Brightley Priory
Encyclopedia
Brightley Priory in Devon
was originally built in the 12th-century as a Cistercian monastery
. It was abandoned by the monks after only 5 years, who moved to a nearby site which became Forde Abbey
.
, near Okehampton Castle
. He dedicated it to the Virgin Mary and invited Gilbert, Abbot of Waverley
in Surrey
, to send 12 monks and an abbott to form a new Cistercian community there.
One story is that the agricultural land surrounding the new priory was insufficiently fertile, forcing the monks to consider abandoning it and returning to the mother house in 1141. However, Adelicia de Brioniis, the sister of Richard (who died in 1137) and successor to his estate, offered them an alternative site instead on the River Axe in the manor of Thorncombe. Here, between 1141-48, they built a new priory which came to be known as "Ford" Abbey
due to its proximity to an old river crossing.
The original site is now a farm and one of the farm outbuildings, a rectangular building running east-west, has considerable remains of an ecclesiastical nature. It could possibly have been a chapel.
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
was originally built in the 12th-century as a Cistercian monastery
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...
. It was abandoned by the monks after only 5 years, who moved to a nearby site which became Forde Abbey
Forde Abbey
Forde Abbey is a privately owned former Cistercian monastery in Dorset, England. The house and gardens are run as a tourist attraction while the estate is farmed to provide additional revenue...
.
History
Between 1133-1136, Richard de Brioniis (also found as Brionis OR Bryonis or Richard Fitz Baldwin), Baron of Okehampton (Oakhampton), and grand-nephew of William the Conqueror, built a priory on his land at Brightley, on the bank of the West Okement RiverWest Okement River
West Okement is a river in the Dartmoor moors in Devon in south-west England....
, near Okehampton Castle
Okehampton Castle
Okehampton Castle is a ruined motte and bailey castle situated in Devon, England.The castle has Norman origins and dates from the late 11th century...
. He dedicated it to the Virgin Mary and invited Gilbert, Abbot of Waverley
Waverley Abbey
Waverley Abbey was the first Cistercian abbey in England, founded in 1128 by William Giffard, Bishop of Winchester. It is situated about one mile south of Farnham, Surrey, in a bend of the River Wey.-History:...
in Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
, to send 12 monks and an abbott to form a new Cistercian community there.
One story is that the agricultural land surrounding the new priory was insufficiently fertile, forcing the monks to consider abandoning it and returning to the mother house in 1141. However, Adelicia de Brioniis, the sister of Richard (who died in 1137) and successor to his estate, offered them an alternative site instead on the River Axe in the manor of Thorncombe. Here, between 1141-48, they built a new priory which came to be known as "Ford" Abbey
Forde Abbey
Forde Abbey is a privately owned former Cistercian monastery in Dorset, England. The house and gardens are run as a tourist attraction while the estate is farmed to provide additional revenue...
due to its proximity to an old river crossing.
The original site is now a farm and one of the farm outbuildings, a rectangular building running east-west, has considerable remains of an ecclesiastical nature. It could possibly have been a chapel.