Börringe Priory (or Börringekloster Castle) is a Scanian castle built on the ruins of a Benedictine priory from the 12th century in Svedala, Scania, in southern Sweden.
The priory was founded about 1150 under Archbishop of Lund Eskil as a Benedictine priory for monks. But by 1231 Börringe Priory is mentioned in Liber Census Daniae as a nunnery located on the island Byrdingø in Börringe Lake, on land which Valdemar II of Denmark had once set aside for hunting. The priory church was dedicated to the Virgin Mary and later was called St. Mary's Priory.
The complex began small, but with the income from donations of money and rent properties, the priory was able to expand into three ranges attached to the church forming a four-sided enclosure to separate the nuns from the world. The nuns slept in the dormitory, one range was a refectory and cellars, another range was used for laywomen who lived in the priory. They were often the unmarried daughters or sisters of noble families who lived a religious life but were not strictly bound by the vows the nuns took. Occasionally, a widow exchanged her worldly goods for the opportunity to live out her life at the priory which provided room and board until her death. Housing these women was one source of income for the priory. Other income came from rent properties such as farms or other buildings which tenants lived and paid rent to the priory. While not specifically mentioned another common source of income was part of the tithes from nearby churches given by the Archdiocese of Lund for the maintenance of the nuns. Lastly the priory might also receive royal support by giving the priory rights to fishing grounds in Börringe Lake or landing rights for commerce over streams or rivers.
The complex was rebuilt over several decades during the 1300s in the Gothic style out of brick. The prioress ran the priory, and a prior, often a local noble who paid for the privilege, was responsible for representing the priory in worldly affairs.
The kingdom of Denmark became Lutheran in 1536 under Christian III, a staunch Lutheran. All religious houses and their attendant income properties reverted to the crown for disposition. Börringe Priory was secularized the same year and became an estate the king gave to the Brahe family with the condition that the former nuns be cared for, essentially a home for honourable and noble women. The entire archive was lost. The church was converted to a parish church for the village of Börringe.
In 1551 the abbey passed to the nobleman, Knud Gedde, and was apparently used as living quarters by tenant farmers. In 1582 the priory passed to Lady Görvel Sparre who ordered the abbey church demolished. She permitted a new parish church to be constructed closer to the town built out of the materials from the priory church. The parish church was completed by 1587. For some reason she moved the grave of Lady Else Brade from the priory church under the floor of the new parish church. Usable parts of the priory were converted into a large manor house.
In the beginning of the 16th century, Börringe was owned by Søren Norrby, who together with the knight, Jens Holgersen Ulfstand of Glimmingehus Castle, led the Danish navy to victory in several battles against Lübeck.
When Scania became a Swedish province at the Treaty of Roskilde in 1658, Charles X of Sweden gave Bŏrringe Priory Manor to his illegitimate son, Gustaf Carlsson. Charles XI took the property and made it available to the General Governor of Scania, Count Gustaf Otto Stenbock. In 1682, Charles XI exchanged the estate for Herrevad Abbey with Otto Wilhelm von Königsmarck, son of Hans Christoff von Königsmarck, but in 1686, the estate reverted to the crown again. Börringe Parish was combined with Lemmeströ Parish in 1741. Both of the old churches were torn down and a new one constructed for the joint Gustav Parish. In one sense a bit of the old priory does exist in the small remnant at the Börringe Cemetery, since the materials came from the priory.
Börringe Priory Manor was bought by the Beck-Friis family in 1745. In 1763, the remaining manorhouse and structures were demolished and replaced by the present castle. In 1873 the present castle was expanded and renovated into its present appearance. The estate became a joint County (earldom) with Fiholm Castle in Södermanland in 1791 and the Swedish nobility title of Count was awarded to the new owners.
There are no remnants of the former priory to be seen.
List of castles in Scania
