List of monastic houses in Leicestershire
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LEICESTER (see below)
Monasteries in Leicestershire
Monasteries in Leicester
The following is a list of the monastic houses in Leicestershire, 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
| 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.
| EH | English Heritage |
| LT | Landmark Trust |
| NT | National Trust |
| Foundation | Image | Communities & Provenance | Formal Name or Dedication & Alternative Names | OnLine References & Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aldermanshaw Priory ^ | Cluniac monks founded before/c.1220-35; alien house: cell dependent on Bermondsey, Surrey (London); dissolved/ruinous before 1450; 17th century cottage built on site | Aldermans Haw | [1] 52°43′34″N 1°15′29″W / 52.7260054°N 1.2579614°W | |
| Belvoir Priory | Benedictine monks priory cell, dependent on St Albans, Hertfordshire; founded 1076-88 begun by Robert de Todeni, lord of Belvoir 1076; completed by Abbot Paul of St Albans; dissolved 1539 | [2][3] 52°53′55″N 0°46′54″W / 52.898541°N 0.781701°W | ||
| Bradley Priory | Augustinian Canons Regular founded after 1220 by Robert Bundy; dissolved 1536; granted to Thomas Newell, Esq. 1537/8 | Braddley Priory | [4][5] 52°33′01″N 0°47′14″W / 52.5502754°N 0.7872391°W | |
| Holy Hill monastery, Breedon # | | Saxon Benedictine? monks — from Medeshamstede (Peterborough), (Cambridgeshire) founded late-7th century; abandoned 874 during Danish raids; Augustinian Priory built on site (see immediately below) | [6] 52°48′22″N 1°23′59″W / 52.8061601°N 1.3997376°W | |
| Breedon Priory + | Augustinian Canons Regular priory cell, dependent on Nostell, Yorkshire; refounded between 1109 and 1122, on site of earlier Saxon monastery (see immediately above): church of SS Mary and Hardulph granted to Nostel by Robert de Ferrers; dissolved November 1539; granted to John, Lord Grey 1553 | Bredon Priory | [6][7] 52°48′22″N 1°24′00″W / 52.8060271°N 1.3999146°W | |
| Buckminster ~ | possible Saxon minster | |||
| Charley Priory $ | dependent on Luffield, Buckinghamshire; confirmed to Luffield by the Pope 1173–4; founded before 1190, granted to Evroul by Countess Parnel of Leicester (Blanchmain's, Earl of Leicester[note 1]); confirmed to Ware, chief dependency of St Evroul in England 1203–6; described as hermitage c.1220; Augustinian Canons Regular alien house: grange dependent on St Evroul; founded after 1220; ruinous 1455; dissolved 1465; granted to Frideswide, widow; united with Ulverscroft c.1465 | Chorley and Ulverscroft Priory Locum de S. Mariae de Charleia | [8][9] 52°43′41″N 1°17′29″W / 52.7281837°N 1.2914085°W | |
| Croxton Abbey |  | Premonstratensian Canons — from Newhouse, Lincolnshire; founded before 1160 (1163, 1162) by William Porcarius; dissolved 1538 (1539); granted to Thomas, Earl of Rutland 1538/9 | Croxton Kerrial Abbey | [10][11] 52°50′23″N 0°46′47″W / 52.8396735°N 0.7796618°W |
| Dalby and Heather Preceptory # | Knights Hospitallers founded before 1206, granted purportedly by Robert Bossu, Earl of Leicester[note 2]; dissolved 1538 (1540); granted to Sir Andrew Nowell | Old Dalby Preceptory; Dalby Preceptory | [12][13] 52°48′12″N 0°59′57″W / 52.8033273°N 0.9991068°W | |
| Garendon Abbey | Cistercian monks probable daughter house of Waverley, Surrey; founded 28 October 1133 by Roboert Bossu, Earl of Leicester; dissolved 1536; granted to Thomas, Earl of Rutland 1540/1; house named 'Garendon Hall' built on site, demolished 1964 | Gerondon Abbey | [14][15] 52°46′27″N 1°15′31″W / 52.7742816°N 1.2584791°W | |
| Grace Dieu Priory ^ |  | Augustinian Canonesses founded c.1239/40 by Rose (Rorsia) de Verdon; 'White Nuns of St Augustine' dissolved 1538; granted to Humphrey Foster 1538/9; remains incorporated into a cottage; largely demolished 1696; in care of Grace Dieu Priory Trust; open to public from late 2004 | The Priory Church of Holy Trinity and St Mary, Belton ____________________ Gracedieu Priory; Belton Priory | [16][17][18] 52°45′40″N 1°21′23″W / 52.7610349°N 1.3564146°W |
