Studley Priory, Oxfordshire, Medieval religious estate in Horton-cum-Studley, England
Studley Priory is a Grade II* listed building in Horton-cum-Studley, Oxfordshire, built from Cotswold stone on the site of a former Benedictine nunnery. The structure is made up of several connected sections built across different periods, with Norman and medieval details still visible in the stonework.
The priory was founded before 1176 as a Benedictine nunnery and was bought by John Croke in 1539 after the dissolution of the monasteries, when it became a country house. During World War II the building was used as a Royal Air Force medical facility before returning to private use.
The name "Priory" is a direct reminder of the building's religious past, and parts of the original stonework are still visible in the walls today. Visitors who walk around the exterior can spot the layered construction, where older sections sit alongside later additions.
The property sits in a rural area with no easy public transport links, so arriving by car is the most practical option. As it remains a private residence, access is not open to the general public and any visit needs to be arranged beforehand.
Writer C.S. Lewis was a regular visitor when the property operated as a hotel, stopping there for morning refreshments after attending church nearby. Few people who pass through the area know about this connection to one of Britain's most read authors of the 20th century.
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