Wroxall Priory facts for kids
Wroxall Priory was an old monastery for nuns in Wroxall, Warwickshire, England. It was a special place where nuns lived, prayed, and worked many centuries ago.
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How Wroxall Priory Started
Wroxall Priory was founded around the year 1135. A man named Hugh, who was the Lord of Hatton and Wroxall, started it. He had been held prisoner in Jerusalem for seven years during the Crusades, which were religious wars.
One day, Hugh had a vision of St. Leonard, who is known as the patron saint of prisoners. Hugh believed that St. Leonard helped him get free. To show his thanks, he gave 3,000 acres of land in Wroxall to the church. This land was used to build a monastery for nuns who followed the Order of St. Benedict. It was named the Priory of St. Leonard at Wroxall.
The Priory's History
For many years, Benedictine nuns lived and worshipped at Wroxall Priory. They had a Prioress, who was the head nun, leading them.
However, in 1536, a big change happened across England. Henry VIII, who was the King at the time, decided to close down all the monasteries. This event is known as the Dissolution of the Monasteries. Because of this, Wroxall Priory was also closed.
What Remains Today
Even though the priory was closed a long time ago, some parts of it still stand today.
St Leonard's Church
The priory's chapel is still here and is now known as St Leonard's Church. Many people call it Wren's Chapel. This is because Sir Christopher Wren, a very famous architect, bought the priory estate later on. The church is now a cathedral for the Free Methodist Church. Inside, you can find a statue of Prioress Isabella Shakespeare, who was the aunt of the famous writer William Shakespeare. You can also find the tomb of Sir Christopher Wren's wife here.
Ruined Cloisters
Besides the church, you can also see the ruined parts of the priory's cloisters. Cloisters were covered walkways, usually around a courtyard, where the nuns would walk and meditate. These ruins give us a glimpse into what the priory looked like centuries ago.
Wroxall Abbey Now
The land where the priory once stood is now home to Wroxall Abbey. This is a large house that was built much later, during the Victorian era, by James Dugdale.
For many years, from 1936 to 1995, Wroxall Abbey was a girls' school. After that, a family called the Quinns bought it. They turned it into a hotel, where people can stay and enjoy the historic surroundings. Inside the house, you can even see stained glass windows that tell the story of Sir Hugh, who founded the priory.