| Heather Preceptory | Knights Hospitallers founded before 1199 (during the reign of King John); reduced to camera before 1338; dissolution unknown — administered from Dalby (itself dissolved 1540) | Hether Hospital | [13][19] 52°41′36″N 1°25′29″W / 52.6932985°N 1.4245856°W | |
| Hinckley Priory |  | Benedictine monks alien house: priory cell dependent on Lyre; founded before 1173(?): church and land granted to Lyre by Robert [Blanchmaines], Earl of Leicester (confirmed by Henry II); dissolved 1409; granted to the Dean and Chapter of Westminster; site later occupied by a mansion then smaller private houses | Hinkley Priory | [20] 52°32′25″N 1°22′18″W / 52.540210°N 1.3717014°W |
| Hinckley Dominican Priory | Dominican monks | |||
| Kirby Bellars Priory + |  | Secular college or chantry founded 1316 by Roger de Bellars; Augustinian Canons Regular took on St Augustine's Rule in 1359; domestic buildings rebuilt before the reformation after a fire c. 1511; dissolved 1536: granted to Charles Blount, Lord Mountjoy 1543/4; earthworks work mark the remains of the site in the field north of the current parish church | Kirkby Bellers Priory; Kirkby Bellairs Priory; Kerkbey on the Wrethek Priory | [21][22] 52°45′30″N 0°56′17″W / 52.7582447°N 0.9380704°W |
| Langley Priory ^ | Benedictine nuns — from Farewell, Staffordshire founded c.1150(?) by William Pantulf (Pontulf) and his wife burgia; Cistercian nuns? (claimed during time of Pope Alexander III, claim apparently abandoned 13th century); dissolved 1536 (before1537); granted to Thomas Grey 1543/4; incorporated into a 16th/17th century house; present house incorporates medieval fabric | The Priory Church of God and the Blessed Virgin | [23][24] 52°48′28″N 1°21′30″W / 52.8077758°N 1.3581969°W | |
| Launde Priory # |  | Augustinian Canons Regular founded 1119-25 by Richard Basset and his wife Maud; dissolved 1539; granted to Thomas, Lord Cromwell 1539/40; site occupied by manor house named 'Launde Abbey' now a retreat/conference centre | St John the Baptist ____________________ Landa Priory | [25][26] 52°37′51″N 0°49′25″W / 52.6309714°N 0.8237097°W |
| Leicester Abbey |  | Augustinian Canons Regular founded 1143 (1139?) by Robert Bossu, Earl of Leicester; dissolved 1538; granted to William, Marquis of Northampton 1550/1 | The Abbey Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Leicester ____________________ St Mary de Pre; St Mary de Pratis (St Mary of the Meadows) | [27][28] 52°38′52″N 1°08′18″W / 52.6477073°N 1.1384046°W |
| Leicester Austin Friary | Augustinian hermits founded 1254; dissolved November 1538; granted to John Bellew and John Broxholm | St Catherine? | [29][30] 52°38′00″N 1°08′40″W / 52.6333616°N 1.1444282°W | |
| Leicester Blackfriars # | Dominican Friars (under the Visitation of Oxford) founded before 1284; dissolved 1538; granted to Henry, Marquis of Dorset 1546/7 | [31][32] 52°38′13″N 1°08′40″W / 52.6369501°N 1.1443859°W | ||
| Leicester Friars of the Sack ~ | Friars of the Sack founded before 1274; apparently abandoned by 1295 | [33] 52°37′50″N 1°08′40″W / 52.6306682°N 1.1444852°W (actual site unknown) | ||
| Leicester Greyfriars |  | Franciscan Friars Minor, Conventual (under the Custody of Oxford) founded before 1230 (1265) by Simon de Montfort, Earl of Leicester; Burial place of King Richard III after his defeat at the Battle of Bosworth 1485 (confirmed by the recovery of his body 2013); dissolved 1538; granted to John Bellew and John Broxholm 1545/6 | [34][35] 52°38′00″N 1°08′13″W / 52.6333128°N 1.137042°W | |
