Wenlock Priory, Shropshire

We visit the market town of Much Wenlock, which for over 700 years has a history that stretches back much further. But it’s more the impressive yet tranquil remains of the Priory ruins that we are here today to take an explore around and we’d like to invite you to join us whilst we walk Wenlock Priory.

An Anglo-Saxon monastery was founded here in about 680 AD by King Merewalh of Mercia, whose Abbess’ daughter was hailed as a saint. Her relics were miraculously re-discovered here in 1101, attracting both pilgrims and prosperity to the priory. Remains of this medieval Priory survive today, reflecting the Cluniac love of elaborate decoration where parts of the great 13th Century church still stand high.

Following the Norman Conquest, around 1080AD, Roger de Montgomery founded a Cluniac priory on the existing site. It is believed that the original “double monastery” consisted of two entirely separate churches, and archaeological evidence suggests that the Norman’s founded their new church on the site of the male monastery.

Some parts of the nave and transepts still stand which we are able to visit; we are now entering a section of the nave’s south aisle which still survives in good condition. The west end of this southern nave aisle supports a three bay chamber, with the chamber being only accessible from a door at first storey level in the west range of the cloister. What’s interesting is that the purpose of the chamber Is one of Wenlock mystery’s. It’s been argued that it was a chapel dedicated to St Michael but there is no alter step or any evidence of other features. Whatever its purpose it was clearly a significant space and sufficiently important.

The entrance to the Chapter House from the cloister is through a beautifully decorated Norman arched doorway, set between two arched windows. The stone carvings and patterns really do highlight its extravagance and of course it’s importance. But once inside, you’re firstly drawn to the very impressive intersecting blind arcading covering all of the walls. The chapter house was built in around 1140, this is the place where the monks and the prior met each morning to discuss priory business and to issue punishments for disobedience. Much of the elaborate arcading and detailed stone carving typical of Cluniac buildings can still be seen on its interior walls.

Towards the back on the right, a blocked doorway can be seen, which once led to a treasury under the stairs. You have to wonder how the church would have once looked if this much skill and money was spent decorating just the walls in the chapter house. Lining the walls were stone benches where the monks would sit and listen to their abbot.

Following on from the chapter house and to the monk’s procession entrance into the church from the east of the cloister we are able to have a look at the library. Unfortunately it’s completely fenced off to protect the tiles and the tombs, but you can still have a look inside like we did.

The room placement of the library was pretty standard practise for the storage of books in monasteries, until the middle ages of the 12th century books would be kept in chests, but by the 1150’s arched shelves began to appear. Wenlock’s library is more like a walk in cupboard.

The library floor is now paved with 13th century tiles and houses two tomb effigies of former priors. The tiles have come from different locations within the priory but were laid here to form the present pavement in the 20th century.

Despite the ruinous nature of Wenlock Priory, the fragments that survive are rich and diverse, often highly ornate, and are well preserved. Located in a beautiful corner of the Shropshire countryside, on the edge of a picturesque village, this is an easy site to recommend to you all watching. It was quiet when we visited and we almost had Wenlock Priory to ourselves.

It’s a wonderful place to visit and it takes little imagination to see what this place might have been like when it prospered. This is Quite literally Shropshire’s hidden gem.

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Till Next Time!