List of monastic houses in Northamptonshire

Catesby Priory

Brixworth Priory

Canons Ashby Priory

Catesby Priory

Chacombe Priory

Daventry Priory

Deene Priory

Delapré Abbey

Dingley Preceptory

Everdon Priory

Fineshade Priory

Fotheringhay Nunnery

Grafton Regis Priory

Kalendar Priory

NORTHAMPTON (see below)

Pipewell Abbey

Preston Capes Priory

Rothwell Priory

Sewardsley Priory

Sulby Abbey

Weedon Monastery

Weedon Beck Priory

Weedon Pinkney (Weedon Lois) Priory

Wothorpe Priory

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Locations of monastic houses in Northamptonshire

Northampton Abbey (site)

Austin Friars

Blackfriars (prob. site)

Friars of the Sack (prob. site)

Greyfriars

St Andrews Priory

Whitefriars

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Locations of monastic houses in Northampton

The following is a list of the monastic houses in Northamptonshire, England.

Alien houses are included, as are smaller establishments such as cells and notable monastic granges (particularly those with resident monks), and also camerae of the military orders of monks (Knights Templar and Knights Hospitaller). Monastic hospitals are included where they had the status or function of an abbey, priory, or preceptor/commandery.

Abbreviations and key

Status of remains

Symbol	Status
None	Ruins
*	Current monastic function
^+	Current non-monastic ecclesiastic function (including remains incorporated into later structure)
^	Current non-ecclesiastic function (including remains incorporated into later structure) or redundant intact structure
^$	Remains limited to earthworks etc.
^#	No identifiable trace of the monastic foundation remains
^~	Exact site of monastic foundation unknown
^≈	Identification ambiguous or confused

Locations with names in italics indicate possible duplication (misidentification with another location) or non-existent foundations (either erroneous reference or proposed foundation never implemented) or ecclesiastical establishments with a monastic name but lacking actual monastic connection.

