Kilburn Priory was a small monastic community of nuns, established around 1130.
Kilburn Priory was situated where Watling Street (now the Kilburn High Road) was crossed by the stream now known as the Westbourne. The Westbourne was known locally as the Keeleburne - the cow’s stream. This gave its name to the adjacent priory which gave its name to the area - Kilburn.
It was beside to stream here since there was a spring - soon noted to be ’medicinal’.
The site was used until 1130 as a hermitage by a recluse called Godwyn.
Godwyn, being rich as well as a recluse, gave the hermitage to the church of St Peter, Westminster which established Kilburn Priory. The priory was established for three pious ladies-in-waiting - Emma, Gunilda and Cristina - of Queen Matilda of Scotland, consort of Henry I.
The spring became known as a holy well. By 1377 it was described as being run by an order of Augustinian canonesses.
Kilburn Priory was abolished by Henry VIII in 1537.
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Kilburn Priory was a small monastic community of nuns, established around 1130.
