Michelham Priory - a peaceful day out
This post is not quite chronological - our visit, with friends Bob and Alison, was before our trip to Bristol. Back then (it seems ages ago now...) the weather was still hot and sunny. Hard to believe.... We had a lovely day in this beautiful, peaceful place.Michelham Priory is just by Hailsham, one of those places where we have passed the signs loads of times but never been.
It was originally an Augustinian priory - a daughter house of the Augustinian priory in Hastings. At first, in the thirteenth century, it was quite important - the substantial gatehouse and moat show this. Edward 1 and the Archbishop of Canterbury even came to stay, but over time the priory fell into disrepair and dissolute ways, and was a prime candidate for disposal during Henry VIII's dissolution of the monasteries in 1536. Initially, it passed to Thomas Cromwell, then to Anne of Cleves, and after several more changes of ownership, to the Sackville family. By this time, it was overlooked, half-fo…
It was originally an Augustinian priory - a daughter house of the Augustinian priory in Hastings. At first, in the thirteenth century, it was quite important - the substantial gatehouse and moat show this. Edward 1 and the Archbishop of Canterbury even came to stay, but over time the priory fell into disrepair and dissolute ways, and was a prime candidate for disposal during Henry VIII's dissolution of the monasteries in 1536. Initially, it passed to Thomas Cromwell, then to Anne of Cleves, and after several more changes of ownership, to the Sackville family. By this time, it was overlooked, half-fo…