Stonely Priory facts for kids

Stonely Priory was an old monastery in Cambridgeshire, England. It was a home for a group of religious men called Augustinians (a type of Christian order). The priory was closed down in 1536.

What Was Stonely Priory?

Stonely Priory was a special kind of monastery. It was home to Augustinians, who were canons (like priests) living together under strict rules. They dedicated their lives to prayer and serving the local community.

The priory was probably started around 1180. Some records say William de Mandeville, 3rd Earl of Essex founded it. However, other information suggests it might have been founded by his brother, William FitzGeoffrey de Mandeville, 3rd Earl of Essex, a bit later. The people who owned the land in Kimbolton also had a say in how the priory was run.

Life at the Priory

Stonely Priory was quite small. It probably never had more than seven canons living there at one time. Not much is known about their daily lives because many of their old records are missing.

In 1366, the local church in Kimbolton became part of the priory. This meant the canons from Stonely Priory also served the people of Kimbolton in their church.

A Visit from the Bishop

In 1442, a church leader named Bishop William Alnwick visited the priory. During his visit, one of the canons accused the prior (the leader of the priory) of using the priory's money to help his own family. But this accusation came from a canon who had just been caught wearing regular clothes outside the priory, which was against their rules! No other problems were found during the bishop's visit.

The End of the Priory

The first known leader of Stonely Priory was John de Ripton, who died in 1309. The last leader was Edmund Bonde.

In 1534, the prior and the canons had to sign a document called the "Acknowledgment of Royal Supremacy." This meant they agreed that the King of England, Henry VIII, was the head of the church, not the Pope.

The priory was officially closed down in 1536. This happened because King Henry VIII decided to close many monasteries across England. The canons who lived there were likely allowed to become regular priests and continue their work outside the priory.

What Happened After?

In 1552, a man named Thomas Mary Wingfield bought the land where the priory used to be. When he passed away in 1557, his young son, Edward Maria Wingfield, inherited it. Edward was only 7 years old and was born at Stonely.

Edward Maria Wingfield later became an important figure in history. He was one of the people who helped start the first English colony in Jamestown, Virginia in 1606 and 1607. He even traveled with the first settlers to Jamestown but returned to England in 1608.

Stonely Priory Today

Today, you won't find the priory buildings standing tall. All that's left are some scattered earthworks (changes in the ground) and crop marks (patterns in fields seen from above). These faint signs show where the old buildings once stood.

There is a building called Priory Cottage nearby. It might have been a stable for the priory's horses a long time ago. In the 1800s, it was turned into a home and is now a protected historic building.