Dartford Priory was a Dominican Nunnery, located in Dartford, Kent. When Henry VIII suppressed the monasteries, he took Dartford Priory for himself, establishing it as a Royal Palace.[1] Between 1541–1544 the former ecclesiastical buildings were converted to become a manor house.[2]
Edward III announced the foundation of Dartford Priory in 1346[3] on his return from the victorious campaign in France against Philip VI of France culminating in the Battle of Crecy. This inauguration of the priory was accompanied by a tournament, a way of celebrating favoured by Edward III. The King previously staged tournaments at Dartford twice before: firstly at the age of seventeen in 1329, after he had assumed the throne but still under the control of his step father Roger Mortimer who assumed the role as his guardian and effectively ruled the Kingdom. Tension rose between Edward III and Mortimer which led to Edward taking Mortimer prisoner and executing him in 1330. Edward organised a series of tournaments in 1331, and Dartford was chosen to host one of these.[4]
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The prioresses were as follows (with dates of record)[5]
Other nuns: Sometime between 1489 and 1492, Bridget of York became a nun under the care of Elizabeth Cressener.
Dartford Priory played a significant role in the dissolution of the monasteries.
