Tandridge Priory facts for kids

Tandridge Priory was a special kind of religious house, called a priory, located in Surrey, England. A priory was similar to a monastery, where monks or nuns lived and prayed. Tandridge Priory was run by a group of religious people called Augustinian canons.

History of Tandridge Priory

Tandridge Priory started out as a hospital. It was founded sometime between 1189 and 1199 by a person named Odo de Dammartin. Hospitals back then were often places that helped the poor and sick, and were usually run by religious groups.

Becoming a Priory

In 1218, the hospital changed. It became an Augustinian Priory. This meant it was a home for Augustinian canons. These canons were like monks who followed the rules of Saint Augustine. Their main job was to pray for the people who had given money or land to the priory.

How Big Was the Priory?

Tandridge Priory was quite small. It probably had no more than five canons living there at any time. To give you an idea of its size, in 1535, the priory's yearly income was about £81. This was much less than bigger places like Sheen Priory, which had a much larger income.

The priory earned money from different places. For example, it received income from the church lands and donations in Tandridge, Crowhurst, and part of Godstone.

The End of the Priory

The last leader of Tandridge Priory was John Lyngfield. He received a pension of £14 a year when the priory closed.

Tandridge Priory, like almost all similar religious houses in England, was closed down in 1538. This event is known as the Dissolution of the Monasteries. King Henry VIII ordered these closures. This was part of a bigger change in England called the Protestant Reformation. The king wanted to take control of the wealth and lands of these religious places.

What's There Now?

Today, you won't find the old priory buildings standing. However, there is a country house on the site. It was built in the 1600s and is considered a historic building. This means it's protected because of its special history and architecture.

The rest of the land is now used as a horse riding centre. You can still see some signs of the old priory, including three fishponds that were part of the original grounds.