Order Augustinian | Disestablished 1539 | |
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Other names Priory of St Peter and St Paul Location Taunton, Somerset, England Grid reference grid reference ST23062487 Similar Church of St James - Taunton, St Mary Magdalene - Taunton, Taunton Castle, Somerset Cricket Museum, Vivary Park | ||
Taunton Priory, or the Priory of St Peter and St Paul, was an Augustinian monastery founded c. 1115 by William Gyffarde (also called William Giffard), Bishop of Winchester and Chancellor of England near Taunton, Somerset, England.
Its location was due in part to the fact that Taunton was a manor of the Bishops of Winchester. Henry de Blois, successor to William Gyffarde and brother of King Stephen is also shown as a co-founder of the priory, although it is not clear if he had any role in its construction. The Priory was dissolved in 1539, and entirely demolished except for the Priory Barn.
The medieval fish farm, or vivarium, is now the site of Vivary Park.
The current Priory Barn building, used by Taunton Cricket Club as the Somerset Cricket Museum, dates from the late 15th or early 16th century, and replaces an earlier 13th or 14th century building on that site.
The location of the Priory Church and complex was uncovered by excavation in advance of the construction of a block of flats in 2005 by Context One Archaeological Services. The western end of the church and adjoining cloister was uncovered.