Prince's Time Trail of Prittlewell

The Priory was founded on the opposite side of Prittle Brook to the cemetery, in about 1110. But by this time all traces of the cemetery are likely to have disappeared. It was a self-contained community of black-robed monks and servants. The servants, called 'lay brothers',  were employed to do all the physical labour, whilst the monks were dedicated to prayer and meditation. Additional buildings existed to the west, on the hill slope down to the Brook and the fish ponds. The Priory survived until Henry VIII's dissolution of the monasteries in 1536-8 when it passed into private hands.

Stones on the ground indicate the position of some of the Church walls. See the extent of ground covered by the Church and its impressive size, extending from the Prior's Chamber almost to the edge of Prittle Brook. The surviving buildings are the Priory Refectory to the left and the rebuilt Prior's Chamber facing you. Note the arched doorway at the angle of the buildings which led into the enclosed cloisters which in turn led to the Church. Note also the monument in the centre of the cloisters which marks the graves of R A Jones, who donated the Priory and grounds to Southend in 1917, and his son.  

The modern walled garden recreates the peaceful atmosphere traditionally associated with enclosed religious houses. The present rose garden south of the Priory may have been the site of the Priory's fruit and vegetable garden. The open field sloping down to Prittle Brook contained more Priory buildings. And on the other side of Prittle Brook, the two connected ponds were created by the monks to stock fish and so supplement their diet.

Visit the Museum to see inside the remnants of the Priory and obtain more information about its history. Note that the Museum is not normally open on Sundays or Mondays.