed down on March 2, 1538. This was part of a big event in English history called the Dissolution of the Monasteries. During this time, King Henry VIII closed many monasteries across England.

Dr. Richard Layton was sent to inspect the priory. He reported that the monastery was in a lot of debt, and its walls were falling apart. The last leader of the priory, Francis Abree, later became the first dean of the new diocese of Peterborough.

Over time, new buildings were put up where the priory once stood. In the 1800s, the land was bought to build the Roman Catholic Northampton Cathedral. The first Catholic chapel there was even built using stones found from the old priory site.

People Buried at the Priory

Some important people were buried at St Andrew's Priory:

• Simon II de Senlis, Earl of Huntingdon-Northampton
• Simon III de Senlis
• Lochlann of Galloway
• Ralph Ogle, 3rd Baron Ogle