Leominster Priory

A church has stood here since at least as early as 660, and there are stories that St David may have founded a church here a century earlier.

Building work on the Benedictine Monastery began in 1123 and it was consecrated by the Bishop of Hereford in 1130. During the second half of the 12th century a west tower was added, and this was raised to its present height in the 14th century. In the 13th century (c1239) a new nave was built alongside the norman nave on the south side. A century later (c1320), this was again extended on the south side by the addition of a further nave.

During the reformation, the parts of the church to the east used by the monks were destroyed. In 1699 the church suffered a devastating fire destroying the roof, some window glass and furnishings. Between 1860 and 1880 there was a major restoration with the architect being Sir Gilbert Scott. The norman nave was reopened, the central and south naves restored, and work completed on the tower. The pillars of the slender south arcade were inserted to create a feeling of space. An ancient ducking stool, one of only two still suviving can be seen in the Norman nave.

Many of the best architectural features can be seen on the outside of the church, especially the Decorated windows of the south aisle, and the outstanding 12th century decoration on the west doorway, made by the same team of mason/sculptors who worked at Kilpeck and Shobdon.

Toilet facilities were provided in the 1970s and a kitchen created in the early 1980s.