Studley Priory, Oxfordshire facts for kids
Studley Priory was a small home for Benedictine nuns, led by a prioress. Nuns are women who dedicate their lives to religious service. This priory was started before 1176 in a small village called Studley. Today, this village is part of Horton-cum-Studley, about 7 miles northeast of Oxford in Oxfordshire, England.
In 1176, the priory received a gift from Bernard of St. Walery. The nuns sometimes complained about their food, like getting poor beef and new beer on certain nights. The priory was officially closed by 1536. However, it seemed to open again for a short time before closing for good in 1539.
From Priory to Family Home
After the priory closed, its land was sold to the Croke family. This family built the large house known as Studley Priory in 1587. This house still stands today on its 10 acres of land. A member of the Croke family was even a judge in the 1649 trial of King Charles I of England.
The Croke family owned the house and its land until about 1870. Then, the Henderson family bought it. They lived there until World War II. During the war, the house was used as a special hospital for officers from the Royal Air Force.
A Famous Hotel
In 1947, Raymond and Tessa Bawtree, along with their partner Wilma Hessey, rented Studley Priory. They turned it into a country-house hotel for 14 years. Many famous people stayed there during this time. These guests included the conductor Adrian Boult and the writer Beverley Nichols.
The famous author C. S. Lewis especially loved the hotel. He often visited for a beer on Sunday mornings after church. In later years, he even stayed there with his wife, Joy.
The Bawtrees did not continue their lease in 1961. That same year, the Henderson family sold their entire estate, including the priory, at an auction. The Parke family bought the priory and kept running it as a hotel until 2004.
Studley Priory in Stories
Studley Priory is mentioned in the book Blanket In The Dark by John Buchan. It was also used as a place to film parts of the movie A Man for All Seasons in 1966. The outside shots of Sir Thomas More's home in the film were taken at Studley Priory. However, the inside scenes were filmed in a studio.
