39844
The Grade I Listed Caldey Priory, on Caldey Island, in Pembrokeshire.
Part of the extensive remains of a small medieval priory on site of a Celtic Christian community allegedly established in 5th or 6th Centuries by Pyro after whom the island may have been named Ynys Pyr. Re-founded by the Normans in 12th Century. Robert Fitzmartin, Lord of Cemaes, was granted the island in 1113, and his mother Geva founded the priory.
The priory was never large, only one monk being recorded in late 12th Century, four in 1402 and six in 1504. The buildings were altered to quite a high standard in the 16th Century, although there is no evidence that either the Bradshaws or Philpins, successive owners, were ever resident.
The buildings then declined to farmhouse status, with the house in the former church. The buildings then became the service ranges of a new house built to the north for Thomas Kynaston, owner from 1798. The island was sold in 1867 to J. Hawksley who revived the agriculture of the island, and in 1897 to the Rev W D Bushell, who restored the priory, (some restoration may have begun for T S Cunningham, owner 1894-7).
The church had had a malt-kiln in the nave and laundry in the chancel, the east range being servants' bedrooms, and the entrance arch a lime-store. Bushell sold the island in 1906 to the Anglican Benedictine community that built the new Caldey monastery 1907-13, but rented the house and priory until his death in 1917. The house was demolished in the 1970s.
Analysis by Neil Ludlow has shown a very complex story of alterations both pre and post Reformation that undo Bushells simpler analysis that the basic monastery survived intact. He thought the west range was guest accommodation over the vaulted entry and a ground floor chamber, the east range the dormitory over kitchen, and the north east tower the prior's accommodation, which he supposed to pre-date the other buildings. He thought a north range, now demolished, may have held a refectory.
Information Source:
britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/300005932-caldey-priory-incl...
39844
The Grade I Listed Caldey Priory, on Caldey Island, in Pembrokeshire.
Part of the extensive remains of a small medieval priory on site of a Celtic Christian community allegedly established in 5th or 6th Centuries by Pyro after whom the island may have been named Ynys Pyr. Re-founded by the Normans in 12th Century. Robert Fitzmartin, Lord of Cemaes, was granted the island in 1113, and his mother Geva founded the priory.
The priory was never large, only one monk being recorded in late 12th Century, four in 1402 and six in 1504. The buildings were altered to quite a high standard in the 16th Century, although there is no evidence that either the Bradshaws or Philpins, successive owners, were ever resident.
The buildings then declined to farmhouse status, with the house in the former church. The buildings then became the service ranges of a new house built to the north for Thomas Kynaston, owner from 1798. The island was sold in 1867 to J. Hawksley who revived the agriculture of the island, and in 1897 to the Rev W D Bushell, who restored the priory, (some restoration may have begun for T S Cunningham, owner 1894-7).
The church had had a malt-kiln in the nave and laundry in the chancel, the east range being servants' bedrooms, and the entrance arch a lime-store. Bushell sold the island in 1906 to the Anglican Benedictine community that built the new Caldey monastery 1907-13, but rented the house and priory until his death in 1917. The house was demolished in the 1970s.
Analysis by Neil Ludlow has shown a very complex story of alterations both pre and post Reformation that undo Bushells simpler analysis that the basic monastery survived intact. He thought the west range was guest accommodation over the vaulted entry and a ground floor chamber, the east range the dormitory over kitchen, and the north east tower the prior's accommodation, which he supposed to pre-date the other buildings. He thought a north range, now demolished, may have held a refectory.
Information Source:
britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/300005932-caldey-priory-incl...