Recent Archaeological Discoveries at the Priory

Bridlington Augustinian Society – Recent Archaeological Discoveries at the Priory.

 The Rev Matthew Pollard, Rector at the Priory, has been a witness to recent archaeological investigations at the Priory Church.  Although the results have yet to be published Matthew was able to excite us with a glimpse at the work carried out and some possible outcomes.

Matthew began by outlining the history of the church. What you see now is just the nave of the original church saved from demolition at the dissolution in 1537 because that part was the parish church. The rest of the church and other monastic buildings with the exception of the Bayle were all asset stripped and destroyed.

Before dissolution it was an active Augustinian priory. It was a base for the canons, ordained priests, who went out into the surrounding villages to hold services. Matthew reminded us that, fortunately for historians researching what the Bridlington priory looked like, all Augustinian priories followed a similar pattern.

This fact, investigations on the ground, and the descriptions made by the king’s agent Richard Pollard at the time of dissolution, led John Earnshaw to publish over 50 years ago what is today the definitive description of the monastery at its height. John Earnshaw also produced the exquisite model you can see in the church today.

So what’s new? In Matthew’s words, three renowned experts in church and monastic history spent many days closely studying the church.  They are John Phillips an expert on Beverley Minster, Stuart Harrison resident archaeologist at York Minster, and Glyn Coppack who was inspector of monuments for English Heritage and widely published on monastic buildings.  In addition there have been some geophysical surveys.

We are waiting for a paper to be published and Matthew believes there may also be a book. Meanwhile Matthew gave some hints of what may be included.  The dissolution description of the choir gives the number of windows but some existing bays have double windows, so what was the length? Did the tower have a corona, an open arched top? The blank wall behind the present day shop was one wall of the Prior’s lodging. Was this built before the church?

Bro Rick Hudson thanked Matthew for his enjoyable talk and looked forward to what might be revealed in the future by the “three wise men”.