The Dissolution of the Monasteries, which took place between 1536 and 1541 under the rule of King Henry VIII, was a turning point in English history. It formed part of the English Reformation, when England broke away from the authority of the Pope and the Roman Catholic Church. Across the country, monasteries, abbeys, and priories were closed, and their lands and wealth were taken by the Crown. These religious institutions had played a key role in everyday life for centuries, offering support to the poor, care for the sick, and access to education. Their closure created deep and lasting changes in the communities around them.
Kirklees Priory
Kirklees Priory in West Yorkshire is a local example of the impact of the Dissolution of the Monasteries. This small nunnery, part of the Cistercian tradition, was home to eight nuns in 1539, led by Prioress Joan Kyppes. Although it survived the early stages of the Dissolution, it was later closed under the Second Act of Dissolution. After this, the priory buildings were pulled down and the stone was reused to build Low Hall, a large house for a wealthy family nearby. This shows how land and materials from former religious houses mainly benefited rich landowners, while poorer people lost places that had once provided help such as food, shelter, and care.
The closure of Kirklees Priory disrupted local life. People who worked its lands, or who had relied on the nuns for charity, medicine, or spiritual guidance, suddenly lost a vital source of support. The priory had contributed to the local economy and helped sustain both employment and trade. Its removal affected not just religious life but the practical, daily routines of many ordinary people.
Although many areas of Yorkshire continued Catholic traditions after the Reformation, Kirklees stood out as a place of early religious change. Grindal’s visitation of 1575, an official Church of England inspection, found no evidence of Catholic nonconformity in the region. While private worship may have continued in secret, it is likely that parishes such as Almondbury, Kirkheaton, Kirkburton, and Mirfield were becoming more Protestant and more aligned with the Church of England by the mid-sixteenth century.
The rise of the local gentry
A major result of the Dissolution was the growth in power of local gentry families, such as the Armytages of Kirklees. This change happened because land and wealth that had belonged to monasteries were taken by the Crown and then given or sold to private owners. Families like the Armytages gained former monastic lands and were given new roles within the Church of England. For example, in Mirfield, the Armytages became patrons with the right to choose the local vicar, which increased their religious and political influence. As they became wealthier and more powerful, they built large houses, looked for royal favour, and showed their status through grand buildings and public service.