The Late Medieval Period
By the 14th and 15th centuries, many religious houses faced economic hardship, decline in vocations, and the impact of the Black Death. Clare Priory was no exception, struggling to maintain its buildings and community.
Political and Religious Turmoil
The broader changes in English society, including increasing royal control over the Church and rising criticism of monastic wealth, set the stage for drastic reforms.
The Dissolution of the Monasteries (1536–1540)
Henry VIII’s Break with Rome
In the 1530s, King Henry VIII severed ties with the Catholic Church, establishing the Church of England with the monarch as its head.
Suppression of Religious Houses
Between 1536 and 1540, monasteries, priories, and convents across England were dissolved, their lands confiscated and sold. Clare Priory was dissolved in 1538.
Effects on Clare Priory
The priory’s buildings were seized by the crown, the canons dispersed, and many of the structures fell into ruin. The priory church was largely demolished or repurposed. shutdown123