Bridlington Priory

Description

The Priory of Augustinian Canons, at Bridlington, was founded before 1113-4, and dissolved in 1537. This was one of the largest houses of the order, and there appear to have been a number of lay brothers until the fourteenth century. In 1380 the house contained the prior, twenty-four canons, and only one lay-brother. The last prior, William Wode, was executed in 1537 after the Pilgrimage of Grace, and it is said that there were then twenty-six canons who were expelled through the attainder. (PastScape)

The Priory was taken by William de Gros, Count of Aumale in 1143, and fortified in some form against the forces of the Empress. The present remains exhibit no indication of former fortification, and the works remain obscure. (Creighton 1998)

in 1143 the earl of York, 'troubled by the hostility of Ranulf earl of Chester and Gilbert of Gant converted the monastery of St Mary of Bridlington into a castle' (Dalton 1994 citing Symeon Opera )

Wilelmus Albemarlensis qui exclusis regularibus clericis ecclesiam invasit et polluit Brelintoniensem. (William of Newburgh)

Comments

The priory was granted a licence to crenellate in 1388, by King Richard II. The actual licence, a rare survival, is on display in the Bayle gate. The large vehicular archway of The Bayle was the priory's main entrance and the interior passage gives access to small wings, both with a garderobe, one being the porter's lodge and the other a prison. Accessed by spiral stairs, is a large first floor chamber, used as the Court of the Priors and although altered and repaired in brick during C17, the gate, still retains its original form and arrangement. The gate dates to the C12 and some speculation is given to it being associated with William le Gros. It was altered to the latest fashion in the early C14 and the large upper chamber was added about the time of the licence to crenellate. In its current form it is not crenellated and no old illustrations show it with crenellations. The nave of the Priory church survives as the parish church. The shire of St John of Bridlington, the last English saint created before the reformation, is long lost. The licence to crenellate was probably associated with the prolonged canonisation process for St John and the creation of a pilgrimage shrine at Bridlington.