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1201 to 1536
The Augustinian Period. William de Warenne, the sixth Earl of Surrey, founded Reigate Priory for the Augustinian Canons who worshipped and worked here for 300 years.

Augustininan Monk

1536 - Dissolution by Henry VIII
The Priory was dissolved, its value assessed at £65. Lord Edmund Howard, the father of Catherine Howard, Henry VIII's fifth wife, was appointed as steward to manage the Priory property and collect all rents and tithes.

1541 to 1681 Howard Ownership
Whilst Catherine Howard was Queen, the Priory was granted by King Henry VIII to the Howard family. The Priory manor was adapted to become a fine Tudor home.

An artist's impression of the Priory in 1577

1623
The grounds were described as an ancient deer park "well stocked with timber trees, replenished with deer, having also a fine pond well stocked with fish". Notable Howards include: Charles Howard who led the fleet to victory over the Spanish Armada in 1588 and Elizabeth Howard, Countess of Peterborough [1639-1671] who was a celebrated 17th century beauty, painted by Van Dyck.

1681 to 1766 Parsons Ownership
John Parsons purchased the Priory in 1681. Knighted in 1687, Sir John Parsons was a brewer who owned the Red Lion Brewery Company. He was Lord Mayor of London in 1703 and represented Reigate in Parliament for almost 30 years.

1717
Humphrey Parsons, twice Lord Mayor of London, succeeded his father John. During the Parsons ownership the Park became more elaborate, boasting grand entrances, tree lined avenues, and landscaped parkland.

Alderman Humphrey Parsons

1766 to 1780 Ireland Ownership
Richard Ireland, a cheesemonger, paid £4,000 for the mansion and its 76 acres of parkland at auction. A devastating fire badly damaged the west wing and significant changes were made to the Priory building, shortening the east wing and refacing the south front in its present Georgian style.

1780 Jones Ownership
Ann Jones, the niece of Richard Ireland, inherited the Priory. Ann's son Arthur (one of thirteen children and father of ten) later took over the Priory.

1801 Mowbray Ownership
George Mowbray, a businessman, paid £8,350 for the Priory at public auction in London. Just six years later he sold the Priory for double the price at over £16,000.

1807 to 1921 Somers Ownership
John Somers Cocks, later Earl Somers, purchased the Priory in 1807 thus securing his parliamentary seat. Although Earl Somers' main home became Eastnor Castle, he made a significant contribution to the geography of Reigate by creating Tunnel Road.

1842
The second Earl Somers (also John) succeeded his father and spent most of his married life at Reigate Priory.

1852
Charles Somers Cocks became the third Earl Somers. Charles, an art connoisseur, added the great library to the Priory.

1883
Lady Henry Somerset (nee Somers) inherited the estate from Charles Somers. The house was extensively altered and new garden areas were developed, including the Sunken Garden and Monks Walk. On occasions the Priory was let to socialite Mrs Ronnie Greville, becoming a social destination for elite society. Mrs Greville later went on to purchase Polesden Lacey in 1906.

In 1922 the Priory was used briefly as a hiding place for the future Kings Edward VIII and George VI because of assassination threats from Sinn Fein.

1920
Randal Vogan paid £15,000 for Reigate Park (the woodland and ridge in the south of Priory Park) and presented the area to the people of Reigate 'for their quiet enjoyment'.

1921 Beatty Ownership
Admiral and Countess Beatty purchased the Priory and 68.5 acres of land for £35,000.

Admiral Beatty

1936
The Hon Peter Beatty inherited the Priory and was its last private owner. Peter Beatty built the stables near the Park Lane entrance. He bred and trained race horses and achieved wins at the Derby and Ascot.

The stables built by Hon. Peter Beatty

1939
Joseph Rank Ltd, Millers (now owned by Hovis) used the Priory for emergency offices during World War Two

1942
Mutual Property Life and General Insurance Company purchased the Priory and sought planning permission for building development.

1944
Under the Greater London Plan the whole borough, including the Priory, was designated as local Green Belt.

1947 to 1974 Reigate Borough Ownership
The whole of the Priory estate was acquired by the Borough of Reigate for £47,500 and was opened for enjoyment by the general public.

1948
The Priory building was leased to Surrey County Council for use as a school.

1974 onwards, Reigate & Banstead Borough Council Ownership.

Reigate Priory 1995 before the recent restoration

Developed for use as a public park, the heritage value of the site was unrealised. In 2007/08 the Heritage Lottery Fund supported a major project to restore the Park and create new facilities such as The Pavilion.

Left a brick conduit possibly dating back to medieval times discovered during a dig at the Priory.
Right, the lake is dredged as part of the restoration project.

The DVD "Reigate Priory 1921 - 1948" includes the era when the Priory was owned by the Beatty family. Click on the image above to see a video clip and purchase the DVD.

See also Reigate Priory 1921 - 1948. which covers the period when the Priory was owned by the Admiral Beatty and later occupied by Rank the Millers during the 2nd World War. Reigate Priory Restoration, Priory Mural Restoration and Lady Henry Somerset.

A comprehensive history of Reigate Priory can be found in Audrey Ward's book, "Discovering Rigate Priory" - available from the Priory Museum.

If you would like to contribute to these pages please contact Carolyn Burnley at info@b-v-p.co.uk .