List of monastic houses in Warwickshire

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

Alcester Abbey
Alvecote Priory
Arbury Priory
Atherstone Austin Friars
Bretford Priory
Cawston Grange
Coombe Abbey
Kenilworth Abbey
Maxstoke Priory
Merevale Abbey
Monks Kirby Priory
Nuneaton Priory
Oldbury Priory
Pinley Priory
Polesworth Abbey
Stoneleigh Abbey
Studley Priory
Thelsford Priory
Warmington Priory
WARWICK (see below)
Wolston Priory
Wootton Wawen Priory
Wroxall Priory
Locations of monastic houses in Warwickshire
Blackfriars
St Sepulchre Augustinian Priory
Warwick Preceptory
Locations of monastic houses in Warwick


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 Templars and Knights Hospitaller). Monastic hospitals are included where they had the status or function of an abbey, priory, friary 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
Alcester Abbey $ Benedictine monks
founded c.1138/1140 by Ralph Pincerna le Boteler;
reduced to priory cell dependent on Evesham, Worcestershire 1466;
dissolved 1536; granted to William and John Sewester;
demolished and quarried for the remodelling of the manor house named 'Beauchamp Court'		 The Abbey Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Saint Anne, Saint Joseph, Saint John the Baptist and Saint John the Evangelist
____________________
Alencester Abbey 		[1][2]

52°13′09″N 1°52′21″W
Alvecote Priory Benedictine monks
dependent on Great Malvern;
founded 1159: granted to Great Malvern by William Burdet;
dissolved 1536; granted to Thomas, Lord Audley and Sir Thomas Pope		 St Blase
____________________
Avecote Priory 		[3][4]

52°38′09″N 1°37′50″W
Arbury Priory Augustinian Canons Regular — Arroasian
founded after 1154 (early in the reign of Henry II) by Ralph de Sudley;
Augustinian Canons Regular
independent from 1235;
dissolved 1534; granted to Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk 1538/9;
site now occupied by an Elizabethan house named 'Arbury Hall';
in private ownership, used for corporate events		 The Blessed Virgin Mary
____________________
Erbury Priory;
Erdbury Priory;
Ordbury Priory 		[5][6]

52°30′01″N 1°30′27″W
Atherstone Austin Friars + Augustinian Friars (under the Limit of Lincoln)
founded 1374 by Ralph, Lord Basset of Drayton;
dissolved 1538; granted to Henry Cartwright 1543/4;
nave of friary church retained for parish, chancel used as a grammar school which discontinued 1863, becoming ruinous;
house built on site, demolished;
house named 'Atherstone House' built on site late-18th century, extant;
nave and aisles rebuilt 1849 and 1888 and chancel restored to the church		 Atherston Austin Friars [7]

52°34′45″N 1°32′41″W
Atherstone Priory Benedictine nuns
daughter house of St Benedict's, Colwich, Staffordshire;
foundations laid May 1859;
dissolved 1967: amalgamated with Colwich		 St Scholastica [8][9]

Balsall Preceptory Historical county location. See entry under List of monastic houses in the West Midlands
Bretford Priory Benedictine nuns
cell
founded before 1154 (during the reign of Henry II), land granted by Geoffrey de Clinton;
appropriated by Kenilworth (during the incumbency of Richard, Abbot of Leicester until c.1167) with the consent of Geoffrey de Clinton;
dissolved before 1167		 [10]

52°23′22″N 1°23′03″W
Cawston Grange Cistercian monks
grange dependent on Pipewell, Northamptonshire;
in possession of Turchis of Warwick 1086;
founded after 1201: granted to Pipewell by Ingleram Clement and his son William; confirmed 1235; built by the time of Edwin the Confessor;
destroyed by fire 1307; rebuilt;
dissolved 1538; mansion built 16th century; demolished 1829;
farmhouse built on site 19th century		 [11]

52°21′08″N 1°18′10″W
Coombe Abbey Cistercian monks — from Waverley, Surrey
founded 10 July 1150 by Richard de Camvilla;
dissolved 1539; granted to John, Earl of Warwick 1547/8;
mansion named 'Combe Abbey House' built on site by 1581 John (afterwards Lord) Harrington;
converted into a hotel, with its grounds now the country park of Coombe Country Park in the ownership of Coventry City Council		 Combe Abbey [12][13]

