Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Site of the priory of St Mary Magdalen founded by Richard de Clare, Earl of Hartford, late in the reign of Henry II and confirmed by Celestine III in 1192. In 1337 the church, chapter-house, dormitory, refectory, library, vestry and other buildings of the monastery were destroyed by fire. John, Archbishop of Canterbury, granted indulgence of 40 days to all who should assist in rebuilding the priory and further indulgences, amounting in all to 8 years and 230 days, were obtained from the Pope and bishops. Eventually, Tonbridge became one of the monasteries suppressed by Wolsey for the foundation of his colleges. It was dissolved by his agent William Burbank on 8th February 1525. The priory came into the possession of the Crown in 1532 and was granted with most of its possessions to the dean and chapter of Windsor. Several stone coffins originally laid to rest at the priory have been found locally.

Monument Types

• AUGUSTINIAN MONASTERY (AUGUSTINIAN MONASTERY, Medieval - 1160 AD? to 1525 AD)

Full description

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[TQ 5895 4600] St. Mary Magdalen's Priory [NR] (Site of) [NAT] (1) Priory of St. Mary Magdalene, Tonbridge; Augustinian Canons; founded before 1192; dissolved 1525. (2) The site is covered by a railway goods station and no trace remains. (3) No trace remains of this priory. (4) The date of the foundation of the priory of St. Mary Magdalen can be assigned to the last quarter of the 12th century. Pope Celestine III,by a bull (printed by Thorpe in Req. RoPP. 666) dated 2nd January, 1192, confirmed the foundation and the grants made by the founder, Richard de Clare. A number of deeds and other documents relating to the priory are preserved in the Bodleian Library. On 11 July 1337 thechurch, chapter-house, dormitory, refectory, library, vestry and other buildings of the monastery, were destroyed by fire. John, Archbishop of Canterbury, granted indulgence of 40 days to all who should assist in rebuilding the priory and further indulgences, amounting in all to 8 years and 230 days, were obtained from the pope and bishops. Eventually, Tonbridge became one of the monasteries suppressed by Wolsey for the foundation of his colleges. It was dissolved by his agent William Burbank on 8th February 1525. After Wolsey's attainder the priory came into the possession of the crown, and was granted withmost of its possessions to the dean and chapter of Windsor on 27th September 1532. (5) Roger, the second son of Richard Fitz Gilbert, on the decease of his elder brother in 1152, founded the Priory of St. Mary Magdalene at Tonbridge for monks of the Order of St. Augustine. The date of this foundation is not quite clear, the earliest charters in the Bodleian vary from 1135 to 1180; the latter date is more probable, as the Bull of Pope Celestine confirming the grant is dated 1191. (Details of documents on Tonbridge Priory follows.) (6) Tonbridge. The priory of St. Mary Magdalen, founded by Richard de Clare, Earl of Hartford, perhaps late temp Henry II, was confirmed by Celestine III in 1192; late temp Henry I. It was probably for a priory and 12 canons, the income in 1291 being over £51. The priory was suppressed 8.2.1525, when there were 7 canons and the total income was assessed at over £169. The townspeople voted for the restoration of the priory, rather than having it turned into a grammar school, as was proposed by Cardinal Wolsey, and it was granted to his College at Oxford in 1526. (7) Burial at site of priory and probably contemporary with it. (8) Stone coffins in Tonbridge from the priory. One stone coffin is in the stable yard at Somerhill, another, possibly that of Prior John, isin the garden of Lyons, Tonbridge. Two other examples are in the garden of Portreeves House. (9)

<1> OS 6" 1908 (OS Card Reference). SKE48323.

<2> Med Rel Houses england and Wales 1953 156 (Knowles and Hadcock) (OS Card Reference). SKE46801.

<3> Arch Cant 14 1882 326-43 illusts (J F Wadmore) (OS Card Reference). SKE34715.

<4> F1 ASP 15-JAN-63 (OS Card Reference). SKE42120.

<5> VCH Kent 2 1926 167 (OS Card Reference). SKE50953.

<6> Arch Cant 22 1897 265 (J F Wadmore) (OS Card Reference). SKE34841.

<7> Med Rel Houses England and Wales 1971 177 (Knowles and Hadcock) (OS Card Reference). SKE46802.

<8> Arch Cant 47 1935 242 (A A Neve) (OS Card Reference). SKE35220.

<9> Arch Cant 48 1963 244-248 fis 1-3 (C Tattershall Dodd) (OS Card Reference). SKE35236.

<10> Field report for monument TQ 54 NE 4 - January, 1963 (Bibliographic reference). SKE2716.

Sources and further reading