Trusteeship

EH	English Heritage
LT	Landmark Trust
NT	National Trust

Foundation	Image	Communities & Provenance	Formal Name or Dedication & Alternative Names	OnLine References & Location
Brackley Blackfriars		hospital of Ss James and John; Dominican Friars (1420) intended conversion of hospital never implemented
Brixworth Abbey ^+		Saxon monastery Benedictine? monks founded after 675; daughter church of Medehamstede (Peterborough), Mercia (Cambridgeshire); probably became a minster; destroyed? 870 in raids by the Danes; parochial c.960-70; now parochial: All Saints' Church, Brixworth		[1] 52°20′02″N 0°54′16″W
Canons Ashby Priory ^+		Augustinian Canons Regular founded 1147-51 (during the reign of Stephen) by Stephen de Leye; dissolved 1536; became nunnery; granted to Sir Francis Bryan 1537/8; converted into secular residence; part of church now in parochial use	The Priory Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Ashby ____________________ Canon's Ashby Priory Ashby Priory	[2][3] 52°09′00″N 1°09′24″W
Castor Priory		Saxon nuns founded before 664–5; destroyed by the Danes c.870 (or, less likely, 1010)	Dormundescastre Priory
Catesby Priory		evidently initially Benedictine nuns founded c.1175 by Robert de Esseby (Ashby); order by papal bull c.1189; Cistercian nuns founded c.1175; Augustinian Canons Regular founded after 1175 (associated with the Cistercian nunnery); (given as Gilbertine in the Mappa Mundi); with regular priests or brethren (from date unknown to after 1316) dissolved 1536; granted to John Onley 1536/7; house built on site 16th century; demolished 1863	St Mary and St Edmund or St Mary, St Edmund and St Thomas the Martyr (?) ____________________ Katebi Priory; Katesbey Priory	[4][5][6] 52°13′49″N 1°14′24″W 52°13′53″N 1°14′51″W
Chacombe Priory		Augustinian Canons Regular founded between 1216 and 1272 (during the reign of Henry II); dissolved 1536; granted to Michael Fox 1544/5; house named 'Chacombe Priory' built 17th century on the site	Chalcombe Priory	[7][8] 52°05′28″N 1°17′22″W
Daventry Priory		Cluniac monks (founded initially at Preston Capes c.1090); transferred here 1107–8; alien house: dependent on La Charite; allegedly seceded from Cluniac Order c.1231, although apparently reported directly to La Charite 1298, 1390 and 1405; became denizen: independent from 1405; dissolved 1525; granted to Christ Church, Oxford; Holy Cross church attached to the west range of the claustral buildings, demolished and replaced 19th century	St Augustine ____________________ Daventre Priory	[9][10][11] 52°15′31″N 1°09′32″W
Deene Priory		Benedictine monks priory cell, dependent on Westminster; founded before 1066; dissolved after 1086		[12] 52°31′03″N 0°36′05″W
Delapré Abbey		Cluniac nuns founded c.1145, built by Simon de St Liz (Senlis) II, Earl of Northampton; dissolved 15 December 1538; granted to John Merabe 1542/3	St Mary ____________________ Northampton, Delapre Abbey; de Pratis	[13][14][15] 52°13′28″N 0°53′22″W
Dingley Preceptory		Knights Hospitallers founded before 1154; merged with Battisford 1461; dissolved 1540; granted to Edward Griffith 1544		[16][17] 52°28′57″N 0°51′57″W
Everdon Priory ^#		Benedictine monks alien house: grange dependent on Bernay founded before c.1100; considered by some a parcel of Creeting St. Mary; dependent on Eton College before 1367; dissolved before c.1399; granted to Eton College 1440; remains recorded 1720; not locatable by 1970		[18][19] 52°12′42″N 1°07′34″W
Fineshade Priory		Augustinian Canons Regular founded before 1208 by Richard Engayne (Engain), Lord of Blatherwike; dissolved 1536; granted to John, Lord Russell 1541/2; Sir Robert Kirkham converted west range into a country residence, which was demolished along with the remains of the priory 1749; house subsequently built on site; demolished 1956	St Mary ____________________ Castle Hymel Priory	[20][21] 52°34′08″N 0°33′54″W
Fotheringhay Nunnery		Cluniac nuns founded c1141(?) transferred to Delapré c.1145; secular college founded on site 1411, with associated church c.1460; dissolved 1548; granted to James Crew	Fodringhey College	[22][23] 52°31′32″N 0°26′23″W
Grafton Regis Priory		Augustininan Canons Regular cell or hermitage; founded 1180–1205; amalgamated with the Abbey of St James's, Northampton before 1400 (end of 14th century)	St Mary and St Michael ____________________ Grafton Regis Hermitage	[24][25] 52°06′52″N 0°54′09″W
Guilsborough Preceptory		Knights Hospitaller camera/hospital founded before 1285; dissolved before 1338
Kalendar Priory		Premonstratensian canons priory?/cell, dependent on Sulby; founded after 1155: land granted by William Buttevant; probably ceased to exist before 1291(?)	St John ____________________ Kayland Priory Kaylend Priory	[26] 52°21′55″N 0°59′17″W
Luffield Priory, Syresham	Partly in Buckinghamshire. See entry under List of monastic houses in Buckinghamshire
