Werburg, daughter of King Wulfhere of Mercia, founded a nunnery at Hoo between 686 and 697 A.D. (Name Hoo St. Werburgh - TQ 7972). It may have endured from about 690 to about 840. (For present church of St. Werburgh see TQ 77 SE 11). (1)

Hoo, Kent. Land on the island (later Hoo St. Werburgh) and adjoining granted to Ecgbald and his familia (?Benedictine) c.687. Monastic under an abbot in 716. Dissolved or destroyed ?9th century. (2)

Additional reference. (3)

The parish church of Hoo [TQ 77 SE 11] is still dedicated to St. Werburg, but no trace of her nunnery survives. The place name Abbot's Court (TQ 794 722) and the moated earthwork [TQ 77 SE 34] nearby probably relate to the medieval manor of Hoo, which was held by the Cistercian abbey of Boxley at the Dissolution. (3,4).

Additional ref, in context with others in regions (5,6).

<1> Kent Archaeological Society, Archaeologia Cantiana, being contributions to the history and archaeology of Kent vol 1 (1858)-, 1935 (G Ward), Volume Nos. 47, Page Nos. 117-25 (Bibliographic reference). SKE6334.

<2> by David Knowles, R Neville Hadcock, 1971, Medieval religious houses in England and Wales, 1971, Page Nos. 475 (Bibliographic reference). SKE6370.

<3> Page, W. (ed), 1926, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Kent Volume II, Kent 1926, Volume Nos. II, Page Nos. 12-13, 154 (Monograph). SKE7944.

<4> RCHME Field Investigation Mar-1994 (P Struth) (OS Card Reference). SKE49000.

<5> RCHME: Anglo Saxon Monasteries in Kent, Essex and Greater London (Collection). SKE6500.

<6> Gem, Richard, 1995, Anglo-Saxon minsters of the Thames Estuary (Article in monograph). SWX9355.