| Leicester — Holy Cross Priory * |  | Dominican Friars founded 1882; church consecrated 14 May 1958; extant | The Priory of the Holy Cross, Leicester | [36] 52°37′50″N 1°07′49″W / 52.6305168°N 1.1301541°W |
| Minsterton Monastery | possible Saxon minster | |||
| Mount St Bernard Abbey, earlier site # | Cistercian monks (Cistercian order of the Strict Observance/Trappists) founded 1835; became a guest house when new monastery (see immediately below) opened 1844; reformatory 1856; closed 1885, demolished | [37][38][39] 52°44′08″N 1°19′23″W / 52.735655°N 1.3231122°W | ||
| Mount St Bernard Abbey * |  | Cistercian monks (Cistercian order of the Strict Observance / Trappists) founded 1844; replaced earlier monastery (see immediately above); extant | [38][39][40][41] 52°44′29″N 1°19′23″W / 52.7413519°N 1.323072°W | |
| Owston Abbey + |  | Augustinian Canons Regular — Arroaisan founded before 1161 by Sir Robert Grimbald, confirmed by Theobald, Archbishop of Canterbury; Augustinian Canons Regular independent from before 1260–80; dissolved 1536; granted to Sir John Harrington 1538/9; site now in private ownership as Manor Farm; church restored and now in parochial use | The Abbey Church of Saint Andrew, Owston ____________________ Osulveston Priory | [42][43] 52°39′50″N 0°51′23″W / 52.6638418°N 0.8565259°W |
| Rothley Temple | Knights Templar founded 1231: manor granted by Henry III; chapel built c.1240; Knights Hospitaller transferred 1312 (1313); dissolved before 1489 (1540); transferred to the Crown; granted to Babington family; manor house built on site | Rothley Preceptory | [44][45] 52°42′19″N 1°08′56″W / 52.7053135°N 1.1489457°W | |
| Swinford Preceptory | Knights Hospitaller founded before 1199: (granted before the reign of King John); under Dalby before 1220; separate camera under a seneschal 1338; dissolved 1538 | [46] 52°24′22″N 1°10′42″W / 52.4061433°N 1.1782274°W | ||
| Ulverscroft Priory |  | Augustinian Eremites founded 1134: land granted by Ranulph de Gernon, Earl of Chester; Augustinian Canons Regular founded before c.1174(?) by Robert, Earl of Leicester; still referred to as a hermitage c.1220; suppression avoided 1536; dissolved 15 September 1539; now in private ownership without public access | St Mary | [47][48] 52°42′36″N 1°15′35″W / 52.709889°N 1.259861°W |
| Ulverscroft Monastery | uncertain order and foundation |
See also[edit]
Notes[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ Pastscape — Detailed Result: ALDERMANS HAW
- ^ British History Online — Houses of Benedictine monks: The priory of Belvoir — Victoria County History: A History of the County of Lincoln: Volume 2 (pp.124-127)
- ^ Pastscape — Detailed Result: BELVOIR PRIORY
- ^ Pastscape — Detailed Result: BRADLEY PRIORY
- ^ British History Online — British History Online — Houses of Augustinian canons: The priory of Bradley — Victoria County History: A History of the County of Leicestershire: Volume 2 (pp.24-25)
- ^ a b British History Online — British History Online — Houses of Augustinian canons: The priory of Breedon — Victoria County History: A History of the County of Leicestershire: Volume 2 (pp.8-10)
- ^ Pastscape — Detailed Result: CHURCH OF ST MARY AND ST HARDULF
- ^ British History Online — British History Online — Houses of Augustinian canons: The priory of Charley — Victoria County History: A History of the County of Leicestershire: Volume 2 (pp.23-24)
- ^ Pastscape — Detailed Result: CHARLEY PRIORY
- ^ Pastscape — Detailed Result: CROXTON ABBEY
- ^ British History Online — British History Online — House of Premonstratensian canons: The abbey of Croxton Kerrial — Victoria County History: A History of the County of Leicestershire: Volume 2 (pp.28-31)
- ^ Pastscape — Detailed Result: DALBY HOSPITALLERS PRECEPTORY
- ^ a b British History Online — House of Knights Hospitallers: Preceptory of Dalby and Heather — Victoria County History: A History of the County of Leicestershire: Volume 2 (pp.32-33)
