Lewes Priory ruin in Sussex that was destroyed on Henry VIII's orders

Lewes Priory is a small monastery which was built in the 11th century after monks came to England from Cluny in France.

It survived for around 450 years until the dissolution of the monasteries ordered by King Henry VIII.

King Henry VIII ordered for the monastery to be destroyed (Image: Rose Jones/The Argus Camera Club)

The King wanted the monarch to become the ruler of the church in England and Wales and felt that monks and their monasteries would prevent that from happening.

READ MORE: Inside ruins of great Tudor house which Henry VIII visited

He was also keen to get his hands on the land and wealth of the monasteries, so, on November 16, 1537, the priory was surrendered to the Crown and its destruction carried out by order of the King's secretary, Thomas Cromwell. 

A noticeboard shows what the monastery once looked like (Image: Rose Jones/The Argus Camera Club)

Fast forward nearly 500 years, the remains of the priory still stand in a park off Cockshut Road.

Information boards explain the history of the ruin and what the different walls once were, including the remains of the monastery's toilets

Camera club snapper Rose Jones took her camera out there this week to capture some shots of the ruin, which is set against the backdrop of the South Downs.