Beadlow Priory
Encyclopedia
Beadlow Priory was a monastic
foundation established between 1140 and 1146 by Robert D'Albini for a community of Benedictine
monks.
Around 1140 the lands of Beadlow Manor were granted to the priory at Millbrook
in Hertfordshire
, from where the community were moved upon the establishment of the new priory at Beadlow
, Bedfordshire
, England
about 10 km south of Bedford
. Initially referred to as Beaulieu Priory, it remained cell of the Abbey
at St Albans
.
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
.
The Beadlow Cottage, nearby, was not a part of the priory.
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
foundation established between 1140 and 1146 by Robert D'Albini for a community of Benedictine
Benedictine
Benedictine refers to the spirituality and consecrated life in accordance with the Rule of St Benedict, written by Benedict of Nursia in the sixth century for the cenobitic communities he founded in central Italy. The most notable of these is Monte Cassino, the first monastery founded by Benedict...
monks.
Around 1140 the lands of Beadlow Manor were granted to the priory at Millbrook
Millbrook Priory
Millbrook Priory was a priory in Bedfordshire, England. It was established in 1097 and disestablished in 1143.The little Priory of Beaulieu at Moddry, owned land at Millbrook, where originally a small cell had been founded by Nigel de Wast, as a cell of St. Albans, but when Beaulieu was founded, as...
in Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England. The county town is Hertford.The county is one of the Home Counties and lies inland, bordered by Greater London , Buckinghamshire , Bedfordshire , Cambridgeshire and...
, from where the community were moved upon the establishment of the new priory at Beadlow
Beadlow
Beadlow is a hamlet in the English county of Bedfordshire.It forms part of the civil parish of Clophill which, in turn, is part of the district of Central Bedfordshire....
, Bedfordshire
Bedfordshire
Bedfordshire is a ceremonial county of historic origin in England that forms part of the East of England region.It borders Cambridgeshire to the north-east, Northamptonshire to the north, Buckinghamshire to the west and Hertfordshire to the south-east....
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
about 10 km south of Bedford
Bedford
Bedford is the county town of Bedfordshire, in the East of England. It is a large town and the administrative centre for the wider Borough of Bedford. According to the former Bedfordshire County Council's estimates, the town had a population of 79,190 in mid 2005, with 19,720 in the adjacent town...
. Initially referred to as Beaulieu Priory, it remained cell of the Abbey
St Albans Cathedral
St Albans Cathedral is a Church of England cathedral church at St Albans, England. At , its nave is the longest of any cathedral in England...
at St Albans
St Albans
St Albans is a city in southern Hertfordshire, England, around north of central London, which forms the main urban area of the City and District of St Albans. It is a historic market town, and is now a sought-after dormitory town within the London commuter belt...
.
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
Chicksands is a village in the Central Bedfordshire district of Bedfordshire, England and part of the civil parish of Campton and Chicksands . It is on the River Flit. Nearby places are Shefford and Campton....
.
The Beadlow Cottage, 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