Dover Priory
 Location within Kent
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| Monastery information | |
|---|---|
| Full name | The Priory of St. Mary the Virgin and St. Martin of the New Work, or Newark |
| Established | 1130 |
| Disestablished | 1538 |
| Diocese | Canterbury |
| Site | |
| Coordinates | 51°7′35″N 1°18′24″E / 51.12639°N 1.30667°ECoordinates: 51°7′35″N 1°18′24″E / 51.12639°N 1.30667°E |
| Visible remains | Gatehouse, guesthouse, refectory |
| Public access | By permission |
| Other information | Site occupied by Dover College |
The Priory of St. Mary the Virgin and St. Martin of the New Work, or Newark, commonly called Dover Priory, was a priory at Dover in southeast England. It was variously independent in rule, then occupied by canons regular of the Augustinian rule, then finally monks of the Benedictine rule as a cell of Christchurch Monastery, Canterbury.
The priory was located just east of what is now Dover Priory railway station, in fact the railway was built on the western part of the site. Housing has been built on the eastern part of the site where the church once stood, between Priory Road and the later Effingham Street in the area of Norman Street and Saxon Street. Dover College, a private boarding school, occupies the land between the station and Effingham Street and has rescued some of the medieval buildings for use by its pupils. The 12th century Strangers' Refectory on Effingham Street retains its function and is also used for concerts; the gateway to the priory is now a music school and the priory guesthouse has been consecrated as the school chapel.
In the early 7th century, a community of 22 secular canons was instituted in the Saxon burgh at Dover Castle by King Eadbald of Kent (616-640), possibly related to the Saxon church of St Mary de Castro there. Taking their existing rights and privileges with them, these canons were transferred to a new small church dedicated to St Martin in the land now occupied by Market Square towards the end of the 7th century, by King Wihtred in fulfilment of a vow to that saint. Their living was dependent on land and tithe grants, and the grant of half of some of the dues levied at the port, held in common.
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