Birkenhead Priory

Birkenhead Priory is in Priory Street, Birkenhead, Merseyside, England. It is the oldest standing building on Merseyside. The remains of the priory are recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade I listed building, and it is a Scheduled Ancient Monument.HistoryThe Priory was founded about 1150 by Hamon de Masci, 3rd Baron of Dunham Massey for the Benedictine Order. It was visited twice by Edward I due to its strategic importance, being close to the Irish Sea as well as the Welsh border.In 1318 the monks from Birkenhead Priory were granted ferry rights by Edward II. This allowed them to build a house in what is now Water Street to store their corn. The house was also used by travellers for shelter if the weather was too bad for the ferry to cross the River Mersey.The priory's chapter house remains a consecrated Anglican church and is still in use for services; it is a Grade II* listed building containing elements of Norman architecture and was restored in 2005. The upper floor of the chapter house, the Scriptorium, contains a chapel dedicated to the training ship HMS Conway.