Founded in 1343 by Nicholas de Cantelupe, Beauvale is one of nine Priorys
to be built in Britain dedicated to the Carthusian Order of monks. The monks
lived a silent life here for 200 years until the Dissolution of the Monasteries,
when they refused to sign the Oath of Supremacy which would acknowledge Henry
VIII as the head of the Church of England. The Priory was stripped and left
as a ruin.
In 2006 Tony and Ann Whyte bought Beauvale Abbey Farm, on which the ruins
of the Priory stand. Keen to renovate the farm cottage and the whole site,
they have worked with conservation experts to consolidate the ruins and preserve
them for the future.
The Beauvale Priory Medieval Fayre aims to further raise awareness of the
history and future of Beauvale Priory. A medieval market and living history
encampment will allow people to travel back in time to experience life in
the Middle Ages. As this is a working farm there will also be animals to
see and a local produce to buy. A number of talks and guided walks are also
planned. |
