Stoke sub Hamdon Priory facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Stoke sub Hamdon Priory |
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The north end of the house (left), and the attached great hall (right) at Stoke sub Hamdon Priory
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| Location | Stoke-sub-Hamdon, Somerset, England |
| Built | 1304 |
| Built for | John de Beauchamp, 1st Baron Beauchamp |
| Rebuilt | c. 1450–60 |
| Restored | 1967 |
| Owner | National Trust |
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Stoke sub Hamdon Priory is a group of old buildings and ruins in Stoke-sub-Hamdon, Somerset, England. It started as a special college in the 14th century for a private chapel. Later, it became a farm.
The main building left from the college is a large hall with a house attached. This part was built in the late 15th century. English Heritage has given the hall a Grade I listed building status, meaning it's a very important historic building. Other buildings, like the gateway, are Grade II listed. The whole area is also protected as an ancient monument. Some of the old farm buildings are in poor condition and are on the Heritage at Risk Register, which means they need help to be saved.
Even though it's called "The Priory," this place was never actually a priory (a type of monastery). There are no records of monks living here.
What is Stoke sub Hamdon Priory?
The college was set up in 1304 by John de Beauchamp, 1st Baron Beauchamp. He wanted to fund a "chantry college," which was a group of priests who would pray for his family's souls in a special chapel. This chapel was part of his nearby manor house.
Over the next 150 years, the college buildings became run down. So, they were rebuilt around 1460. During a time called the dissolution (when King Henry VIII took control of church properties), the land was sold to regular people. It then became a farm that was rented out until the mid-20th century.
The National Trust bought the property in 1946. They are a charity that looks after historic places. Today, most of the site is open to visitors, except for the part that people still live in.
A Look at Its Past
Originally, there was a rectory here, which was a home for the priest who worked in the private chapel of St. Nicholas. This chapel was in the nearby manor house of the Beauchamp family. In 1304, when the priest resigned, John de Beauchamp decided to create a college for five chaplains (priests). These priests would be led by a "provost."
In 1444, a report by the Bishop of Bath and Wells, Thomas Beckington, showed that the college was in bad shape. The buildings were falling apart, and there were only two priests instead of the planned four. Bishop Beckington put the college under new management. A few years later, the building we see today was constructed. Experts believe this new building was smaller than the original, because there were fewer priests. It was likely built around 1450–60. The surviving building is thought to have been the provost's (leader's) home.
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During the time of Henry VIII, the college was controlled by the king. By 1548, when the king closed down many religious institutions, the college was already much smaller. The college building then became a "chapel of ease." This meant it was a convenient place for villagers to worship, as it was closer than the main parish church.
In 1548, the college buildings were sold to private owners. The property changed hands many times over the next 70 years. It was turned into a private house and updated. Later, it became known as Parsonage Farm and was worked as a farm until about 1960. The National Trust bought the property in 1946 and did some restoration work in 1967. The site was officially protected as an ancient monument in 1951. The main chantry house was listed as a Grade I building in 1961, and other buildings on the site were listed as Grade II.
What Does It Look Like?
The buildings are made from Hamstone, a type of limestone found locally at Ham Hill.
The main priory building is connected to a barn by a wall. There's also a gateway from North Street. The wall is about 5 meters (16 feet) high and dates from the 15th century. It has an arched gateway. The barn is mostly from the 18th century but uses parts from older buildings.
Another barn, about 25 meters (82 feet) northwest of the main priory, was built in the 15th century. It has a partially thatched roof and was used as a tithe barn. A tithe barn was where farmers stored a portion of their crops (a "tithe") that they owed to the church. Another ruined barn, damaged by fire in 1969, is near a circular dovecote. This dovecote might be from the 14th century. Doves and pigeons were important for food (eggs, meat) and their droppings were used as fertilizer.
The main priory building itself is shaped like an "L." The oldest part includes the hall, which was built in the 14th century. It even has stones from an earlier building that show old Norman architecture styles. The hall is about 8.5 meters (28 feet) long and 5.5 meters (18 feet) wide. It was once a dining hall. It has special arches and a curved recess in the wall that might have been an "aumbry" (a cupboard for sacred items). At one end of the hall, there's a parlor on the ground floor and a dormitory (sleeping area) upstairs. Next to the dormitory, there's a chapel. You can see into the chapel through a small opening called a "squint," which is unusual because it's combined with a "piscina" (a basin for washing sacred vessels).
The middle part of the building has a dining room and kitchen on the ground floor, with bedrooms above. Both rooms have wooden beams made of elm. There's a large medieval fireplace in the middle, which includes a bread oven. Next to the kitchen is a big storage area.
