Priory Road Cemetery (Augustinian Priory of St Mary) Huntingdon

History of St Mary's Priory

In 972 AD King Edgar gave the Church of St Mary with an estate of 3 hides of land to Thorney Abbey. By 1086 this had been given to Eustace the Sheriff. The new priory was constructed shortly after 1086 by Eustace and was substantially complete by the middle of the 12th century.

By the 15th century the Priory was described as financially unsound, with mounting debts and decaying buildings. The situation was restored by the end of the century and by 1517 the buildings had been repaired. In 1534 the number of canons had dropped from 16 to 12, and at the Dissolution in 1538 only 8 were given pensions. The lands were sold and the buildings were pulled down.