Northampton Abbey		Augustinian Canons Regular founded c.1145-50 by William Peverel II of Nottingham; dissolved August 1538; granted to Nicholas Giffard 1545/6; housing estate now occupies site	The Abbey Church of Saint James, known as Northampton Abbey in St James End, Northampton	[27][28][29] 52°14′26″N 0°55′30″W
Northampton Austin Friars		Augustinian Friars (under the Limit of Oxford) founded 1275-90 (or possibly not before 1323 by Sir John Longville, of Wolverton[note 1]); dissolved 1538; granted to Robert Dighton 1540/1		[30][31] 52°14′04″N 0°53′53″W
Northampton Blackfriars ^~		Dominican Friars (under the Visitation of Oxford) founded before 1233; dissolved 1538; granted to William Ramesden 1544/5		[32][33] 52°14′12″N 0°54′01″W (probable)
Northampton Friars of the Sack		Friars of the Sack founded before 1271; abandoned (before(?)) 1303		[34] 52°14′08″N 0°53′23″W (probable)
Northampton Greyfriars, earlier site		Franciscan Friars (under the Custody of Oxford) founded 1226 by Sir Richard Gobion; transferred to new site (see immediately below) c.1235		[35][36]
Northampton Greyfriars		Franciscan Friars (under the Custody of Oxford) transferred from earlier site (see immediately above) c.1235; built by 1258; dissolved 1538; granted to Richard Taverner 1544/5		[35][36] 52°14′22″N 0°53′42″W
Northampton — St Andrew's Priory		Cluniac monks alien house: dependent on La Charité founded 1093–1100; became denizen: independent from 1405; dissolved 1538; site built over 19th century	St Andrew	[37][38] 52°14′38″N 0°54′11″W
Northampton Whitefriars		Camelite Friars founded before 1265 (1271) by Simon Montford and Thomas Chitwood; dissolved 1538; granted to William Ramesden 1544/6		[39][40] 52°14′27″N 0°53′41″W
Northampton Nunnery		Franciscan nuns founded 1252; dissolved after 1272
Oxney Priory	Historical county location. See entry under List of monastic houses in Cambridgeshire
Peterborough Abbey	Historical county location. See entry under List of monastic houses in Cambridgeshire
Pipewell Abbey		Cistercian monks daughter house of Newminster; founded 13 September 1143 (1141) by William de Boutwylein; dissolved 5 November 1538; granted to William, Marquess of Northampton 1547/8; ruinous by 1548; systematically demolished and used as building material; (not the modern 'Abbey church' to the north)	Pikewell Abbey	[41][42] 52°27′42″N 0°45′56″W
Preston Capes Priory		Cluniac monks alien house: dependent on La Charité; founded c.1090 by Hugh de Leicester; transferred to Daventry 1107–8		[10][43] 52°10′53″N 1°10′04″W
Rothwell Priory		Augustinian canonesses founded before 1262, probably by a member of the Clare family, purportedly by Richard de Clare, Earl of Gloucester; dissolved 1537–8; former farmhouse known as 'The Nunnery' possibly built on site	The Priory Church of Saint John the Baptist, Rothwell	[44][45] 52°25′28″N 0°48′21″W
Sewardsley Priory		Cistercian nuns founded between 1216 and 1272 (during the reign of Henry II) by Richard de Lestre; dependent on the Cluniacs at Delapré 1459/60 for maintenance (though no evidence that the community converted to the Cluniac order); dissolved 1538; granted to Richard Fermer 1550/1	Sewardesley Priory	[46][47] 52°09′03″N 0°57′13″W
Stamford — St Michael's Priory	Historical county location. See entry under List of monastic houses in Cambridgeshire
Stamford — St Sepulchre Priory	Historical county location. See entry under List of monastic houses in Cambridgeshire
Sulby Abbey		Premonstratensian Canons daughter house of Newsham; mistakenly asserted to have transferred from Welford[note 2] founded 1155 by William de Wideville; dissolved 1538; granted to Sir Christopher Hatton 1567/8	Sulbey Abbey; Welford Abbey	[48][49] 52°24′53″N 1°02′04″W
Weedon Monastery		Benedictine? nuns founded c.680 by St Werburgh, possibly on the site of an Anglo-Saxon royal palace; destroyed in raids by the Danes 870		[50] 52°13′35″N 1°04′24″W
Weedon Beck Priory		Benedictine monks alien house: dependent on Bec-Hellouin and St Lambert de Mallassis; founded before 1086 (after 1126); dissolved after 1329(?); granted to Eton College 1462	Weedon Bec Priory	[51][52] 52°13′32″N 1°04′45″W
Weedon Pinkney Priory		Benedictine monks founded before 1126 (in the tenure of Robert, Bishop of Lincoln): endowments granted by Gilo de Pinkney and other members of his family; dependent on St Lucien, Beauvais; granted to Biddlesden 1392; manor granted to All Souls College, Oxford 1440	Weedon Lois Priory	[53][54] 52°07′03″N 1°07′18″W
Wermundsey Monastery ^~		unidentified, dependent on Peterborough, possibly located in Northamptonshire founded after 675 during the tenure of Abbot Cuthbald; destroyed in raids by the Danes 870
Wittering Priory	Historical county location. See entry under List of monastic houses in Cambridgeshire
Wothorpe Priory ^#		possibly intended Augustinian canonesses — Arroasian c.1160(?); Benedictine nuns founded 12th century (purportedly during the reign of Henry I); ruinous 1292; merged with Stamford 1354; granted to Richard Cecil 1540/1	St Mary ____________________ Wyrthorp Priory	[55][56] 52°38′09″N 0°29′12″W

