St Oswald's Priory, Gloucester

St Oswald's Priory was founded by Æthelflæd, daughter of Alfred the Great, and her husband Æthelred, ealdorman of Mercia, in the late 880s or the 890s.

The site was an important part of the Burh of Gloucester and was supported by the ruling family of the time including king Æthelstan.

[2][4] St Oswald's, founded when Gloucester was an important new burh, at first enjoyed royal favour, and both Æthelflæd and Æthelred were buried there.

[5] Æthelstan was a major benefactor of St Oswald's, and he may have commissioned grave covers for the tombs of Æthelflæd and Æthelred.

[7] The monastery was suppressed in 1536, and became the parish church of St Catherine, but this was destroyed in a Civil War siege in 1643.

View of the ruins of the Priory from the south side.
A 9th-century Anglo-Saxon cross found at the Priory, now in Gloucester City Museum & Art Gallery . (Painted replica on right).
The north side of the Priory.