Hinton Priory

Infobox monastery
name = Hinton Priory


order = Carthusian
mother =
established = 1227
disestablished = 1539
diocese =
churches =
founder = Ela, Countess of Salisbury
dedication =
people = William Longspee, Earl of Salisbury
location = Hinton Charterhouse, Somerset, England
oscoor = gbmappingsmall|ST777591
remains = buildings and earthworks
public_access = no

Hinton Priory was one of the ten medieval Carthusian houses (charterhouses) in England. It was first established at Hatherop in 1222 by William Longspee, Earl of Salisbury. The monks disliked the location, and on Longspee's death in 1226 they petitioned his countess for a new site to achieve greater solitude. She gave them her manors of Hinton and Norton in Somerset and the new house was consecrated at Hinton Charterhouse in May 1232. It was called Locus Dei meaning 'God's Place'.

The house was suppressed as part of the dissolution of the monasteries on 31 March 1539.

The chapter house, prior's cell and refectory survive as agricultural buildings belonging to the sixteenth century mansion, Hinton Abbey. Surviving earthworks from the great cloister are still visible in an orchard and paddocks. There is no public access.

It is a grade I listed building. [cite web | title=The chapter house | work=Images of England | url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?id=32550 | accessdate=2006-11-20]

References

* Glyn Coppack and Mick Aston: "Christ's Poor Men - the Carthusians in England" ISBN 0 7524 1961 7