Hitchin Priory was built 1317 originally as a Carmelite monastery within a large estate and the River Hiz flowing through it. In 1539 Henry VIII dissolved it and thus began a long period of dilapidation of the buildings and convent. Now a conference suite with modern facilities and again within striking natural surroundings.

Hitchin Priory Photos

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About Hitchin Priory

In 1317 the King granted to the Carmelite friars in Franco-Moins a message in the parish of Hitchin that they might build a church there for their habitation. They built a small convent there which they dedicated to the Blessed Mary. This they held until the dissolution of their house in 1539 by Henry VIII.

In 1546 a survey was made of the priory and its whole estate. The buildings comprised of a mansion house with a frater and a doiter over the cloister, a church, old hall, the priory’s lodging, and two little chambers for the brothers, also a kitchen, barn and other premises. There were also tenements belonging to it in Bridge Street and Bull Street which were leashed out with the convent garden.

Except the mansion house which had been repaired since the dissolution all the buildings were I a miserable state of dilapidation being ruinous on both timber and tile. And the garden were like with waste places of ground.

The church too was defaced, the steeple broken down and decayed by the weather and all the lead, free stone, glass and bells were gone.

It’s a presently a conference suite with all the rooms converted to cater for small and large groups of people. The grounds are truly spectacular and well worth a stroll around especially along the river bank where all kinds of wild birds can be found splashing in the water or simply sitting on the banks.