Littlemore Priory scandals

Littlemore Priory: The Dark Secrets Unveiled

The Littlemore Priory scandals of 1517-1518 were a stark reminder of the hidden truths behind the walls of medieval monasteries. Imagine, if you will, a place where nuns should have been living in piety and devotion, but instead, they found themselves entangled in a web of deceit, immorality, and violence. This was Littlemore Priory, a Benedictine convent in Oxfordshire, England, where the prioress Katherine Wells was accused of putting nuns in stocks, physically assaulting them, having an illegitimate child with her chaplain, and even entertaining men in her parlour despite warnings from the bishop.

Was Littlemore Priory a Haven or a Hell?

The story begins when Bishop William Atwater received reports that all was well within Littlemore. But as history often shows us, appearances can be deceiving. An investigation by Horde revealed that Wells had an illegitimate daughter with Richard Hewes, a chaplain from Kent. She took furniture and other items for her daughter’s dowry, despite the nuns’ pleas to give Hewes up. The nuns were not just passive victims; they complained about their living conditions, neglect, and even physical abuse.

Brutal Discipline and Neglect

The prioress was described as a brutal disciplinarian who would have the nuns put in stocks if they complained. The nuns were neglected; essential outbuildings had been leased by Wells to secular neighbors, leaving them without basic necessities. Wells took their stipends and spent them on her relatives, leading potential recruits and benefactors to walk away in disgust.

Physical Abuse and Confessions

The situation escalated when Horde discovered that much of the priory’s foundation wealth had been spent on Wells’ ‘evil life,’ leaving the nuns without basic necessities. Wells locked Juliana Wynter in her room, had the nuns break into a nearby village to escape punishment, and was accused of physical abuse towards Elizabeth Wynter. Wells denied the accusations but eventually confessed after Bishop Atwater presented evidence.

Consequences and Legacy

As punishment, Wells was dismissed from her office but allowed to carry out day-to-day duties under Horde’s authorization. The situation at Littlemore Priory was far more likely to arise in small, poor houses than in those with independent wealth, according to medievalist F. D. Logan. By 1525, King Henry VIII’s chief minister Cardinal Wolsey needed funds for his new college and requested a papal bull to suppress decayed monasteries, including Littlemore Priory.

Final Days of Littlemore Priory

The few buildings that made up the priory were soon turned into farmsteads. Only the east range of the cloister survived and became a Grade II* listed building in 1963, later used as a country club, pub, and eventually underwent an archaeological survey after its closure in 2013. A number of ‘very unusual burials’ were discovered within the priory’s precincts, including one who may have been a prioress, one with blunt force trauma to its head, and a woman buried with a baby.

Littlemore Priory stands as a testament to the hidden truths behind the walls of medieval monasteries. It was not just a place of piety but also a haven for deceit, immorality, and violence. The story of Littlemore Priory serves as a reminder that even in the most secluded corners of history, darkness can find a way to shine through.