Leicestershire Priory Ruins Acquired for £10 from Catholic Church

The remnants of a Leicestershire priory have been transferred from the Catholic church for a sum of £10. The Grace Dieu Priory site, situated between Thringstone and Belton, was sold by its previous proprietors, the Rosminian Order, following more than two years of discussions. The Grace Dieu Priory Trust, which was established in the 1990s to grant public access to the ruins and oversee the site’s upkeep, now holds ownership of the centuries-old ruins and the associated land. The trust indicated that this “peppercorn” transaction will enable it and its affiliated Friends volunteer group to continue providing access and coordinating events and research activities at the location. David Whitt, Chairman of the trust, mentioned that approximately £2,000 in legal expenses were incurred to finalize the £10 valuation. The priory’s origins date back to 1239, when it functioned as a community of Augustinian Catholic women. It ceased its role as a religious institution in 1538 during Henry VIII’s dissolution of the monasteries. The structure was divested of its pews, church windows, and steeple. Subsequently, it was converted into a Tudor house, but from the late 16th Century, the buildings began to fall into disrepair. The Rosminian Order also owned the nearby Grade II-listed Grace Dieu Priory School. The school, constructed in 1833, closed in 2020, and in 2022, its 66-acre property was sold to FCV International Football Academy. Mr Whitt stated: “As a boy I used to cycle past the ruins, they were just a heap of stones in the middle of a field.” He continued: “We formed in about 1996 and after lots of conservation work to the priory, eventually the priory was ready to open to the public.” He added: “We were approached about two and a half years ago to see if we would be interested in converting the lease we held on the land into a freehold – we said yes please straight away.” The inaugural major event under the new ownership will be a carol service held among the priory ruins on 1 December. The trust’s long-term objectives include constructing a new bridge from the adjacent Sustrans path to the priory site to bypass a route that crosses an ageing brick culvert, and seeking authorization from Historic England for an archaeological excavation within the scheduled monument’s premises. The Rosminian Order confirmed the sale to the BBC. Readers are invited to connect with BBC Leicester on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Story ideas can be submitted to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk or via WhatsApp at 0808 100 2210. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content of external sites. Information regarding its approach to external linking is available.