Saint-Gabriel-Brécy Priory
Saint-Gabriel-Brécy Priory was a Benedictine priory 10 km from the coast between Caen and Bayeux. It is sited in the town of Saint-Gabriel-Brécy, Calvados, France. A 13th century gate-tower survives, with ogive vaulting on sculpted capitals. It was adjoined by a now-lost guesthouse. The cornice is sculpted with small three-point arches. The vaulted refectory dates to the late 13th century. A keep was built to serve as a prison in the 15th century, whilst the Renaissance-style courtroom was built towards the end of the 16th century. A dovecote is now lost. History It was founded by three monks sent there in 1058 by John of Fécamp, abbot of the Benedictine Fécamp Abbey. He sent them to found a priory there at the request of Richard, lord of Creully, whose brother Vitalis was a Benedictine monk at Fécamp and later became abbot of Bernay Abbey and Westminster Abbey. That year forty people signed a charter founding the priory, including John himself, William, Duke of Normandy and his wife Matilda of Flanders. It cost 312 livres 2 sols, two horses and 24 sheep. The priory was granted lands in over 24 parishes from Ouistreham to Port-en-Bessin, several mills (including two in Saint-Gabriel