Tutbury Priory facts for kids

Tutbury Priory was a special kind of religious building called a monastery in Tutbury, England. It was a home for monks who followed the rules of Saint Benedict.

Tutbury Priory: A Look Back

How It Started

A powerful lord named Henry de Ferrers started Tutbury Priory. He finished building it in 1089. He wanted to honor God and remember important people. These included King William the Conqueror and his wife, Queen Matilda. He also wanted to remember his own parents and give thanks for his family. He wrote that it was "in honor of holy Mary, the Mother of God ... and for the soul of King William and Queen Mathilda, and for the health of my father and mother, and my wife Berta, and my sons, Engenulph, William and Robert, and my daughters and all my ancestors and friends."

Later, William, Earl of Derby, who was a great-grandson of the founder, moved his great-grandfather's body. He had him buried near the main altar in the priory church.

What Happened Next

During a time called the Reformation, many changes happened to religious buildings in England. The head monk, called the prior, became the local priest, known as the vicar, for Tutbury.

The western part of the priory church was kept and became the local church for everyone in the village. Today, it is known as St Mary's Church, Tutbury. This church has a beautiful old doorway built in the Norman style, which many people admire.

Outside the church, there is an interesting sundial that tells time using the sun. You might also see some old wooden stocks, but these are a copy of the originals.

A Nearby Event

The graveyard around St Mary's Church has reminders of a huge underground explosion. This happened at a place called Fauld in 1944. It was one of the largest non-nuclear explosions ever. Sadly, 68 people died in this accident, including some Italian prisoners of war. The graveyard shows how this event affected the local community.