Beadlow Priory was a
monastic
Monasticism (; ), also called monachism or monkhood, is a religious way of life in which one renounces worldly pursuits to devote oneself fully to spiritual activities. Monastic life plays an important role in many Christian churches, especially ...
foundation established between 1140 and 1146 by
Robert D'Albini for a community of
Benedictine
The Benedictines, officially the Order of Saint Benedict (, abbreviated as O.S.B. or OSB), are a mainly contemplative monastic order of the Catholic Church for men and for women who follow the Rule of Saint Benedict. Initiated in 529, th ...
monks.
History
Around 1140 the lands of
Beadlow Manor were granted to the priory at
Millbrook in
Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire ( or ; often abbreviated Herts) is a ceremonial county in the East of England and one of the home counties. It borders Bedfordshire to the north-west, Cambridgeshire to the north-east, Essex to the east, Greater London to the ...
, from where the community were moved upon the establishment of the new priory at
Beadlow
Beadlow is a hamlet in the Central Bedfordshire district of Bedfordshire, England. At the 2011 Census the population of the hamlet was included in the civil parish of Campton and Chicksands.
It is located around a mile and a half east of Clophi ...
,
Bedfordshire
Bedfordshire (; abbreviated ''Beds'') is a Ceremonial County, ceremonial county in the East of England. It is bordered by Northamptonshire to the north, Cambridgeshire to the north-east, Hertfordshire to the south and the south-east, and Buckin ...
,
England
England is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is located on the island of Great Britain, of which it covers about 62%, and List of islands of England, more than 100 smaller adjacent islands. It ...
about 10 km south of
Bedford
Bedford is a market town in Bedfordshire, England. At the 2011 Census, the population was 106,940. Bedford is the county town of Bedfordshire and seat of the Borough of Bedford local government district.
Bedford was founded at a ford (crossin ...
. Initially referred to as Beaulieu Priory, it remained cell of the
Abbey
An abbey is a type of monastery used by members of a religious order under the governance of an abbot or abbess. Abbeys provide a complex of buildings and land for religious activities, work, and housing of Christians, Christian monks and nun ...
at
St Albans
St Albans () is a cathedral city in Hertfordshire, England, east of Hemel Hempstead and west of Hatfield, Hertfordshire, Hatfield, north-west of London, south-west of Welwyn Garden City and south-east of Luton. St Albans was the first major ...
.
Poverty made the community unsustainable and in 1428 the monks left the priory, which became absorbed into St Albans Abbey. In 1434 the ownership of the priory passed to the Crown, whilst the site was finally abandoned as a monastic settlement in 1435.
The decay of the buildings ensued after this time, and by 1908 there existed no intact above-ground remains.
From 1963 to 1965 archaeological excavations unearthed the foundations as well as artifacts dating to the 12th to 15th centuries.
The establishment was close to
Chicksands Priory
Chicksands Priory is a former monastic house at Chicksands in Bedfordshire.
History
The Gilbertine priory of Chicksands was founded about 1152 by Rohese, Countess of Essex, and her second husband Payn de Beauchamp, Baron of Bedford. Payn ...
.
The Old Priory House, nearby, was not a part of the priory.
Priors of Beadlow
*Walter de Standon, elected 1233;
*Roger, elected 1237;
*Roger de Thebrugg, elected 1281;
*John of Stopsley, elected 1285;
*John of Stagsden, transferred 1296;
*William de Parys, elected 1296;
*Peter de Maydenford, elected 1299;
*Gregory of Saint Albans, elected 1302;
*Richard of Northampton, elected 1305;
*William of Kirkby, elected 1310, transferred 1312;
*Richard of Hertford, elected 1312;
*Henry of Saint Neots, elected 1316;
*Adam of Newark, elected 1340;
*John of Caldwell, elected 1351;
*William of Winslow, elected 1374;
*John Warham, at least 1396 until at least 1401;
*Richard Smyth of Missenden, at least 1405 to 1428
Burials
*
Peter de Preaux
Peter de Preaux (; ; died 1212) was a Norman knight in the service of the Angevin kings of England. Given control of the Channel Islands by King John, he was the first recorded lord of the Isles outside the royal family.
Life Early life
Peter ...
See also
*
Abbeys and priories in England
Monastic houses in England include abbeys, priories and friaries, among other monastic religious houses.
The sites are listed by modern ( post-1974) county.
Overview
The list is presented in alphabetical order of ceremonial county. Foundatio ...
*
List of monastic houses in Bedfordshire
The following is a list of the monastic houses in Bedfordshire, England.
Alien houses are included, as are smaller establishments such as Monastic cell, cells and notable monastic granges (particularly those with resident monks), and also ca ...
References
External links
Priory of Beaulieuon British History Online
{{Benedictine houses of England and Wales
1140s establishments in England
1435 disestablishments in England
Benedictine monasteries in England
History of Bedfordshire
Monasteries in Bedfordshire
Christian monasteries established in the 1140s