Hinckley Priory was a small medieval monastic house in the town of Hinckley, Leicestershire, England.
History.
Hinckley Priory was founded as a small alien house: one that owes allegiance to a foreign mother house. In Hinckley's case, this mother house was Lyre Abbey "(Abbaye Notre-Dame de Lyre)", in La Vieille-Lyre, Normandy, France. The exact year of foundation is unknown, but it was before 1173.
The priory was only small, with only two monks and the prior recorded in 1220. However, the priory played an important role as many of its priors served as Lyre Abbey's Papal Judge Delegates and as Proctors General in England and Wales.
The 15th-century wars between England and France brought trouble for the priory. As an alien house with allegiance to a French mother house, it was vulnerable. In March 1399 Hinckley was removed from the control of Lyre Abbey and granted to the Carthusian monks of Mount Grace Priory in North Yorkshire, for the duration of the wars. A truce with France meant the priory was returned in January 1400. A return to hostilities changed this again. In 1409 Hinckley priory's revenue was granted to Queen Joan (wife of King Henry IV) for her lifetime.
The priory was finally dissolved around 1414, with its property transferred again to Mount Grace Priory, and a pension awarded to Queen Joan.
Priors of Hinckley Priory.
A list of the known Priors of Hinckley Priory:
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Remains.
In 1543 King Henry VIII granted the former priory's land to the Dean and Chapter of Westminster Abbey. The former prior's residence was extended and converted into a domestic house known as "The Priory House" or "Hall House". Wings were added to the main block of the house in the later 16th century. The house was, however, demolished in 1827.
The priory was thought to have been located on the site now occupied by the Parish Hall, however this could not previously be confirmed. Vicar Brian Davies asked the Hinckley Field Walking Group, in 2004/2005, to dig test pits and try to locate any buried remains of the priory. The excavations discovered the remains of the priory: they were to the south of the present church.
Not all of the priory has been excavated. In 2007 Lockett and Wallis published a "Report on the Archaeological Excavation of the Priory Site", recording the extent of current excavations.
References.
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