The village of Langley in Hertforshire lies roughly 20 miles to the northwest of the city of London, and west of the village lies a residential manor owned by the crown. In 1276, the current king's mother, Eleanor of Castile, acquired the estate and began construction on it. Records from the early 1280's indicated that she and her husband had already expanded the manor to have rooms for them, and their only surviving son (who Eleanor did not live to see beyond infantile years) Edward of Caernarfon spent his childhood years here (just like his older brother, Alphonso, had) and lived here in the countryside during much of his youth after the manor was granted to him in 1302. His infamous companion, Piers Gaveston, also resided with him here. In 1308, following his coronation as king, Edward of Caernarfon gave part of the manor to the Dominican Order, founding Langley Priory adjacent to his favorite residence.