See also

• List of monastic houses in England

Notes

1. Northampton Austin Friars: Sir John Longville is said to have founded the house 1323, however deeds between 1275 and 1290 refer to an Austin friary in existence at that time
2. Welford — Victoria County Histories, Northamptonshire, Vol II, p139: "Unfortunately the early records of Sulby are very meagre, and no chartulary or register is extant. We know that the abbey was originally founded in Welford parish, and subsequently moved to Sulby. The confirmation charter of Edward II., already referred to, describes the abbey as formerly of Welford, and now of Sulby" — this is a misinterpretation of the cited Pat. 9 Edw.II pt.2, m.2

References

1. Pastscape — Detailed Result: CHURCH OF ALL SAINTS
2. Pastscape — Detailed Result: CANONS ASHBY PRIORY
3. British History Online — Houses of Austin canons: The priory of Canons Ashby — Victoria County History: A History of the County of Northampton: Volume 2 (pp.130-133)
4. Pastscape — Detailed Result: CATESBY PRIORY
5. Pastscape — Detailed Result: CATESBY PRIORY
6. British History Online — Houses of Cistercian nuns: The priory of Catesby | A History of the County of Northampton: Volume 2 (pp.121-125)
7. Pastscape — Detailed Result: CHACOMBE PRIORY
8. British History Online — Houses of Austin canons: The priory of Chalcombe — Victoria County History: A History of the County of Northampton: Volume 2 (pp.133-135)
9. Pastscape — Detailed Result: DAVENTRY PRIORY
10. British History Online — Houses of Cluniac monks: The priory of St Augustine, Daventry — Victoria County History: A History of the County of Northampton: Volume 2 (pp.109-114)
11. Daventry Holy Cross Priory
12. Pastscape — Detailed Result: DEENE PRIORY
13. Pastscape — Detailed Result: DELAPRE ABBEY
14. Pastscape — Detailed Result: DELAPRE ABBEY
15. British History Online — House of Cluniac nuns: The abbey of Delapre — Victoria County History: A History of the County of Northampton: Volume 2 (pp.114-116)
16. Pastscape — Detailed Result: DINGLEY HOSPITALLERS PRECEPTORY
17. British History Online — House of Knights Hospitallers — The preceptory of Dingley — Victoria County History: A History of the County of Northampton: Volume 2 (pp.142-144)
18. Pastscape — Detailed Result: MONUMENT NO. 339556
19. British History Online — Alien houses: The priory of Everdon — Victoria County History: A History of the County of Northampton: Volume 2 (p.182)
20. Pastscape — Detailed Result: FINESHADE ABBEY
21. British History Online — Houses of Austin canons: The priory of Fineshade or Castle Hymel — Victoria County History: A History of the County of Northampton: Volume 2 (pp.135-136)
22. Pastscape — Detailed Result: FOTHERINGHAY COLLEGE
23. British History Online — Colleges: Fotheringhay — Victoria County History: A History of the County of Northampton: Volume 2 (pp.170-177)
24. Pastscape — Detailed Result: GRAFTON REGIS PRIORY
25. British History Online — Houses of Austin canons: The hermitage of Grafton Regis — Victoria County History: A History of the County of Northampton: Volume 2 (p.137)
26. Pastscape — Detailed Result: KAYLAND PRIORY CELL
27. Pastscape — Detailed Result: NORTHAMPTON ABBEY
28. British History Online — Houses of Austin canons: The abbey of St James, Northampton — Victoria County History: A History of the County of Northampton: Volume 2 (pp.127-130)
29. "The Medieval Abbey of St. James (Part 1) 1999 - 2001 excavations". Northants Archaeology. Archived from the original on 12 January 2014. Retrieved 12 January 2014.
30. Pastscape — Detailed Result: NORTHAMPTON AUSTIN FRIARY
31. British History Online — Friaries: The Austin friars of Northampton — Victoria County History: A History of the County of Northampton: Volume 2 (p.147)
32. Pastscape — Detailed Result: NORTHAMPTON BLACKFRIARS
33. British History Online — Friaries: The black friars of Northampton — Victoria County History: A History of the County of Northampton: Volume 2 (pp.144-146)
34. Pastscape — Detailed Result: NORTHAMPTON FRIARY OF FRIARS OF THE SACK
35. Pastscape — Detailed Result: NORTHAMPTON GREYFRIARS
36. British History Online — Friaries: The Franciscans of Northampton — Victoria County History: A History of the County of Northampton: Volume 2 (pp.146-147)
37. Pastscape — Detailed Result: ST ANDREWS PRIORY
38. British History Online — Houses of Cluniac monks: The priory of St Andrew, Northampton — Victoria County History: A History of the County of Northampton: Volume 2 (pp.102-109)
39. Pastscape — Detailed Result: NORTHAMPTON WHITEFRIARS
40. British History Online — Friaries: The Carmelite friars of Northampton — Victoria County History: A History of the County of Northampton: Volume 2 (pp.148-149)
41. Pastscape — Detailed Result: PIPEWELL ABBEY
42. British History Online — House of Cistercian monks: The abbey of Pipewell — Victoria County History: A History of the County of Northampton: Volume 2 (pp.116-121)
43. Pastscape — Detailed Result: PRESTON CAPES PRIORY
44. Pastscape — Detailed Result: ROTHWELL PRIORY
45. British History Online — House of Austin nuns: The nunnery of Rothwell — Victoria County History: A History of the County of Northampton: Volume 2 (pp.137-138)
46. Pastscape — Detailed Result: SEWARDSLEY PRIORY
47. British History Online — Houses of Cistercian nuns: The priory of Sewardsley — Victoria County History: A History of the County of Northampton: Volume 2 (pp.125-127)
48. Pastscape — Detailed Result: SULBY ABBEY
49. British History Online — House of Premonstratensian canons: The abbey of Sulby — Victoria County History: A History of the County of Northampton: Volume 2 (pp.138-142)
50. Pastscape — Detailed Result: MONUMENT NO. 341505
51. Pastscape — Detailed Result: WEEDON BEC PRIORY
52. British History Online — Alien houses: The priories of Weedon Beck and Weedon Pinkney (Weedon Lois) — Victoria County History: A History of the County of Northampton: Volume 2 (pp.182-185)
53. Pastscape — Detailed Result: WEEDON LOIS PRIORY
54. British History Online — Alien houses: The priories of Weedon Beck and Weedon Pinkney (Weedon Lois) — Victoria County History: A History of the County of Northampton: Volume 2 (pp.182-185)
55. Pastscape — Detailed Result: WOTHORPE PRIORY
56. British History Online — Houses of Benedictine nuns: The priory of Wothorpe — Victoria County History: A History of the County of Northampton: Volume 2 (p.101)

