St Nicholas' Priory, Exeter facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Benedictine Priory of St Nicholas |
|
|---|---|
St Nicholas Priory, Exeter
|
|
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Roman Catholic |
| Ecclesiastical or organizational status | events venue |
| Status | events and private hire |
| Location | |
| Location | Exeter, England |
 Location in Devon
|
|
| Architecture | |
| Architectural type | Priory |
| Completed | 1087 |
The Benedictine Priory of St Nicholas, often called St Nicholas Priory, was a special kind of monastery in Exeter, England. It was started by Benedictine monks way back in 1087.
During a time called the Dissolution of the Monasteries, the church part of the priory was taken down. But some of the buildings where the monks lived were kept. Today, parts of the old monastery are still standing. The west part is now a museum, looked after by the Exeter Historic Buildings Trust.
Contents
History of St Nicholas Priory
In 1068, William the Conqueror attacked the city of Exeter. This was where the mother of Harold Godwinson lived. William had just beaten Harold in the famous Battle of Hastings.
After Harold's mother quickly left, William gave the church of St Olave in Exeter to Battle Abbey. Monks from Battle Abbey came to Exeter. They started building a new monastery with its own church. This church was named after Saint Nicholas in 1087.
Growth of the Priory
During the 1100s and 1200s, the Priory received many gifts. People gave them land and other property. New buildings were added to the monastery as they got more money.
Monasteries were known for offering a warm welcome. They had a special guest house for visitors. The monks would host pilgrims and other travelers. They also welcomed important guests.
Changes Over Time
The Priory was a very important place in Exeter for many years. But in 1536, King Henry VIII decided to close many smaller monasteries. This was called the Dissolution of the Monasteries.
The monks were given money to leave. Their church and cloisters (covered walkways) were pulled down. Some of the stones were used to fix the nearby Exe Bridge. The remaining buildings were then sold by the King.
Between 1575 and 1602, the Priory building was changed. It became a grand house for a rich family. Later, it was divided into smaller houses and shops. From 1820 to 1913, the Priory was split into five different sections. Each section got its own door and new windows.
Becoming a Museum
In 1913, the city of Exeter bought the Priory. They wanted to fix it up and show its original monastic style. Three years later, in 1916, it opened to the public as a small museum.
More repairs and updates happened in 2007. The Priory was partly restored to look like a wealthy Tudor merchant's house. They even used building methods from 500 years ago! In 2009, more maintenance work was done.
Today, the Priory is a Grade I listed building. This means Historic England sees it as a very important historical site.
From Museum to Events Venue
From 1916, St Nicholas Priory was used as a museum. It is now set up to look like an Elizabethan town house from 1602. It shows how the wealthy Hurst family might have lived.
The house has replica furniture and bright colors from the Elizabethan period. It helps us understand what Tudor life was like in Exeter. The Priory also has modern things like toilets and a gift shop.
The Priory was closed from 2015 to 2018 because of building problems. It reopened in 2018. Now, the Exeter Historic Buildings Trust runs it as a place for events and private parties. You can explore it for free every Sunday from February to November. It also has many events throughout the year.
