Whistones Priory facts for kids

Whistones Priory was a special kind of religious house called a priory, located in Worcestershire, England. It was a home for nuns, who were women dedicated to a religious life.

Whistones Priory: A Look Back

Whistones Priory was officially known as the House of St. Mary Magdalene. It was found in a place called Barbourne, which is part of Worcester, within the parish of Claines. The nuns who lived there belonged to the order of St. Bernard of Clairvaux. This was a group of religious people who followed the teachings of a famous saint named Bernard of Clairvaux.

How Whistones Priory Started

The priory was started by a person named Walter de Cantilupe. He founded it sometime before the year 1255. In that same year, 1255, the nuns received a gift of land. They were given 51 acres of arable land, which is land good for farming crops, and 2 acres of meadow land. This land was in a place called Aston Episcopi. Because the "white ladies" (nuns often wore white habits) lived there, the area later became known as White Ladies Aston.

The nuns also received other ways to support themselves. They were given the tithes from certain lands. Tithes were like a tax, usually a tenth of what was produced, given to the church. These came from the "demesne lands" (lands directly owned by a lord) in places like Northwick, Newland (which is in Worcester), and other lands in Claines. Later, by 1291, the nuns also gained control over a part of the chapel in Claines. This was given to them by Bishop Giffard in 1283. They also received tithes from the chapel of Aston Episcopi, also known as White Ladies' Aston.

What Happened to Whistones Priory?

There isn't a clear record of exactly when Whistones Priory closed down. This happened during a time in English history called the Dissolution of the Monasteries. This was when King Henry VIII closed down many monasteries and priories across England.

Whistones Priory likely closed in 1536. This was because of a law passed that year. The law allowed the king to take over "smaller religious houses" – those that earned less than £200 a year. Whistones Priory probably fell into this category. Jane Burrell was the last prioress, meaning she was the head nun of the priory. When the priory closed, she received a pension of £5 10s. A pension is like a regular payment given to someone after they retire or their job ends. She continued to receive this payment until 1553.