Kenilworth Priory was founded by Geoffrey de Clinton c.1119. Geoffrey dedicated his religious foundation at Kenilworth in honour of St Mary the Virgin for the redemption of his sins, and for the salvation of his sovereign lord, King Henry. In the foundation charter, Geoffrey also mentions his wife, sons, relations and friends.
Geoffrey de Clinton granted to the canons regular, servants of God, all the open land of the said Kenilworth and woodland and all the remaining village except those parts that Geoffrey required for the construction of his castle and park. Geoffrey also granted to the canons of Kenilworth Priory several churches, including the church of Clintona (Glympton, Oxfordshire), and various villages and tracts of land. Geoffrey de Clinton also granted the canons their own court, including all customary rights and liberties just as Geoffrey himself had from the King.
Kenilworth Priory was so successful that it was elevated to Abbey status in 1447. Religious foundations such as Kenilworth greatly benefited the local community. In common with all monastic houses throughout England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales, religious foundations provided a safety net for vulnerable members of society by providing employment, by administering to the sick, by the giving of alms to the poor. And most importantly of all to the medieval mindset, the canons of Kenilworth were able to offer spiritual nourishment to the faithful whilst on earth, thereby providing hope of salvation.
Despite the enormous contribution made by the abbey to both local inhabitants, as well as to the wider community, Kenilworth Abbey has the tragic distinction of being the first victim of the second wave of the Dissolution of the Monasteries which took place at Kenilworth on 15th April 1538 when Simon Jekys, the Abbot of Kenilworth, together with John Lyster the Prior and fourteen canons, signed the surrender of Kenilworth Abbey together with all its possessions.
The first wave of the Dissolution had taken place only two years earlier in 1536 and had concentrated on the less wealthy monastic houses. Indeed it was during that same dark period in English history that the vast majority of the abbey's books were also destroyed. The destruction had come about because Henry VIII's commissioners used them, together with countless other irreplaceable manuscripts, to provide combustible material to fuel the fires in order to melt the lead from the roof of the abbey. In addition to this act of wanton vandalism, numerous precious religious artefacts, including those originally bestowed on the abbey whilst still a priory by the de Clintons and their successors over the preceding four hundred years, was plundered and looted from Kenilworth's magnificent abbey.
Today much of what survived the Dissolution lies underground. However, a building known as the 'barn' has survived and is now a museum. Another survivor is the splendid 14th century "Tantara" Gatehouse. The south wall of the Chapter House has not only survived but can also be seen, as can the west wall of the Abbey Church.
ILLUSTRATIONS
1. The Parish Church of St Nicholas, Kenilworth
2. The south wall of the Chapter House, Kenilworth Abbey (Click on BADDESLEY CLINTON link).