Priory Gallery

Wroxton Abbey

Wroxton Abbey is a modernised, 17th century Jacobean manor house built on the foundations of a 13th century Augustinian priory. Named after its twelfth-century origins as a monastery that fell into disrepair after Henry VIII's 1536 dissolution - remnants of that structure remain in the basement beams. Since 1965, Wroxton Abbey has served as home to Fairleigh Dickinson University's Wroxton College. This campus serves American students from Fairleigh Dickinson's New Jersey campuses and other American students studying under the British tutorial system. Independent reports of supernatural activity in the Abbey attest to it being one of the most haunted houses in England (barrels being rolled, non-existant banquets occuring in the dining room and invible animals brushing past one in the corridors). One wonders what the American University made of all this when they bought it!!

© Mary Evans / Grenville Collins Postcard Collection

Coventry, Warwickshire, England - The Pilgrims Rest Inn

Coventry, Warwickshire, England - The Pilgrim's Rest Inn on the corner of Pamer Street and Ironmonger Row. A hostel was erected in Palmer Lane for the lodging of pilgrims by the Benedicitne Priory of Coventry, bearing in mind that the first floor rooms over the west range of the Priory would have been used for the guest accommodation for the better class of pilgrims. This original Pilgrims Rest was demolished in 1820 and replaced by a new brick public house (pictured here) together with two dwelling houses. On the corner house a tablet was fixed saying: 'PALMER LANE - Upon this site stood the Western part of a large and very Ancient Edifice called THE PILGRIMS REST. It was supposed to have been the Hostel or Inn for The Maintenance and Entertainment of the Palmers And other Visitors to the Priory of Benedictine Monks which stood near to the Eastward. It became ruinous and was taken down AD MDCCCXX when this house was erected..... (this sign can be seen in the centre of the postcard). Demolished in 1936. Date: circa 1905

© Mary Evans / Grenville Collins Postcard Collection

The Holy Island of Lindisfarne - Crossing the Sands by cart

Crossing the Sands by cart (nearly too late!) from the Holy Island of Lindisfarne, Northumberland, England - a tidal island off the northeast coast of England with a recorded history from the 6th century. An important centre of Celtic Christianity under Saints Aidan of Lindisfarne, Cuthbert, Eadfrith of Lindisfarne and Eadberht of Lindisfarne. After Viking invasions (and the Norman conquest of England) a priory was re-established. A small castle was also built on the island in 1550. Date: circa 1941

© Mary Evans / Grenville Collins Postcard Collection