Westwood Priory facts for kids
Westwood Priory was a special kind of monastery for Benedictine nuns, founded in 1153. It was located near Droitwich in Worcestershire, England. This priory, also known as the Priory of St. Mary, was connected to a larger abbey in France called Fontevraud Abbey. The English king took control of Westwood Priory in 1537 during a time known as the Dissolution of the monasteries, when many religious houses were closed down.
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A Look Back: History of Westwood Priory
How Westwood Priory Started
The story of Westwood Priory began when a lady named Eustachia de Say and her son, Osbert FitzHugh, gave a church in Westwood to Fontevraud Abbey. This famous abbey was in the Loire Valley in France. It's a very important place because King Henry II of England, his wife Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine, and their son King Richard I (the Lionheart) are all buried there.
Soon after this gift, a small priory was built at Westwood. It was named after the Blessed Virgin Mary. At first, only six Benedictine nuns lived and prayed there.
Growing Over Time
Over many years, the community of nuns at Westwood Priory grew. From just six nuns, it eventually became home to eighteen sisters. Some nuns from Westwood even moved to Amesbury Priory in 1177 when it was reopened.
The Priory Closes Down
The last leader of Westwood Priory was a woman named Joyce Acton, who was called the prioress. On March 11, 1537, the priory was closed as part of the Dissolution of the Monasteries. This was a big event when King Henry VIII closed many religious houses across England. When the priory closed, Joyce Acton received a yearly payment of ten pounds.
Westwood After the Priory
After the priory was closed, King Henry VIII gave the land and buildings of Westwood to a man named Sir John Pakington. Later, during the time of Queen Elizabeth I, a grand house called Westwood House was built on the property. It was first used as a special building for parties and feasts.
The Pakington family usually lived in a nearby village called Hampton Lovett. However, during the English Civil War, their home there was burned down. Because of this, the Pakington family moved into Westwood House, making it their main family home.
