The Plaque at 8 Priory Row

The plaque reads:

You are standing upon the site of three ancient edifices.

On the summit of Hill Top (approximately on this site) a convent was established about the year 650 AD by a Saxon lady later canonised under the name of St Osburg. The convent was destroyed by the Danes when they ravaged Mercia in 1016 AD.

Twenty seven years later (1043 AD) a Benedictine abbey church was built on the same ground by Leofric, Earl of Mercia, and his Countess, Godiva. Leofric and Godiva are said to have been buried respectively in the two porches which stood nearly on this spot.

Here about 1140 AD was commenced the building of the Benedictine priory church or Cathedral of St Mary which was completed about 1220 AD and demolished subsequent to 1539 AD. It possessed three spires and a central tower.

Sic transit gloria mundi.
(Thus the glory of the world passes)
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