Sempringham
Located near
Bourne in
Lincolnshire,
Sempringham is now a small hamlet that gives little clue to the history entwined within its parish boundary. Located in flat fenland, Sempringham is difficult to find, and included in the parish are
Millthorpe, the fens of
Pointon,
Neslam and
Aslackby and a part of the Hundred Fen at
Gosberton Clough.
Sempringham has two claims to fame:
*It is the site of St Mary's Priory, a priory of the
Abbey of Peterborough that was founded by Saint Gilbert (also known as
Gilbert of Sempringham), and became the enforced residence of
Gwenllian of Wales, both the daughter of
Llywelyn the Last, the last true-born ruling
Prince of Wales, and the only granddaughter of
Simon de Montfort. She was kept here for more than 50 years.
*In 1327,
Edward III stayed at the Priory and granted Gwenllian a lifelong yearly pension of £20, but she died ten years later after 54 years with the order, on
June 7,
1337.
At the
Dissolution of the Monasteries, Sempringham Priory came to the Clintons, who demolished it and reused the stone to build their residence on the site. Today little remains of priory or residence.
*
Sempringham
