374 



The monks were of the Chmiac order, the Priory must have been of con- 

 siderable importance. It is built in a position of great beauty by side of a brook, 

 which no doubt yielded a jilentiful supply of fish, indeed at the present time, if 

 properly cared for and looked after, it would afford excellent sport to the angler. 



There are too, traces of fish-ponds, so that we may infer, that with good 

 land round^,them and abundant produce from their farm — fat mutton, beef and 

 poultry — the Clifford monks "lived well." 



Silas Taylor says, that when he wrote, the Priory was in the possession of 

 the Traceys, which seems questionable, as about that time the Wellington family 

 was living at,' and probably owned the Priory. 



In recent years the Priory farm belonged to jjeople of the name of Wood- 

 house, and some twenty-five years ago it was jsurchased by its present owner, 

 Mr. B. Haigh Allen, who has built a large house (called the Priory) overlooking 

 the old site, and commanding an extensive and picturesque panorama. 



Where stood the grand old Priory with its gray walls and cruciform 

 Church, now stands a farm-house with its modern slate roof and general ugliness : 

 nothing to interest the student of antiquarian remains (excepting the patriarchal 

 oak tree), but everything is changed, and all relics of the past have been ruthlessly 

 swept from the face of the earth. 



" TemiJora mutantur, nos et mutamur in illis." 



