St Nicholas' Priory, Exeter

In 1068, William the Conqueror laid siege to Exeter, where the mother of Harold Godwinson, whom he had just defeated in the Battle of Hastings, was living. After her hasty departure William gave the church of St Olave at Exeter to Battle Abbey. Monks, who were sent from Battle to administer the church and its possessions, set about building a monastery with its own church, which was dedicated to Saint Nicholas in 1087. In the 12th and 13th centuries the Priory gathered gifts of land and property, and new monastic buildings were erected as funds permitted. Hospitality was built into the monastic rule, and a guest house or wing was essential within a monastery. The monks provided hospitality…