Newark Priory - History

History

Newark Priory was before its reconstruction run by the canons regular of St Augustine (also in relevant texts seen as St. Austin) and the register of Bishop Woodlock (1312) states that the priory was first founded by a Bishop of Winchester.

The Priory was granted substantial lands "to the canons there serving God" in the late 12th Century by Rauld de Calva and his wife Beatrice de Sandes for the Augustian canons "to build a church" when Richard I reigned (1189-1199) so according with its Early English Gothic architecture, the present priory dates to then. It was dedicated to the Virgin Mary and saint Thomas Becket in contemporary documents "Thomas the Martyr" and originally, the land where the church was built was called Aldbury. This gradually changed its name from Aldbury to Newark or the New Place (novo loco) of St. Thomas near Guildford, at one point being called Newstead.

The taxation roll of 1291 shows considerable non-ecclesiastic assets (temporalities). The priory held tenements or rents in ten London parishes, producing an income of £5 16s. 3d.; in the wider Diocese of London £7 4s. 1¾d.; in the Diocese of Rochester £1 6s. was produced annually; and in Diocese of Winchester income of £27 10s. 3½d.

During King Henry VIII's dissolution of the monasteries Newark Priory was dissolved. The prior himself was pensioned off, all valuables sent to the Tower of London and the land given to the Master of the Kings Horse. It has been said that a cannon was employed from the top of Church Hill to bombard or demolish what were the then extensive buildings. This incident is portrayed in one of a series of paintings made by artist Tessa Kewen. The last known prior of Newark Priory was Richard Lipscombe, appointed just before the surrender of the establishment and lands in 1538. The building, falling into ruin, was said to have been further destroyed by locals using the stones for road mending until Lord Onslow, the owner in the 1730s, decided to preserve what remained.