Birkenhead Priory
Coordinates: 53°23′22″N 3°0′41″W / 53.38944°N 3.01139°W
Birkenhead Priory is in Priory Street, Birkenhead, Merseyside, England. It is the oldest standing building on Merseyside. The remains of the priory are recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade I listed building, and it is a Scheduled Ancient Monument.
The Priory was founded about 1150 by Hamon de Masci, 3rd Baron of Dunham Massey for the Benedictine Order. It was visited twice by Edward I due to its strategic importance, being close to the Irish Sea as well as the Welsh border.
In 1318 the monks from Birkenhead Priory were granted ferry rights by Edward II. This allowed them to build a house in what is now Water Street to store their corn. The house was also used by travellers for shelter if the weather was too bad for the ferry to cross the River Mersey.
The priory's chapter house remains a consecrated Anglican church and has been used for services. There is a chapel dedicated to the training ship HMS Conway. There is also a museum detailing the history of the site. The chapter house is a Grade II* listed building, and contains items of Norman architecture. In 2005 the chapter house was restored.
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