Wilmington Priory
Wilmington Priory was a Benedictine priory in the civil parish of Long Man, East Sussex, England. The surviving building is now owned by the Landmark Trust and let as holiday accommodation.
It was founded in the mid 11th century as the small alien cell of St Mary by Herluin de Conteville. It was enlarged in 1243 to create a priory but primarily run as a grange to maintain the lands held in the area by the Benedictine monks of Grestein Abbey in Normandy. It was suppressed along with other alien cells in 1414 and given to the Dean and Chapter of Chichester Cathedral, who in 1565 granted it to Sir Richard Sackville. The building was fortified in the 14th century by a portcullis and a three storey drum tower, which was demolished in the 18th century.[1][2]
On the site today stands a 14th century two-storey L-shaped house, incorporating part of a 13th century building, which was modified in the 18th century and has been grade I listed. To the north and south of the house are the ruins of other buildings, under one of which is a 14th century vaulted undercroft. [3]
See also
List of monastic houses in East Sussex
References
- ↑ "Wilmington Priory". Retrieved 18 November 2014.
- ↑ "A History of the County of Sussex: Volume 2". Retrieved 18 November 2014.
- ↑ Historic England. "WILMINGTON PRIORY (1185052)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 18 November 2014.