Taunton Priory
Encyclopedia
Taunton Priory, or the Priory
of St Peter and St Paul, was an Augustinian monastery founded c. 1115 by William Gyffarde (also called William Giffard
), Bishop of Winchester and Chancellor of England
near Taunton
, Somerset
, England.
Its location was due in part to the fact that Taunton was a manor
of the Bishops of Winchester
. Henry de Blois
, successor to William Gyffarde and brother of King Stephen
is also shown as a co-founder of the priory, although it is not clear if he had any role in its construction. The Priory was dissolved
in 1539, and entirely demolished except for the Priory Barn.
The medieval fish farm, or vivarium
, is now the site of Vivary Park
.
The current Priory Barn building, used by Taunton Cricket Club as the Somerset Cricket Museum
, dates form the late 15th or early 16th century, and replaces an earlier 13th or 14th century building on that site.
Priory
A priory is a house of men or women under religious vows that is headed by a prior or prioress. Priories may be houses of mendicant friars or religious sisters , or monasteries of monks or nuns .The Benedictines and their offshoots , the Premonstratensians, and the...
of St Peter and St Paul, was an Augustinian monastery founded c. 1115 by William Gyffarde (also called William Giffard
William Giffard
William Giffard was the Lord Chancellor of England of William II and Henry I, from 1093 to 1101.Giffard was the brother of Walter Giffard earl of Buckingham. He also held the office of Dean of Rouen prior to his election as bishop. On 3 August 1100 he became bishop of Winchester by nomination of...
), Bishop of Winchester and Chancellor of England
Lord Chancellor
The Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain, or Lord Chancellor, is a senior and important functionary in the government of the United Kingdom. He is the second highest ranking of the Great Officers of State, ranking only after the Lord High Steward. The Lord Chancellor is appointed by the Sovereign...
near Taunton
Taunton
Taunton is the county town of Somerset, England. The town, including its suburbs, had an estimated population of 61,400 in 2001. It is the largest town in the shire county of Somerset....
, Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
, England.
Its location was due in part to the fact that Taunton was a manor
Manor house
A manor house is a country house that historically formed the administrative centre of a manor, the lowest unit of territorial organisation in the feudal system in Europe. The term is applied to country houses that belonged to the gentry and other grand stately homes...
of the Bishops of Winchester
Bishop of Winchester
The Bishop of Winchester is the head of the Church of England diocese of Winchester, with his cathedra at Winchester Cathedral in Hampshire.The bishop is one of five Church of England bishops to be among the Lords Spiritual regardless of their length of service. His diocese is one of the oldest and...
. Henry de Blois
Henry of Blois
Henry of Blois , often known as Henry of Winchester, was Abbot of Glastonbury Abbey from 1126, and Bishop of Winchester from 1129 to his death.-Early life and education:...
, successor to William Gyffarde and brother of King Stephen
Stephen of England
Stephen , often referred to as Stephen of Blois , was a grandson of William the Conqueror. He was King of England from 1135 to his death, and also the Count of Boulogne by right of his wife. Stephen's reign was marked by the Anarchy, a civil war with his cousin and rival, the Empress Matilda...
is also shown as a co-founder of the priory, although it is not clear if he had any role in its construction. The Priory was dissolved
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...
in 1539, and entirely demolished except for the Priory Barn.
The medieval fish farm, or vivarium
Vivarium
A vivarium is a usually enclosed area for keeping and raising animals or plants for observation or research...
, is now the site of Vivary Park
Vivary Park
Vivary Park is a public open space in Taunton, Somerset, England.The Sherford Stream, a tributary of the River Tone, flows through the park, which is located near the centre of the town...
.
The current Priory Barn building, used by Taunton Cricket Club as the Somerset Cricket Museum
Somerset Cricket Museum
Somerset Cricket Museum in Taunton, Somerset, England is a small museum housing exhibits on the history of cricket with a particular emphasis on the history of Somerset County Cricket Club.-Building:...
, dates form the late 15th or early 16th century, and replaces an earlier 13th or 14th century building on that site.