Southwick Priory
near Portsmouth, Hampshire
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Featured Location Guide |
Today little remains of Southwick Priory set up
by Augustinian canons. Today's remains consist of a wall and a small amount of
other ground level items, located at the edge of a wood overlooking a golf
course. Although an English Heritage site, its not signposted and does not
appear on their website, although it is in the members handbook. Across the golf
course other remains of something can be seen, and this may be other fragments
of the priory.
| In its time it was a place of pilgrimage, where
pilgrims mention 'Our lady of Southwick' which was the name of the monastery or
church, but must have been more than that, I presume was a large statue. The
monks at this site relocated from their earlier site within Porchester castle. I visited the site just prior to visiting
Porchester Castle that has full height roman walls, castle remains, and the
church that was a part of the Abbey there, within its grounds, still used as the
parish church.
In 1133, Henry I founded a priory of Austin
canons in the church of St. Mary, Porchester, within the walls of Porchester
Castle. The foundation charter gave to the canons the church of Porchester,
timber for fencing, building and fuel, common pasture in the wood of Hingsdon,
the manor of Candover and a hide of land in each of Southwick and Applestead.
By the early part of the thirteenth century the priory is referred to in
charters as Southwick Priory and it is believed to have moved to the site in
Southwick c.1145-1153.
Towards the end of the middle ages, the priory
became a renowned centre of pilgrimage. In September, 1510 Henry VIII passed
through Southwick and made an offering of 6s. 8d. at Our Lady of Southwick. In
1538, shortly before the suppression, John Husee, a solicitor and servant of the
Lisles, wrote to Lord Lisle that Pilgrimage saints goeth down apace as Our Lady
of Southwick, the Blood of Hales, St. Saviour's and others. And Leland mentions
the fame of the pilgrimage to Our Lady of Southwick.
They appear to have prospered and by the dissolution, the priory had
gained the manors of Southwick with the rectory, Newland, Hannington, Sutton
Scotney, 'Moundesmer,' Preston Candover, 'Oldfishborne,' Farlington with a
fishery, Denmead Molens, Clanveld and Aldbourn, Weralles in Dorchester with the
rectory, Colmer, Stubbington, Hoe, West Boarhunt, Boarhunt, Harbert and Bury,
the rectories of Nutley, Swindon, Portsea, Portsmouth and 'Wanstede,' and lands
and rents in Prior's Dean, the city of Winchester and Andover.
The prior co-operated with the Kings officials
and was well rewarded. Prior Norton received the large pension of £66 13s. 4d.
A letter to Lord Lisle of 16 March, 1538,
stated that the priory was to be suppressed, and that 'Our Lady of Southwick'
was taken down. On 7 April, 1538 the surrender was signed by the Prior, William
Norton, and twelve of the canons. James Gunwyn's signature is next to the
Prior's.
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Click smaller
images to see larger versions
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After this the church was pulled down and a
house built on the site from part of the remainder, this burned down in 1750,
and today little remains, its possible that some parts from the abbey building
found their way into the nearby parish church of St James.
There are probably a lot more ground remains
and other pieces that could be connected, perhaps the pond, that you pass down
the path, may have held water for the priory, a drain or culvert or something can
be seen coming from that direction, or the lake across the golf course been
connected. If you fancy yourself as a time detective this would be a site that
could offer opportunities. This was at one point an abbey of some interest and
history, that has now generally been overlooked.
| Further information Grid
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Location: |
Southwick Priory, Nr Portchester, Hampshire |
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Ceremonial County: |
Hampshire
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Grid Reference: |
SU629084 |
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Map Link: |
StreetMap
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Aerial photo: |
Google Aerial
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Route(s):
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Best Times to Visit: |
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E-mail: |
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Website: |
EH property, but not on their website. |
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Other useful
websites: |
Wiki
Extracts from records etc
PEH
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Nearby Locations: |
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Other Relevant pages: |
Abbey
Section,
including all major Christian buildings, regions orders, normal layouts and
history. |
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Planning Grid
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Location: |
Southwick Priory, Nr Portchester, Hampshire |
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Grid Reference: |
SU632084 |
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Getting there: |
This site is not signposted. From the south
going up the B2177 that runs past Southwick, turn right at the roundabout
towards Southwick. Take a road on the right into North Road or Prinsley Drive, it says it leads to Priory Road. The priory is not near Priory Road,
but off the right before you get that far through woodland at the edge of
the golf course. You will come to a parking area by a memorial hall, park here,
cross the road you came up, and go through a metal footpath gate into
woodland. You will then see a sign, not visible from the road, telling you
about the priory. Follow the footpath it leads to the priory remains. |
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Access: |
On footpath, always open |
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Parking: |
Free in local car park |
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Facilities: |
None |
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Things To Do,
See and Photograph: |
Buildings, architecture, views. |
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What to take: |
Tripod, level, wide angle lens. |
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Nature highlights: |
Probably something around, all I saw was some
ducks on a pond of the side of the path. |
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Address: |
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Postcode: |
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Telephone: |
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Opening times: |
Open at all times |
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Charges: |
None |
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Photo Restrictions: |
None |
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Other Restrictions: |
None |
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Special Needs Access: |
Its fairly level for those walking, but
through woodland. |
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Special Needs Facilities: |
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Children Facilities: |
Not enough of any interest for children,
although they may like the woodland |
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Dogs Allowed: |
An area used by many to take their dogs for a
walk. |
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Please let us know any other information that we
can add to the Further information and Planning Grids or page and any errors that you discover. Before making a long trip to any location it is always
wise to double check the current information, websites like magazines may be
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