From Chaucer to Today: The Story of St Leonard’s Priory

One of the most celebrated works of medieval literature is Geoffrey Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales. It’s an epic poem featuring the tales of a group of pilgrims making their way to Canterbury. Among them was Madame Eglentyne (sometimes spelt Eglantine). A woman described in the prologue as a prioress at the “scole of Stratford atte Bowe”. This school was part of the Priory of St Leonard. A long-lost and now largely forgotten Benedictine nunnery. It once sat at the edge of the city on the banks of the River Lea.

Chaucer and St Leonards

Chaucer’s character provides a compelling entry point into the history of the area. Nestled next to the river, it would have been well known in its time. St Leonard’s was situated close to the crossing of the River Lea. For much of it’s history it was just a ford. Yet, it had always been a key place to pass from Middlesex into Essex. Most significantly it would have been the direct route from London to the major monastic house of Barking Abbey.

Queen Matilda and the Bow Bridge

St. Leonards Priory was first recorded in 1122. Though it is thought to have been built around 1100. This would have been before there was a bridge crossing the Lea. That would come later in 1110. Legend has it that Queen Matilda actually ordered it to be built. This was after she had been ‘well wetted‘ by the water on her way to Barking Abbey. The subsequent bridge was then built in a distinctive arched bow shaped design. It would go on to give the area of ‘Bow’ its very name.

Stratford Atte Bow

Before the bridge, the area on both sides of the river was known as ‘Stratford’. It meant, the ‘street crossing the ford’. The bridge allowed for a bit more distinction and soon afterwards became known as ‘Stratford atte Bowe‘.

The Canterbury Tales

By the time of Chaucer, the bridge and the priory would have been well over 200 years old. His Canterbury Tales were written between 1387 and 1400. He lived at one point above the city gate in Aldgate and worked at the Royal Court. It’s certain he would have known of the two ancient structures. The road from Aldgate led then, as it does now, towards Bow and onwards into Essex.

Madame Argentyn and the Queens Sister

There is also a remarkable similarity in name between the Prioress featured in the Canterbury Tales and a real person. This is Madame Argentyn who we know was a nun at the Priory during Chaucer’s time. We know this as she is named in the will of Elizabeth of Hainault. She was the sister of Philippa, the Queen of England and wife of Edward III. Elizabeth was actually interred at the priory with a date recorded as 1375. As a result it is presumed that Elizabeth had a close relationship with the priory and particularly with Madame Argentyn.

Philippa Roet and the Royal Court

With such immediate Royal connections it is very possible that Chaucer would have known of both women. He entered the court in 1357, becoming a court official under both Edward III and later to Richard II. His wife, Philippa Roet was even more connected. As a child she was a ward of Queen Philippa. Eventually she became a lady in waiting or ‘domicella’ to the Queen. She would occupy that position until the Queen died in 1369. Later Philippa Roet would serve John of Gaunt’s second wife, Constance of Castile. Her sister Katherine Swynford also served in the Gaunt household and actually became his third wife. Gaunt was Queen Philippa’s son by her husband, Edward III.

Marriage

It was during the time that Philippa Roet was working directly for Queen Philippa that she married Geoffrey Chaucer. This would have been around 1366. Already well versed in the comings and goings of the household court. The marriage would place the poet further in the inner circle of courtly activity.

The Real Eglentyne

It is this background that helps place Madame Argentyn at St Leonards Priory as being a possible inspiration for Madame Eglentyne (from the Canterbury Tales). The connection in the will of Elizabeth of Hainault confirms that she existed and was at Stratford atte Bow. Such proximity to the Royal Court also places both Chaucer and his wife close to the activities of the priory.

The Prioress

Writing the Canterbury Tales, Chaucer gives us clues as to life in the priory at that time. The most direct line that refers to the priory is…

And Frenssh she spak ful faire and fetisly, After the scole of Stratford atte Bowe. For Frenssh of Parys was to hire unknown

Scole of Stratford atte Bowe

This seems to confirm that the priory acted as a school of sorts. Young women, likely the daughters of lesser gentry, would have been educated there. Referencing French it reminds us that at this time, it would have still been widely spoken in noble circles. Madame Eglentyne, appears to speak it well but it also suggests that it is more of a dialect. Chaucer says that ‘Frenshh of Parys was to hire unknown’. Parisian French would have been a purer form of French spoken at the Royal Court. The ‘Scole of Stratford atte Bow’ possibly spoke more of a localised dialect of ‘Anglo-Norman’ French.

French in the East End

By including this line, it is often thought that Chaucer is offering some gentle satire. He praises the ‘fairly and fluent’ nature of the language whilst accepting that there are social levels. It is not the same French as the Royal Court so reveals the comparative status of the school. Still good and noble but not quite Parisian French. However, far from mocking, Chaucer might well be just stating a reality.

Finishing School

Sitting on the banks of the River Lea, St Leonard’s was in the country but still close to the city. With it’s royal connections it would have been a reputable place for the daughters of wealthy Londoners to visit. Perhaps, we can speculate that it acted as a type of finishing school for young women. There is evidence in the mannerisms of Madame Eglentyne that suggests this could be the case. Certainly we know that it did attract ladies of the gentry.

Good Manners

In the prologue to the Canterbury Tales, Chaucer describes the impeccable manners of Madame Eglentyne. It may well have been something he had observed.

At mete wel y-taught was she with alle; she leet no morsel from hir lippes falle

This passage is an example of her table manners. She was ‘well taught in every aspect’ and ‘let no morsel fall from her lips. Another line suggests that ‘In curteiseye was set a hir lest’. It suggests that her curtsying was elegant and refined. All skills that you would expect at a finishing school for aristocratic ladies.

