St Margaret's Convent, Hertfordshire facts for kids
St Margaret's Convent was a special home for nuns, called a convent, that belonged to the Benedictine order. It was located near a village called Great Gaddesden in Hertfordshire, England. The convent was started in 1160. Sadly, it was closed down in the 1530s because of King Henry VIII's big decision to close all monasteries, known as the dissolution of the monasteries. People also knew this convent by other names, like The Priory of Ivinghoe, St. Margaret's, in the Wood, and Muresley Priory.
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The Beginning of St Margaret's Convent
The convent was officially started by Henry de Blois, who was the Bishop of Winchester. However, some stories say it might have been built even earlier. These stories suggest that Thomas Becket might have founded it before 1129. This means St Margaret's Convent was older than another nearby religious house, Ashridge Priory.
Early Challenges and Support
Even though it was an important place, St Margaret's Convent often didn't have much money. It was known for being quite poor. In 1280, King Edward I tried to help. He gave some land in Surrey to the convent. This gift helped the nuns, but the convent still struggled financially over the years.
Leaders and The Convent's End
We know the names of some of the women who led the convent. These leaders were called prioresses. One of the earliest prioresses we know about was Isoda, who was chosen in 1250. The last prioress was Margaret Hardwick. She was in charge when the convent was closed.
The Dissolution of Monasteries
The convent was closed in 1535. This happened because of a law called the Dissolution of the Lesser Monasteries Act. At that time, there were only five nuns living at St Margaret's Convent. Their yearly income was not very much. In 1538, the convent and its land were sold to a man named Sir John Dauncey. Over many years, the property changed hands several times. Finally, in 1823, it was bought by the Earls of Bridgewater and Lord Brownlow.
What the Buildings Looked Like
The buildings of St Margaret's Convent were special. They were made from a type of stone called Totternhoe stone. The windows had stone bars, known as mullioned windows. They also had square shapes carved into the stone and beautiful stained glass windows. These stained glass windows had a unique shape like a three-leaf clover, called trefoil-headed.
The Fate of the Buildings
The main building of the convent survived for a long time. It was used as a large house, or manor house, until at least 1802. However, by 1862, most of the old convent buildings had been taken down. Very little of the original structure remained.
St Margaret's Legacy Today
Even though the convent is gone, its name lives on in the area. You can still find places named after it. For example, there's St Margaret's Lane and St Margaret's Farm. Also, the area to the north-west of Great Gaddesden is still called St Margaret's. This shows how important the convent once was to the local community.
Modern Connections
Interestingly, a modern Buddhist monastery is located very close to the old convent site. The Thai Forest Tradition monastery, called Amaravati Buddhist Monastery, is only about a quarter of a mile away. This shows a continued spiritual presence in the area.
