Newark Priory

Newark Priory

The remains of Newark Priory
Monastery information
Order	Augustinian
Established	between 1189-1199[1]
Disestablished	1538
Dedicated to	Virgin Mary and Thomas Beckett
Diocese	Diocese of Guildford
Controlled churches	Old Woking, with its chapels of Horsell and Pyrford; Leigh; Send; St. Martha, Guildford; Wanborough; Shipton; Weybridge; and Windlesham, with its chapel.[2]
People
Founder(s)	Rauld de Calva and his wife Beatrice de Saudes
Important associated figures	Richard Lipscombe, Lord Onslow
Site
Location	Pyrford, Surrey, England
Coordinates	51°18′32″N 0°30′24″W / 51.3089°N 0.5068°W / 51.3089; -0.5068Coordinates: 51°18′32″N 0°30′24″W / 51.3089°N 0.5068°W / 51.3089; -0.5068
Visible Remains	Yes
Public Access	No

Newark Priory is a ruined priory located near the village of Pyrford in Surrey, England^[3]

History

Newark Priory was established in the late 12th Century by Rauld de Calva and his wife Beatrice de Sandes for Augustian canons.^[4][5] It was dedicated to the Virgin Mary and Thomas Beckett^[5] and originally, the land where the church was built was called Aldbury. This gradually changed its name from Aldbury to Newark or the New Place (novo loco) of St. Thomas near Guildford,^[2] at one point being called Newstead.^[5] During King Henry VIII's dissolution of the monasteries Newark Priory was dissolved. The prior himself was pensioned off, valuables sent to the Tower of London and the land given to the Master of the Kings Horse. It has been said that a cannon was employed from the top of Church Hill to bombard or demolish, what were, the then extensive buildings. This incident is portrayed in one of a series of paintings made by artist Tessa Kewen.^[5] The last known prior of Newark Priory was Richard Lipscombe, appointed just before the surrender of the house in 1538.^[6] The building falling into ruin, was said to have been further destroyed by locals using the stones for road mending; until Lord Onslow, the owner in the 1730s, decided to preserve what remained.^[7]

Today

Newark Priory still exists as ruins today and is listed as a Grade I Ancient Monument. It was placed upon the English Heritage Register of Buildings at risk, established in 2007.^[8] It is located upon private land so is unable to be reached at a close proximity. It can be found in a meadow[1] adjacent to Newark Lane, Pyrford, England.^[3]

A dawn service is held each year on Easter Day at 6am in the ruins, run by churches from the surrounding towns including Byfleet, West Byfleet, Pyrford and Ripley.

External links

• [2]- A GoogleMaps reference to its location
• [3] - The English Heritage Buildings at Risk register.
• [4]- Woking council's page on Pyrford.
• [5]- a BBC webpage detailing information on The Reformation and The Dissolution of the Monasteries

References

1. ^ Francis Grose, The antiquities of England and Wales, p113, (Hooper & Wigstead, No: 212, Hight-Holborn, facing Southhampton Street, Bloombsury-Square)., 1784
2. ^ ^{a b} H.E. Malden (editor) (1967). "Houses of Austin canons: Priory of Newark". A History of the County of Surrey: Volume 2. Institute of Historical Research. http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=37818. Retrieved 04 November 2011. 
3. ^ ^{a b} Ruins of Newark Priory : English Heritage : English Heritage
4. ^ Seagate Crystal Reports - register.rpt
5. ^ ^{a b c d} Pyrford - A Brief History of Pyrford, Surrey, UK - presented by Pyrford Press
6. ^ Houses of Austin canons - Priory of Newark | British History Online
7. ^ Thomas Cromwell, Excursions in the County of Surrey
8. ^ Ruins of Newark Priory : English Heritage : English Heritage