Prittlewell Priory

After the Dissolution of the Priory, the monastery became a private residence and was granted to Lord Chancellor Audley, who conveyed it to Robert, son of Lord Rich. Various families came to live in the monastery-turned-private-residence. The last family to live there were the 19th century Scrattons until the building was bought by Robert Jones who later turned it into Southend’s first museum in 1922.

More alterations to the structure were done in the early 20th century, where the Refectory was restored and partly rebuilt. Some of the surviving original features you will see on the Prittlewell Priory include a 12th century doorway with chevron and dog tooth ornamentation. The existing buildings were refurbished and the new Visitor Centre building was built in 2011. The construction costs ran up to £2 million and was in part funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Cory Environmental Trust in Southend and were undertaken by The Facility Architects and Ibex Interiors. The project was completed in 2012 and the Priory was reopened to the public in June while the new Visitor Centre followed in February 2013.