West Ravendale Priory facts for kids

West Ravendale Priory was a special kind of monastery called a Premonstratensian priory. It was located in North East Lincolnshire, England. A priory is a religious building where monks or nuns live and pray. This one was for a group of monks known as the Premonstratensians.

The old site of the priory is about 7 miles (11 km) south-west of Grimsby. It's also about 1 mile (1.6 km) west of the main A18 highway. Today, you can still see where it once stood from the earthworks (changes in the ground) and some rubble. The remains of the priory are protected as a Grade II listed building. This means they are important old structures that should be preserved. The site is located within the area called East Ravendale.

The Priory's Story: How It Began

West Ravendale Priory was started in the year 1202. It was founded by a person named Alan, who was the son of Count Henry of Brittany. Brittany is a region in France. The priory was set up as a "cell" of a larger Premonstratensian abbey (a big monastery) called Beauport Abbey, also in Brittany. A "cell" means it was a smaller branch or outpost of the main abbey.

Over time, England and France had many wars. Because of these conflicts, the English Crown (the government led by the king or queen) took control of the priory. It later became part of the dowry for Joan of Navarre. A dowry was property or money given to a husband by his wife's family. Joan was the wife of King Henry IV.

After Joan of Navarre passed away in 1437, the priory was given to a church called Southwell. The chapel of the priory, which was a small church building, was still standing in the early 1900s.

Other Monasteries in Lincolnshire

During the Middle Ages, the area of Lincolnshire was very busy and had many people living there. It was one of the most populated parts of England. In fact, Lincolnshire was home to nine different Premonstratensian monasteries.

Besides West Ravendale Priory, some of the other Premonstratensian houses in Lincolnshire included:

• Barlings Abbey
• Cammeringham Priory
• Hagnaby Abbey
• Newbo Abbey
• Newsham Abbey
• Orford Priory (which was for women)
• Stixwould Priory
• Tupholme Abbey