artford Priory, founded by Edward III in 1346, was,
in pre-Reformation England, the
only Dominican nunnery.
It was dedicated to St. Mary and St. Margaret and
came under the
supervision of King’s Langley Priory in Hertfordshire.
Closely involved with the local community, its famed reputation
as a centre for prayer, contemplation and education ensured a constant flow of recruits from women of noble birth; daughters of the
aristocracy; close relations of some prominent Carthusian martyrs; and even a royal princess, Bridget, seventh daughter of King Edward
III, from its foundation in 1346 right up to the Dissolution in 1559.
In terms of size income and the number of
resident nuns and lay-sisters, the Priory at Dartford was the most important during the medieval period in England. Apart from requests
for spiritual services, and children sent there for education, for more than 180 years, the nuns of Dartford went quietly about their
business, performing the daily office and serving God in the community.
Some of The Priory’s income came from donations
from individual benefactors, who in return, were permitted to be buried in, or close to, the Priory Chapel. In 1452, Agnes, wife of
Richard Fagg of Dartford, was buried in the Priory cemetery. Richard Bolton of Dartford directed in 1456 that his body was to be buried
‘within the monastery of Dertford’.
He bequeathed to the nuns twenty shillings, as well as an additional twelve pence for prayers
and masses. Some individuals gave land or property to the Priory in exchange for prayers being said for the donor and their family,
after the death.
The outcome of all this was that by time of the dissolution of Dartford Priory in 1559,
the Prioress owned a huge array of property that went on to finance - not the sisters own accommodation - but the Dominican
Friars from King’s Langley Priory (a few of whom had been based at Dartford to ensure that the daily business of the priory
was conducted properly). This portfolio included extensive tracts of land, woodland, grazing marsh, chalk quarries, several mills,
tenements and inns in North Kent (Five of which were in Dartford). Additional properties, lands and church advowsons were held in
Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Dorset, Glamorgan, Herefordshire, Hertfordshire, Essex, Northamptonshire, the City of London, Norfolk,Suffolk, Surrey and Wiltshire.
The listing for Kent alone contains property in the manors of Batons, Beaurepaire, Crockenhill, Elmestone,
Frondsbury & Cowling, Goodstone, Kingsham, Harrietsham, Howmanyth, Overland, Packmonstone, Pettescourt, Portsbrige, Rey, Shipbourn,
Westgate, Wilminton and Wartling. Also mentioned as having a Priory presence in land ownership, are the towns & villages of Bexley,
Lullingstone, Malling, Northcray, Stone, Sutton-at-Hone, and Swanscombe.
The Dartford area also
had over 300 acres that belonged to the priory indirectly.
Two nuns of high standing to reside at Dartford, were Margaret Beaumont
(Prioress in 1446 and 1460) who was reputedly the daughter of Henry, Lord Beaumont; and Elizabeth, daughter of William, Lord Willoughby
of Eresby. Her brother was Earl of Boulogne.
