St Denys Priory facts for kids
St. Denys Priory, a historic building
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| Monastery information | |
|---|---|
| Other names | St. Denis Priory |
| Order | Austin Canons |
| Established | c. 1124 |
| Disestablished | 1536 |
| People | |
| Founder(s) | Henry I |
| Site | |
| Location | Southampton, England |
| Coordinates | 50°55′31″N 1°22′51″W / 50.92516°N 1.38085°W |
| Visible remains | one wall |
| Public access | no |
St. Denys Priory was a special religious building, like a monastery, for a group of monks called Austin canons. It was located in the St Denys area of Southampton, England. Priories were places where monks or canons lived, prayed, and worked together.
Contents
The Priory's Beginning
Who Founded St. Denys Priory?
King Henry I started St. Denys Priory around the year 1124. He gave land to the church and the canons who served God there. He did this for the well-being of his own soul and the souls of his family members. The land given was between Portswood and the Itchen River. Another piece of land was near the sea.
First Leader of the Priory
A canon named Girard was mentioned in the official document that created the priory. People believe he became the first leader, or "prior," of St. Denys Priory.
Life at the Priory (12th to 16th Centuries)
Challenges in Southampton
In 1338, the town of Southampton was attacked and burned by the French. It took a very long time for the town to recover. The priory also suffered a lot of damage.
By 1385, much of the priory's property had been burned or destroyed. This meant the priory was in deep debt. They struggled to pay for repairs and to help protect the town. They also found it hard to support their canons, who were the religious men living there.
A Special Chapel for Visitors
The priory had a special chapel called the Chapel of the Blessed Mary. It was also known as St. Mary of Graces. This chapel was a popular place for people to visit on a pilgrimage. A pilgrimage is a journey to a holy place. Even King Henry VIII visited this chapel in 1510 and left a gift.
What the Priory Owned
By the time the priory closed down, it owned many things. In Southampton, it owned the area known as St. Denys. It also received payments from several churches in Southampton.
The priory owned land and properties in other areas too. These included farms (called manors) and churches (called rectories) in places like Northam and Shirley. They also had lands and rents in many other villages and towns across Hampshire, Wiltshire, and Dorset.
The Priory Closes Down
When Did the Priory Close?
St. Denys Priory was closed in 1536. This was part of a bigger event in England called the Dissolution of the Monasteries. During this time, King Henry VIII closed many monasteries and priories.
What Happened to the Canons?
At the time it closed, there were nine canons and the prior living at St. Denys Priory. The prior received a pension, which was like a retirement payment. He also got to keep the Chapel of the Blessed Mary for the rest of his life.
After the Priory Closed
In 1538, the land and some of the things that belonged to the priory were given to a person named Francis Dautry.
What Remains Today?
Today, only small parts of the priory buildings are left. You can find a piece of a wall in a private garden on Priory Road. A small archway from the priory was moved to the garden of the Tudor House Museum. The church building that stands there now is much newer, built in the Victorian era. It has a few old tiles and a coffin from the original priory site.
