Beauvale Priory, in the heart of rural Nottinghamshire, UK, (P on map HERE) opened as a Carthusian monastery in 1343. For nearly two hundred years the Carthusians led their lives at the Priory with little contact with the outside world, though often it was a struggle to survive.

When the Pope refused to allow Henry VIII to annul his marriage to Catherine of Aragon, Henry defied the Pope and in 1535 the English Parliament declared it high treason not to accept that Henry was 'Supreme Head on earth of the English Church'.

Amongst others, John Houghton, then Prior of the Carthusian London Charterhouse but a former Prior of Beauvale, and Robert Lawrence, Prior of Beauvale, refused to accept that King Henry was Supreme Head of the English Church.

On Tuesday, 4 May 1535 three Carthusian Priors, John Houghton, Robert Lawrence and Augustine Webster, Prior of Axholme, together with Father John Haile, a parish priest from Isleworth and Father Richard Reynolds, a monk from Syon Abbey were hung, drawn and quartered in a most brutal manner at Tyburn, London.

In 1539 Beauvale Priory, like the vast majority of monasteries in England, was dissolved on the orders of the King.

In 1970 St John Houghton and St Robert Lawrence were canonized.

For a more detailed account of the above CLICK.

Today just a small part of the Priory remains.

The Beauvale Society was formed in 1978 to venerate the martyrs and spread knowledge and devotion to them. This website strives to help fulfil those aims.

A yearly diocesan pilgrimage to the Priory takes place on the nearest Sunday to 4 May.

Membership of the Society is open to all. For more details please CLICK.

For forthcoming events and latest information CLICK.