- ^ British History Online — House of Cistercian monks: The abbey of Garendon — Victoria County History: A History of the County of Leicestershire: Volume 2 (pp.5-7)
- ^ Pastscape — Detailed Result: GARENDON ABBEY
- ^ Pastscape — Detailed Result: GRACE DIEU PRIORY
- ^ British History Online — House of Augustinian nuns: The priory of Grace Dieu — Victoria County History: A History of the County of Leicestershire: Volume 2 (pp.27-28)
- ^ The Priory of Grace Dieu
- ^ Pastscape — Detailed Result: HEATHER HOSPITALLERS PRECEPTORY
- ^ British History Online — Alien house — Priory of Hinckley — Victoria County History: A History of the County of Leicestershire: Volume 2 (pp.52-53)
- ^ Pastscape — Detailed Result: KIRBY BELLARS PRIORY
- ^ British History Online — Houses of Augustinian canons: Kirkby Bellairs — Victoria County History: A History of the County of Leicestershire: Volume 2 (pp.25-26)
- ^ Pastscape — Detailed Result: LANGLEY PRIORY
- ^ British History Online — House of Benedictine nuns: The priory of Langley — Victoria County History: A History of the County of Leicestershire: Volume 2 (pp.3-5)
- ^ Pastscape — Detailed Result: LAUNDE CHAPEL AND LAUNDE PRIORY
- ^ British History Online — Houses of Augustinian canons: The priory of Launde — Victoria County History: A History of the County of Leicestershire: Volume 2 (pp.10-13)
- ^ Pastscape — Detailed Result: LEICESTER ABBEY
- ^ British History Online — Houses of Augustinian canons: Leicester abbey — Victoria County History: A History of the County of Leicestershire: Volume 2 (pp.13-19)
- ^ Pastscape — Detailed Result: LEICESTER AUSTIN FRIARY
- ^ British History Online — Friaries: Friaries in Leicester — Victoria County History: A History of the County of Leicestershire: Volume 2 (pp.33-35)
- ^ Pastscape — Detailed Result: LEICESTER BLACKFRIARS
- ^ British History Online — Friaries: Friaries in Leicester — Victoria County History: A History of the County of Leicestershire: Volume 2 (pp.33-35)
- ^ British History Online — Friaries: Friaries in Leicester — Victoria County History: A History of the County of Leicestershire: Volume 2 (pp.33-35)
- ^ Pastscape — Detailed Result: LEICESTER GREYFRIARS
- ^ British History Online — Friaries: Friaries in Leicester — Victoria County History: A History of the County of Leicestershire: Volume 2 (pp.33-35)
- ^ Leicester Archived 10 November 2013 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Pastscape — Detailed Result: MOUNT ST BERNARDS ABBEY
- ^ a b British History Online — Post-dissolution house: Cistercian abbey of Mount Saint Bernard — Victoria County History: A History of the County of Leicestershire: Volume 2 (pp.53-54)
- ^ a b Mount Saint Bernard Abbey in Leictershire
- ^ Pastscape — Detailed Result: MOUNT ST BERNARDS ABBEY
- ^ Home - Mount Saint Bernard
- ^ Pastscape — Detailed Result: OWSTON ABBEY
- ^ British History Online — Houses of Augustinian canons: The abbey of Owston — Victoria County History: A History of the County of Leicestershire: Volume 2 (pp.21-23)
- ^ Pastscape — Detailed Result: ROTHLEY TEMPLARS PRECEPTORY
- ^ British History Online — House of Knights Templar — Preceptory of Rothley — Victoria County History: A History of the County of Leicestershire: Volume 2 (pp.31-32)
- ^ Pastscape — Detailed Result: SWINFORD HOSPITALLERS PRECEPTORY
- ^ Pastscape — Detailed Result: ULVERSCROFT PRIORY
- ^ British History Online — Houses of Augustinian canons: The priory of Ulverscroft — Victoria County History: A History of the County of Leicestershire: Volume 2 (pp.19-21)
- 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
| Augustinian |   | |
|---|---|---|
| Benedictine | ||
| Brothers of Penitence | ||
| Cistercian | ||
| Cluniac | ||
| Dominican | ||
| Franciscan | ||
| Knights Hospitaller | ||
| Knights Templar | ||
| Premonstratensian | ||
| Unknown or Independent | ||
