Prittlewell Priory in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, is the site of a priory that has existed here for over 900 years. After the monasteries were dissolved by Henry VIII, the Scratton family lived here. They lived here for 200 years with thirteen bedrooms and several servants. Since then, the priory has been a museum open to the public with a nice section of gardens and grounds to explore.
If approaching Priory Gardens from the train station (the south), visitors will walk through or beside Churchill Gardens. It is a pleasant little garden down a steep hill. It is a little oasis off the main road with a couple of ponds and a small waterfall.
Opposite Churchill Gardens is St. Mary's Parish Church Prittlewell, which I found to be an attractive-looking church.
The cellars in the priory have changed very little since the monks lived here in 1536. The cellars probably date from 1200, and they were used as storerooms. In Victorian times, the cellars were rumoured to be haunted.
In 1918-1922, the priory building was escavated to remove the house and revealed the priory underneath.
The park and priory was bought by local jeweller RA Jones, and he donated it to Southend-on-Sea in 1917.
The great hall room was the refectory. It is where the cluniac monks communicated in sign language and dined. They were not allowed to speak to each other.
The fish ponds used at the priory are still in use today in Victoria Park.
Visitors can see the footprint of the gatwhouse, which was where the monks spent a lot of time. It was demolished.
The gardens are beautiful and should not be missed.
The upstairs and cellars of the old priory are usually open, but they were off-limits due to not having enough volunteers. Hopefully, they will be fully open the next time that I return.
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