Hinton Priory

Hinton Priory was a Carthusian monastery in northeast Somerset, England, close to the village of Hinton Charterhouse. The community lived here from 1232 until 1539, and what remains today are surviving fragments of the buildings and traces in the landscape.

What was Hinton Priory?

The priory was a charterhouse, a house of the Carthusian order, one of the strictest contemplative orders of medieval Europe. Carthusians lived in silence and solitude, spending most of their days in prayer and work within individual cells. Hinton belonged to a small group of medieval charterhouses in England. Sources disagree on the exact count, giving either nine or ten. Witham, also in Somerset, was older.

Who founded it, and how did it begin?

The founder was Ela, Countess of Salisbury, widow of William Longespée. The community first settled at Hatherop in Gloucestershire. That site was judged unsuitable, so the monks were moved to Hinton, on land belonging to the foundress. Sources vary on the start date: 1227 appears as the founding year, while 1232 is given as the year of dedication and the start of the house in its new home.

What happened in 1539?

The priory was dissolved in 1539 during the Dissolution of the Monasteries under Henry VIII. Most of the buildings were demolished or destroyed. Parts of the chapter house and refectory survived. In the late 16th century a manor house was built on the site, incorporating part of the former guest house.

What else remains of the Carthusians?

The Carthusian way of life split a community into two parts. The monks lived in the upper house, while the lay brothers, who handled manual labour and farming, lived in a separate lower house called the correrie, about a mile away. Its earthworks and buried remains are now protected as a separate scheduled monument. It was founded in the early 13th century and probably abandoned in the 14th. The main priory site is also a scheduled monument, and traces of historic water-management features are part of the protected area.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Hinton Priory? In northeast Somerset, near the village of Hinton Charterhouse, in southwest England.

When was the monastery active? From 1232 until 1539, when the monasteries were dissolved.

Can you visit Hinton Priory? The site is not generally open to the public, so check current access arrangements before planning a visit. Some of the remains stand on private land.

Why does the village have "Charterhouse" in its name? The name refers to the charterhouse, the Carthusian monastery founded nearby.

Who was Ela of Salisbury? The Countess of Salisbury and widow of William Longespée, who founded the priory and moved the community to Hinton.

Who is this place for?

It suits anyone interested in medieval English history, archaeology and monastic life. It is an interesting stop when planning a trip around Somerset, particularly for travellers who enjoy lesser-known heritage sites and the cultural landscape of the region.