Bibliography

• Binns, Alison (1989) Studies in the History of Medieval Religion 1: Dedications of Monastic Houses in England and Wales 1066–1216, Boydell ^[ISBN missing]
• Cobbett, William (1868) List of Abbeys, Priories, Nunneries, Hospitals, And Other Religious Foundations in England and Wales and in Ireland, Confiscated, Seized On, or Alienated by the Protestant "Reformation" Sovereigns and Parliaments
• Knowles, David & Hadcock, R. Neville (1971). Medieval Religious Houses England & Wales. Longman. ISBN 0582112303.
• Morris, Richard (1979) Cathedrals and Abbeys of England and Wales, J. M. Dent & Sons Ltd.^[ISBN missing]
• Thorold, Henry (1986) Collins Guide to Cathedrals, Abbeys and Priories of England and Wales, Collins ^[ISBN missing]
• Thorold, Henry (1993) Collins Guide to the Ruined Abbeys of England, Wales and Scotland, Collins ^[ISBN missing]
• Wright, Geoffrey N., (2004) Discovering Abbeys and Priories, Shire Publications Ltd. ^[ISBN missing]
• English Cathedrals and Abbeys, Illustrated, Odhams Press Ltd.
• Map of Monastic Britain, South Sheet, Ordnance Survey, 2nd edition, 1954