Eye Priory

{{Short description|Monastery in Suffolk, UK}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox historic site | coordinates = {{Coord|52.322639|1.156111|format=dms|type:landmark|display=it}} | mapframe = yes }} '''Eye Priory''' was a [[Benedictine]] [[Priory]] dedicated to St Peter in the town of [[Eye, Suffolk|Eye]] in the English county of Suffolk. It was founded by [[Robert Malet]] c. 1080, and was originally an [[Alien priory|Alien Priory]] dependent on [[Bernay Abbey]] in Normandy.<ref name=scheduling>{{National Heritage List for England |num=1020174 |desc=Remains of Eye Priory at Abbey Farm|access-date=4 January 2014}}</ref> It became independent in 1385 by charter of [[Richard II]]<ref name=scheduling/> when it could support only 3-4 monks. It was finally dissolved in 1537 as part of the [[Dissolution of the Monasteries]], with the lands being given to [[Charles Brandon, 1st Duke of Suffolk]].<ref name=scheduling/>

Only the 15th/16th century 'gatehouse' now survives, in use as a barn. It is a [[Grade II listed building]].<ref name=abbey>{{National Heritage List for England |num=1316548 |desc=BARN APPROXIMATELY 100 METRES NORTH WEST OF ABBEY FARMHOUSE|access-date=4 January 2014}}</ref> During excavations, a 9th-century seal-die of Bishop Aethelwold (845-70) was found. Excavations in 1926 demonstrated that the church and [[claustral]] buildings were a replica of the mother-house.<ref name=scheduling/> The church had an aisled nave with [[apsidal]] [[chancel]] and apsidal side chapels adjoining. The transepts also had apsidal chapels. The claustral buildings were arranged to the north, the cloister being 90 feet square. The site is scheduled as an [[ancient monument]].<ref name=scheduling/>

==References==

*{{PastScape|mnumber=389045|access-date=2 October 2015}} {{Reflist}}

[[Category:Monasteries in Suffolk]] [[Category:Scheduled monuments in Suffolk]] [[Category:Grade II listed buildings in Suffolk]] [[Category:Eye, Suffolk|Priory]] [[Category:Monasteries dissolved under the English Reformation]]