14th Century England

What this might say about priories in 14th Century England is intriguing. There would have been many monastic houses around and they would have had a distinctive mark on the landscape. Close by over the River Lea there was the Monastery of Stratford Langthorne. Then towards the city of London, more monastic houses would have encircled the old city. Religious life within these institutions would have been very obvious and present.

Rare Glimpse

The story of the Prioress in the Canterbury Tales allows us a rare glimpse into the realities of that world. Showing us what life might have been like within the priory. One that is shown as being quite genteel but where the nuns still led rounded lives. St Leonards in particular may have had a more ‘cosmopolitan’ approach on account of it’s location. Far enough away from the smells and bustle of the city. Yet still close enough to benefit from access to it.

The Dissolution of St Leonards Priory

Like all monastic houses across the country, St Leonards fell victim to the dissolution. Henry VIII’s massive land grab would lead to a significant transformation of Britain. St Leonards priory was one of the first to fall in 1536. In 1528 just before the dissolution it was reported to have just 10 nuns. This was down from a reported figure of 30 back in 1354. The priory was known to be in financial difficulty. Records at the time noting it’s limited resources and frequent exemptions from taxation.

Re-Distribution of Wealth

Still, despite it’s poverty stricken state, the lands, buildings and goods would have been a satisfying prize. Valuables were either sold or re-distributed and buildings either demolished or re-purposed. Soon afterwards the cloistered quadrangle, gardens and fishponds around the priory had disappeared. Whilst more conventional buildings found themselves absorbed into new manorial estates.

St Mary Bromley by Bow

One building that did survive was the chancel which was adopted as a parish church. It was dedicated to St Mary and became the Parish Church of St Mary Bromley by Bow. It meant that for a while some traces of the old medieval priory survived. The building retained it’s Norman choir arch and other architectural details. Over the years the church underwent modifications and then a full Victorian era rebuild in 1842-43. Many of the surviving older features were destroyed and replaced at that point.

The Two Churches of Bow

One of the unusual aspects of the newly dedicated church was that Bow suddenly had two churches called St Mary’s. The first church is still there. It sits on an island in the middle of Bow Road and dates from 1311. It was positioned just up from the Bow Bridge and very close to the Priory of St Leonards. Only a few hundred yards would have separated them. For years the two churches would co-exist. That would last until the devastation of the Second World War.

Church Destroyed

The Victorian version of the church survived until March 1941. It suffered massive damage in a German bombing raid as part of the blitz and became a ruin. Then in 1968 the construction of the Blackwall Tunnel Northern Approach Road finished it off entirely. The road smashed through where the church would have stood and also removed a significant portion of the churchyard. Given the totality of the construction, any archaeological remnants of the priory would also have disappeared.

Bromley House

The dissolution had the effect of kick starting a whole scale transformation of the area. It set the scene for the development of manorial estates and the later urban development that would follow. In particular the mansion of Bromley House was constructed. This would have been around 1606 and possibly by the architect John Thorpe. It was a substantial red brick building with around 24 rooms. Later folklore would suggest that James I used it as a hunting lodge. It’s a claim that has persisted and could be true, though it is unsubstantiated.

The Old Palace

During the 17th and 18th centuries, the house underwent a series of renovations and served a variety of purposes. By the late 19th century, Bromley House, then approaching 300 years old, had become known locally as the Old Palace. This name was likely inspired by its royal associations, particularly its links to James I. Indeed the grand state room of the house did boast the kings coat of arms.

The Old Palace School

Following the gradual fragmentation of Bromley House, part of the building was converted into a boarding school. First opening as ‘Palace House School’ it later became better known as the ‘Old Palace School’. In 1893, the site was purchased by the London School Board. They planned to demolish the remaining structure to make way for a new school. Despite strong local opposition, the demolition went ahead in 1894. The new school was also known as ‘The Old Palace School’. Fortunately the campaign did succeed in ensuring the preservation of the grand state room. This was removed and can now be seen at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.

Industrialisation and Urban Transformation

From the late 18th century onward, Bromley-by-Bow transitioned from a semi-rural parish into a densely populated industrial suburb. The River Lea was a key catalyst with industry and agriculture on its banks leading into the Thames. With the advent of canals and railways it brought factories, warehouses and working class housing to the area. By the 20th century the area around Bromley House and the Church of St Mary became highly developed and unrecognisable.

The Priory Site Today

What remains of the site of the old priory of St Leonards is a tiny scrub filled pocket park. Graves from the old churchyard of St Mary’s can still be seen dotted around. There’s also a few small sections of the old boundary wall of the church and a memorial arch. However there is absolutely nothing of the priory. On the edge of the park is the huge scar of the Blackwall Tunnel Approach Road. Where at one point the land would have sloped down to the River Lea. Now it is a mass of traffic and concrete. The road development wiping out any remaining footprints of monastic buildings that would have been there.

Legacy

Bromley-by-Bow’s history has much to owe to the existence of St Leonards Priory. Starting as a place of religious devotion, Chaucer immortalised it within his great literary work. The Dissolution was the catalyst for change and the land became re-purposed with great homes. Over the years it would change further with the site being at the heart of London’s industrial transformation. The area went from green backwater on the edge of the city to an industrial hub.

It’s a story that encapsulates the shifting rhythms of England’s social and architectural life. One that comes to us from medieval piety and Tudor ambition. Through Georgian refinement and Victorian industry, into the modern cityscape of East London today. Beneath the streets of Bromley-by-Bow lies a landscape shaped by centuries of reinvention. A place where fragments of priory walls, vanished manor houses and the memory of the past still echo through the story of this remarkable area.

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