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Sopwell Priory (also known as Sopwell Nunnery) was a
Benedictine
, image = Medalla San Benito.PNG
, caption = Design on the obverse side of the Saint Benedict Medal
, abbreviation = OSB
, formation =
, motto = (English: 'Pray and Work')
, foun ...
nunnery founded around 1140 on the site of an ancient hermitage in Sopwell, Hertfordshire, England. After the Dissolution, the priory was torn down and a Tudor manor house constructed in its place.
History
Priory of St Mary
The priory was built c. 1140 by the Benedictine abbot of St Albans Abbey,Geoffrey de Gorham
Geoffrey de Gorham (Goreham, Gorron), sometimes called Geoffrey of Dunstable or of Le Mans (died at St Albans, 26 February 1146), was a Norman scholar who became Abbot of St Albans Abbey, 1119 to 1146.St Albans Abbey. The church was on the north side of the cloister with a chapter house and dormitory on the east side. At its height it comprised a prioress and nineteen nuns, and probably a number of servants. Many of the nuns came from well-off families."Sopwell", Monastic Matrix, University of St Andrews
/ref> The prioress was appointed by the abbot of St. Albans. In 1247 Henry III granted a yearly stipend of 50 shillings to support a chaplain. The priory was attacked in 1429 by the robber William Wawe and his men, who attempted to plunder the priory but were driven off by the intervention of some townsmen.
/ref>
In the 1560s, Lee decided to build a larger house, named "Sopwell House", with a great hall between two perpendicular wings. The monastic cloister was turned into a courtyard. In 1669, the estate was sold to Sir Harbottle Grimston. Much of the house was pulled down, and materials reused at Berry, Franki. "St Albans’ Sopwell Nunnery ruins now clean after graffiti incident", ''The Herts Advertiser'', 6 December 2017
/ref>
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St Albans City & District Council Planning & Building Control - Conservation: Character Area 4e Sopwell Nunnery Ruins
St Albans Museums: Sopwell Ruins
Priory ruins
Priory floorplan
Buildings and structures in St Albans Monasteries in Hertfordshire Benedictine nunneries in England Christian monasteries established in the 12th century Ruins in Hertfordshire 12th-century establishments in England 1539 disestablishments in England Grade II listed buildings in Hertfordshire Grade II listed monasteries Scheduled monuments in Hertfordshire {{Christian-monastery-stub
/ref> The prioress was appointed by the abbot of St. Albans. In 1247 Henry III granted a yearly stipend of 50 shillings to support a chaplain. The priory was attacked in 1429 by the robber William Wawe and his men, who attempted to plunder the priory but were driven off by the intervention of some townsmen.
Juliana Berners
Juliana Berners, O.S.B., (or Barnes or Bernes) (born 1388), was an English writer on heraldry, hawking and hunting, and is said to have been prioress of the Priory of St Mary of Sopwell, near St Albans in Hertfordshire.
Life and Work
Very lit ...
, a prioress during the 15th century, is believed to be the author of the ''Boke of St Albans
''The Book of Saint Albans'' (or ''Boke of Seynt Albans'') is the common title of a book printed in 1486 that is a compilation of matters relating to the interests of the time of a gentleman. It was the last of eight books printed by the St Alba ...
'' published in 1486.
Lee Hall
Following thedissolution
Dissolution may refer to:
Arts and entertainment Books
* ''Dissolution'' (''Forgotten Realms'' novel), a 2002 fantasy novel by Richard Lee Byers
* ''Dissolution'' (Sansom novel), a 2003 historical novel by C. J. Sansom Music
* Dissolution, in mu ...
of St Albans Abbey in 1539, Sopwell Priory was bought by Sir Richard Lee, a military engineer and commander of King Henry VIII. He tore the priory down and built a house on the site which he named Lee Hall. Lee retained some features of the priory, using the nave of the priory church as a hall with a fireplace.Bourton, Peter. "Sopwell ruins", St Albans and Hertfordshire Architectural and Archaelogical Society, May 20, 2021/ref>
Sopwell House
In the 1560s, Lee decided to build a larger house, named "Sopwell House", with a great hall between two perpendicular wings. The monastic cloister was turned into a courtyard. In 1669, the estate was sold to Sir Harbottle Grimston. Much of the house was pulled down, and materials reused at Gorhambury
Old Gorhambury House located near St Albans, Hertfordshire, England, is a ruined Elizabethan mansion, a leading and early example of the Elizabethan prodigy house. It was built in 1563–68 by Sir Nicholas Bacon, Lord Keeper, and was visited ...
. What remained was modified to form a house which ceased to be used in the late 18th century, and became a ruin.
The ruins, which are now managed by St Albans Museums
St Albans Museums is a collection of museums and historic buildings in the city of St Albans, Hertfordshire, England that is run by St Albans City and District Council. It oversees St Albans Museum + Gallery and the Verulamium Museum, and also ...
, remain today on Cottonmill Lane, near the centre of St Albans. In 2017 the ruins were tagged with graffiti. "Due to the fragile nature of the bricks, specialist teams were brought in to ensure cleaning chemicals did not cause damage."/ref>
Images
References
Further reading
St Albans City & District Council Planning & Building Control - Conservation: Character Area 4e Sopwell Nunnery Ruins
External links
St Albans Museums: Sopwell Ruins
Priory ruins
Priory floorplan
Buildings and structures in St Albans Monasteries in Hertfordshire Benedictine nunneries in England Christian monasteries established in the 12th century Ruins in Hertfordshire 12th-century establishments in England 1539 disestablishments in England Grade II listed buildings in Hertfordshire Grade II listed monasteries Scheduled monuments in Hertfordshire {{Christian-monastery-stub