Editing Sempringham (section)

==Sempringham Priory==
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Sempringham is the site of St Mary's Priory, a priory that was founded by Saint Gilbert (also known as [[Gilbert of Sempringham]]).

The priory was built by [[Gilbert of Sempringham]], the only English Saint to have founded a [[Monasticism|monastic order]].<ref name="Lincolnshire p. 4"/><ref name="Online"/><ref name="quest"/> St Gilbert established the [[Gilbertine Order]] in 1131 by inducting ‘seven maidens’ who were his pupils when young. Alexander, [[Bishop of Lincoln]], helped in establishing the religious buildings to the north of the parish church. Gilbert died at Sempringham in 1189 and was buried in the priory church. He was canonized on 13 October 1202 for the many miracles noted at his tomb in the priory and Sempringham became a site of pilgrimage. 
[[File:Gwenllian monument 528634.jpg|thumb|left|Monument to Gwenllian]]
It became the enforced residence of [[Gwenllian of Wales]], the daughter of [[Llywelyn ap Gruffudd]], Prince of Wales, and the granddaughter of [[Simon de Montfort, 6th Earl of Leicester|Simon de Montfort]]. In 1283 Gwenllian had been captured by [[Edward I of England|King Edward I]]'s troops. Edward sent Gwenllian 'in her cradle', to be held there in security. In 1327, [[Edward III of England|Edward III]] stayed at the Priory and granted Gwenllian a lifelong yearly pension of £20, necessary to pay her board and lodgings as she never became a nun, but was regarded as a 'paying guest' who was not permitted to leave. Gwenllian died at the Priory after being held there for 54 years, on 7 June 1337.  A memorial stone has been erected in her honour.

At the [[Dissolution of the Monasteries]], Sempringham Priory came to the [[Baron Clinton|Clintons]], who demolished it and reused the stone to build their residence on the site. Today little remains of priory or residence.
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