Site of 12th century priory, Priory of St Mary and St Melaine, Hatfield Broad Oak (EHER 4323)

Priory of St Mary and St Melaine was founded by Alberic de Vere about 1135 as an alien cell of Renes. It became independent in 1254 and surrendered in 1536. The present parish church of St Mary the Virgin formed the structural nave of the church of the priory.

Original HER entry merged with NRHE data import: Site of (St) Priory (GT) (AD 1135). <1> The present parish church of St Mary the Virgin formed the structural nave of the church of a priory founded about 1135, as a cell to the abbey of St Melaine at Rennes in Brittany, by Aubrey de Vere the second. The church was cruciform, and originally had an aisleless nave, with the conventual buildings on the west side; the eastern arms and transepts are only represented by foundations which were left exposed after the excavations of 1897. The remains of the former Presbytery and Central Tower and the north wall of the present north aisle probably represent the original monastic structure of about 1140-50. The Priory was dissolved in 1536 and probably shortly afterwards the monastic part of the church was pulled down. The domestic buildings of the priory adjoined the church on the north. The plan has been recovered by excavation but nothing is now visible on the site. The fishponds and ditches of the former Priory lie east, north, and west of the site and consist of four roughly rectangular ponds and numerous ditches probably marking the extent of the precinct. Priory founded 1135 by Aubrey de Vere and dissolved on July 8th 1534. <2> In 1897, with the assistance of the Society of Antiquaries, the whole plan of the Church and Priory was exposed, and in 1915, the foundations of the former were built up to the surface, but they are now covered again. <3> - <5> The priory enclosure was protected by a wall and ditch on three sides, while on the west the principal entrance was defended by a gatehouse and a moat. Adjoining the gatehouse were the stables, and further north the brewhouse, malting and barn, the latter a large wooden building which was demolished in 1904. The octagonal dovehouse of brick, of which part was standing till 1892, was apparently of early 17th century construction, and was built perhaps on an old site. The house which is known to have existed west of the Priory barn may have been the Hall of the Manor of "Priors". <6> The Benedictine Priory of Hatfield Broad Oak was founded about 1135 by Aubrey de Vere II, who was the Master Chamberlain and the Sheriff of Essex. It was established as a cell of the Abbey of St Melaine at Rennes in Brittany. Excavations in 1897, undertaken with the assistance of the Society of Antiquaries, recovered the whole plan of the church and priory. The Priory had been granted the tithes and land of the parish church. The new priory church was appended to the eastern wall of the original parish church, effectively forming a new choir and chancel and doubling the size of the original structure. To the north of the church were sited the cloister, refectory, chapter-house and other buildings. However, following a dispute between the parishioners and the priory in 1378, the parish and priory churches were divided by a wall across the nave and functioned as two separate churches. The Priory grounds were enclosed by a ditch and contained a barn or barns, a dovecote, a hall, brew-house, stables, gatehouse and a number of fishponds. Traces of these are still visible as earthworks. At the time of its Dissolution in 1536 it had a total population of thirty, substantial buildings and a financial interest in the market in the town. <7> Scheduled Area lies to north, north-west, and north-east of the parish church and churchyard but does not include the eastern end of the priory church which was excavated in 1897, nor does it include much of the claustral buildings. Part of the precinct wall of the priory, west of the church, seems to be both Scheduled and Listed. From the various accounts it is not clear how much is visible of the foundations. Hatfield Broad Oak was an important malting centre in the early 18th century. The malthouse was part of a range of buildings including a gatehouse, stables, brewhouse and barn that stood to the west of the former priory; these were demolished in 1904. Fishponds and earthworks survive within the area of the precinct. The plan form of the building and the footings for the kiln may survive. The malthouse could be an early example of its type; it may also stand on the site of earlier buildings. Within the area of a Scheduled Ancient Monument. Maintain existing status; the malthouse forms part of the priory complex and should be evaluated if it becomes threatened. <8> 1950. Field survey. In 1897 with the assistance of the Society of Antiquaries, the whole plan of church and priory was exposed. In 1915 the foundations of the former were built up to the surface but are 'now' covered again. On three sides the enclosure was protected by a wall and ditch. On the west (north-west of the church) the main entrance was defended by a gatehouse and a moat. Adjoining the gatehouse were stables, brewhouse, maltings and a barn (demolished 1904). The dovehouse was perhaps built on an old site. The house known to have existed west of the priory barn may have been the hall of the manor of 'Priors'. <9> July 1973. Field survey. The area of the Priory site enclosed by boundary ditches on the north and east was scheduled in June 1973. Documents to this effect are held by the landowner, Mr R.N. Broad <10>. There is no trace of the main priory buildings exposed on the north and east sides of the church during the 1897 excavations. This area now forms part of an extended churchyard. To the north, the only extant features in an area of light pasture, are three fishponds (still waterfilled), the platform stead of the barn, and the mound at TL 54711680 which is about 18.0m in overall diameter and about 2.0m high with a flattened top. The dry boundary ditches on the north and east sides average 5.0m in width and are c 1.2m deep. There is an outer scarp to most of the east ditch. Further evidence of disturbed ground in the enclosed area forms no distinguishable pattern and amorphous earthworks on the west side (as shown on OS 25") have largely been obliterated by weathering and cattle tread. Published survey (25") revised. <11> <12> 1987. Scheduling. Hatfield Broad Oak Priory. Scheduled 156. <13> Industrial Record number EX/AAG/SG18. <14> Various plans. <15> Site Management: = Scheduled Monument Consent granted in January 1988 for re-roofing of an agricultural barn, itself of no historical importance. <16> Site Assessment = Earthworks well preserved under pasture. Brick and flint foundations visible Nov 1979. <17> See also: <18> - <21>