Bedford
Caldwell Priory

Places > Bedford > Abbeys and Priories > Caldwell Priory

Caldwell Priory was an Augustinian Priory west of Bedford. It was a smaller priory than Newnham and although it received gifts in Bedford and the surrounding villages, its endowment was less than half of Newnham. Caldwell Priory was closed in 1536. The Priory is shown on Speeds map of Bedford 1610.

The priory buildings appear to have lasted into the 19th century when a new house replaced the buildings sometime between 1818 and 1857 although the refectory and cloisters remained well into the 20th century. This house was demolished sometime between 1926 and 1967. An expanding Britannia Iron and Steel works then used the site. When the factory closed and was demolished in the early 2000s houses were built on the site.

Sources

• BELL, P.  Belief in Bedfordshire.  1986.

• FREEMAN, Ian   From Saxons to Speed : a new history of Old Bedford. 

Caldwell Priory, Bedford, by Bedfordshire Libraries, 2012

Page last updated: 22nd January 2014