Dartford Priory

When Henry VIII suppressed the monasteries, he took Dartford Priory for himself, establishing it as a Royal Palace.

This inauguration of the priory was accompanied by a tournament, a way of celebrating favoured by Edward III.

The King previously staged tournaments at Dartford twice before: firstly at the age of seventeen in 1329, after he had assumed the throne but still under the control of his step father Roger Mortimer who assumed the role as his guardian and effectively ruled the Kingdom.

Edward organised a series of tournaments in 1331, and Dartford was chosen to host one of these.

Dartford Priory played a significant role in the dissolution of the monasteries.[how?

Dartford Manor Gatehouse, in October 2012
Dedication of Bridget to the nunnery at Dartford , painting by James Northcote (1822). National Trust, Petworth House , West Sussex .