St Thomas Priory in Stafford, Staffordshire

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Bradley
Stafford, Stafford Borough, Staffordshire England

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The priory dedicated to St Thomas the Martyr was located on the north bank of the Sow, two miles east of Stafford. It was founded about 1174 by Gerard FitzBrian, a burgess of Stafford, on land he had obtained from the bishop. Gerard specified he should be the patron and protector, and the priory would remain independent of all other houses. The charter was witnessed by Ralph, the Archdeacon of Stafford in 1174. St Thomas of Canterbury was canonized in 1173. The original land was 70 acres called the Sheepwash Meadow, Bishop Richard Peche granted the canons a burgage, his woodland in Cannock Forest, and the whole River Sow from Stafford to Watur Weinding along with fishing rights. The canons received many more rights and lands over the years, expanding to across the Sow, the Eccleshall meadow and the River Penk fishing rights. In 1194 the canons purchased the manor of Drayton, Penkridge from Hervey Bagot and his wife, Millicent de Stafford.

The priory lands increased continually from gifts from the crown, Robert de Ferres and William de Caverswall , Philip de Mutton and others to the astounding value of £180 in 1535, making them the wealthiest order in the county..Despite patron Bishop Rowland Lee's pleas to Cromwell, and Lee's belief he would obtain the lands, the priory was forced to surrender the priory on October of 1535. Lee did receive the lands in October of 1539, passed onto his nephews at this death. The entrance to Priory Farm in current day Bradley is the exact location of the entrance to the medieval church.