St Leonard's Priory

Heritage Site in Gloucestershire Stroud

England

St Leonard's Priory

Severn Water The end of the road from Stanley Downton where it meets the Bath Road. Frocester Hill rises in the background and the Stonehouse Wheelers local cycle club is on the way to Cam. — Severn Water Credit: Peter Kwan

St Leonard's Priory is a historic heritage site located in the county of Gloucestershire, England. Originally founded in the 12th century, it was a priory of Augustinian canons, who were a group of Christian monks following the rule of St. Augustine. The priory was dedicated to St. Leonard, the patron saint of prisoners and captives.

The priory was situated in an idyllic setting, surrounded by lush green meadows and rolling hills. It consisted of various buildings, including a church, cloisters, a chapter house, a dormitory, and other domestic structures. The church served as the central point of worship and was built in the Romanesque architectural style, showcasing intricate detailing and beautiful stained glass windows.

Throughout its existence, St Leonard's Priory played a significant role in the local community. The canons were responsible for providing spiritual guidance to the surrounding villages and also acted as custodians of the sick and needy. The priory also owned extensive lands, which generated income and supported its charitable activities.

However, with the dissolution of the monasteries by King Henry VIII in the 16th century, St Leonard's Priory fell into decline. The buildings were gradually abandoned and left to decay. Today, only remnants of the priory remain, including parts of the church walls and foundations of other buildings.

St Leonard's Priory is now a protected heritage site, and visitors can explore the ruins to get a glimpse of its former grandeur. The site offers a tranquil and picturesque atmosphere, allowing visitors to imagine the lives of the canons who once inhabited the priory. It serves as a reminder of the rich religious and cultural history of Gloucestershire.

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St Leonard's Priory Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 51.73/-2.282 or Grid Reference SO8003. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Severn Water

The end of the road from Stanley Downton where it meets the Bath Road. Frocester Hill rises in the background and the Stonehouse Wheelers local cycle club is on the way to Cam.

Peter Kwan

Stanley Downton Sewage Treatment Works

All the sewage from Stroud, Stonehouse and surrounding area ends up here, I believe. It's located down the valley from Stroud, to allow the sewage to flow downhill, and is far away from human habitation for obvious reasons!

David Gruar

Beard's Mill, Leonard Stanley

Martin John Bishop

Railway bridge

Grade II listed railway bridge, east elevation. English Heritage listing information says it was "built about 1844 for Bristol and Gloucester Railway. Punched limestone; top of parapet rebuilt in brick. Round-headed arch with plain band over. Splayed retaining walls. One of the original bridges in a relatively intact state." Pylons marked on the map can also be seen in the photo. Beyond the yellow car is the boundary of Stanley Downton sewage treatment works.

Caroline Tandy

Stroudwater Canal culvert under Bristol & Gloucester Line

The original railway bridge over the canal was, if my memory serves me correctly, replaced by this culvert in the 1960s. It probably constitutes one of the most complicated, but by no means insurmountable, challenges to the complete restoration of the canal.

David Stowell

View of St Cyr's Church and a rainbow

Looking across the Stroudwater Canal to the church of St Cyr. This is an unusual dedication for a church in England and probably relates to a child-martyr, also sometimes known a Saint Quiricus, of Antioch. The name is more widely known in France where several settlements share the name, along with a prestigious Military Academy, created by Napoleon Bonaparte and which includes General de Gaulle amongst its past students. St Cyr was also the surname of a famous north American showgirl/stripper of the 1940s and 50s!

David Stowell

Railway Bridge

norman hyett

Road Bridge over disused Canal

norman hyett

Old Canal

norman hyett

Church with Old Canal in foreground

norman hyett

Kissing Gate

norman hyett

Stonehouse Court from the canal

A view of Stonehouse Court hotel taken across the canal at the rear

Roger May

Frocester Court

Jonathan Thacker

STOP barrier across a side road in Stonehouse

On the approach to C&G Services located in Station House Training Centre on the north side of the A419 Bristol Road. This area was formerly the site of Stonehouse (Bristol Road) railway station where passenger services ended in 1965.

Jaggery

Stroudwater Navigation and St Cyr's Church

To the west of Nutshell Bridge, the canal passes Stonehouse's 19th century parish church, dedicated to St Cyr - an unusual dedication in England (but much more common in France).

Stephen McKay

Stroudwater Canal, Stonehouse

The canalside garden, from which a couple are feeding the swans, belongs to the adjacent Stonehouse Court Hotel. The proximity of this old manor house probably explains the presence of the parish church here - some distance from the centre of Stonehouse. The church opened in 1855 when it replaced an earlier building that was in a poor state of repair (although the original 14th century tower was retained). The dedication is to St Cyr (pronounced 'sigher'), which is unusual in England.

Stephen McKay

Ocean Railway Bridge replacement - towpath closed

As part of the Stroudwater Navigation restoration, Network Rail replaced the Ocean Bridge over the Christmas period in 2021. The banner on the Heras fencing advises that the towpath will be closed until March 2022.

Stephen McKay

Ocean Bridge, Stroudwater Navigation

As part of the work to restore the canal to navigation, Network Rail replaced the culvert under the Bristol - Gloucester railway with a bridge over the Christmas period in 2021. In this view the main works are complete but the canal has not yet been refilled.

Stephen McKay

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St Leonard's Priory is located at Grid Ref: SO8003 (Lat: 51.73, Lng: -2.282)

Administrative County: Gloucestershire

District: Stroud

Police Authority: Gloucestershire