Sandwell Priory
Encyclopedia
Sandwell Priory was a medieval monastic house in Staffordshire
, England
. Although records of the establishment of the priory are sparse it is reported that the priory was founded by William Fitz-Anculf in the 1100s. It was a priory of the Benedictine
order.
The priory was dissolved in 1525, prior to the Dissolution
of English Monasteries under Henry VIII.
, in modern West Bromwich
, and is managed by Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council. Very little remains of the priory, although its ground-plan has been marked out. There are some low level walls of the structure and the remains of an open stone grave that resides in the eastern transept. It is a scheduled ancient monument
.
Staffordshire
Staffordshire is a landlocked county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. Part of the National Forest lies within its borders...
, 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...
. Although records of the establishment of the priory are sparse it is reported that the priory was founded by William Fitz-Anculf in the 1100s. It was a priory of the 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...
order.
The priory was dissolved in 1525, prior to the Dissolution
Dissolution of the Monasteries
The Dissolution of the Monasteries, sometimes referred to as the Suppression of the Monasteries, was the set of administrative and legal processes between 1536 and 1541 by which Henry VIII disbanded monasteries, priories, convents and friaries in England, Wales and Ireland; appropriated their...
of English Monasteries under Henry VIII.
The Present Site
Today, the site is within Sandwell Valley Country ParkSandwell Valley Country Park
Sandwell Valley Country Park is a country park, run by Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council, in Sandwell Valley, on the River Tame in the middle of the urban conurbation between Birmingham and West Bromwich in the West Midlands of England.- Location :...
, in modern West Bromwich
West Bromwich
West Bromwich is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Sandwell, in the West Midlands, England. It is north west of Birmingham lying on the A41 London-to-Birkenhead road. West Bromwich is part of the Black Country...
, and is managed by Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council. Very little remains of the priory, although its ground-plan has been marked out. There are some low level walls of the structure and the remains of an open stone grave that resides in the eastern transept. It is a scheduled ancient monument
Scheduled Ancient Monument
In the United Kingdom, a scheduled monument is a 'nationally important' archaeological site or historic building, given protection against unauthorized change. The various pieces of legislation used for legally protecting heritage assets from damage and destruction are grouped under the term...
.