By kind permission of Trevor Langley, who recently presented this work at the Records Office, the following documents are from the presentation “The Puckerings and the Priory.”
The Puckerings and the Priory: Historical Overview
These documents trace the 900-year history of the Warwick Priory estate, detailing its evolution from a 12th-century monastic foundation to a grand Tudor and Jacobean residence.
- The Monastic Foundation: The Priory of Saint Sepulchre was founded between 1114 and 1119 by Henry de Newburgh, the first Earl of Warwick, to care for pilgrims to the Holy Land.
- The Fisher Family: Following the Dissolution of the Monasteries, Thomas Fisher acquired the estate in 1546. He demolished the original priory and used the stone to build a mansion known as “Hawkyn’s Nest.”
- The Puckering Era: Sir John Puckering, Lord Keeper of the Great Seal, purchased the estate in 1581. His family held the property for over a century, establishing the Warwick Apprenticing Charity and holding significant political offices.
- Transatlantic Move: In 1925, the house was sold for demolition and transported to Richmond, Virginia, where it was reconstructed as Virginia House.
View the Documents
Please use the links below to access the full records:
- [Document 1: The Puckerings and The Priory – Key Dates and Characters]
- [Document 2: The Puckerings and The Priory – Pictures]
- [Document 3: The Puckerings and The Priory – Script]
Credit: Presentation by Trevor Langley. Photos with thanks from the Warwickshire County Records Office, who hold the copyright on these pictures.