Sempringham Priory, Medieval priory ruins in Lincolnshire, England
Sempringham Priory is a medieval monastic complex in Lincolnshire where the main structures survive today as earthworks and buried foundations scattered across a large rural site. The excavated remains reveal the layout of the church, cloisters, and residential buildings that once served the monastic community.
Gilbert of Sempringham founded this religious community in 1131 next to St. Andrew's Church with backing from the Bishop of Lincoln. The monastery grew to become one of England's largest orders before its closure during the dissolution of the monasteries in the 16th century.
The priory operated as a double monastery where monks and nuns lived side by side under strict separation rules and met only for specific religious services. This arrangement made it an unusual center for monastic life in medieval England.
The site is freely accessible to visitors and can be explored on foot, with earthen mounds and hollows marking the outlines of former buildings. A visit is best made in dry weather, as the ground can become muddy and difficult to navigate after rain.
Princess Gwenllian of Wales was imprisoned here in 1283 following Edward I's conquest of Wales and spent the remainder of her life confined within these walls. Her decades of captivity remain one of the most poignant stories connected to this location.
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