52°24′51″N 1°24′29″W
Coventry Greyfriars Historical county location. See entry under List of monastic houses in the West Midlands
Coventry Priory Historical county location. See entry under List of monastic houses in the West Midlands
Coventry — St Anne's Priory Historical county location. See entry under List of monastic houses in the West Midlands
Coventry Whitefriars Historical county location. See entry under List of monastic houses in the West Midlands
Grafton Preceptory Knights Hospitaller
founded c.1189, land granted by Henry de Grafton;
dissolved before/c.1476, jointly with Balsall		 Temple Grafton;
Balsall and Grafton Preceptory 		[14]

Henwood Priory Historical county location. See entry under List of monastic houses in the West Midlands
Holywell Cell Augustinian Canons Regular
cell dependent on Rocester, Staffordshire;
founded 1240–70;
dissolved 1325
Holywell Cell Cistercian monks
'cella', grange(?) dependent on Stoneleigh;
founded before 1291
Kenilworth Abbey Augustinian Canons Regular
priory founded c.1125 by Geoffrey de Clinton, chamberlain and treasurer to Henry I: licence dated 1125;
raised to abbey status after 1439;
dissolved 14 April 1539; granted by Henry VIII to Sir Andrew Flamock;
masonry used at Kenilworth Castle		 The Blessed Virgin Mary [15][16]

52°20′55″N 1°34′56″W
Maxstoke Priory Sir William de Clinton purchased parish church 1330, initially intending to found a chantry/college; licensed 1331;
Augustinian Canons Regular
founded 1336/7 by Sir William de Clinton, Earl of Huntingdon;
dissolved 1536; granted to Charles, Duke of Suffolk 1538/9;
remains incorporated into Priory Farm;
now in private ownership; church suffered substantial collapse January 1986		 The Holy Trinity, The Blessed Virgin Mary, St Michael and All Saints
____________________
Mackstoke Priory 		[17][18]

52°28′41″N 1°39′22″W
Merevale Abbey Cistercian monks — from Bordesley, Worcestershire
daughter house of Bordesley;
founded 10 October 1148 by Robert de Ferrers II, Earl of Derby;
dissolved 13 October 1538; granted to Walter, Lord Ferrers 1540/1;
gatehouse chapel now in parochial use		 [19][20]

52°34′38″N 1°34′14″W
Monks Kirby Priory Benedictine monks
alien house: dependent on Angers;
founded 1077 by Geoffrey de Wirche (Gosfred de Wirchia);
granted to Axholme after 1396;
restored to Angers 1399;
dissolved 1414; again granted to Axholme;
granted to Trinity College, Cambridge 1545/6;
remains incorporated into St Mary and St Edith's Church		 The Priory Church of Saint Nicholas, Kirkbury
____________________
Kirkbury Priory 		[21][22]

52°26′40″N 1°19′12″W
Nuneaton Priory Fontevrault Benedictine nuns and monks double house — from Kintbury, Berkshire
alien house: dependent on Fontevrault;
founded c.1155 by Robert Bossu, Earl of Leicester;
Benedictine nuns
denizen: apparently independent of Fontevrault from after 1442;
dissolved 1539; granted to Sir Marmaduke Constable 1540/1;
remains incorporated into St Mary's Church, built on site 1876		 St Mary the Virgin [23][24]

52°31′31″N 1°28′38″W
Oldbury Priory Benedictine nuns
manor belonged to Polesworth;
founded c.1066-70: nuns purportedly transferred from Polesworth upon expulsion by Robert Marmion I;
transferred to Polesworth by Robert Marmion II;
dissolved c.1130; continued as a cell and chapel until c.1272		 St Laurence
____________________
St Lawrence's Chapel 		[25]

52°32′57″N 1°32′23″W
Penitanham Monastery(?) ~ land granted by Oshere, King of the Hwicce 693;
no further reference nor identification
Pinley Priory Cistercian nuns[note 1]
founded before 1135 (during the reign of Henry I) by Robert de Pillarton (Pilardinton);
also given as Benedictine nuns[note 2]
dissolved 1536; granted to William Wigstone, Esq. 1544/5		 St Mary [26][27]

52°17′22″N 1°41′18″W
Polesworth Abbey Benedictine nuns
founded before 839(?) by King Egbert;
possibly refounded c.980;
purportedly expelled by Robert Marmion I and transferred to Oldbury 1066–70;
transferred from Oldbury c.1130 by Robert Marmion II and his wife Milicent;
dissolved 31 January 1539; granted to Francis Goodyere, Esq. 1544/5;
conventual church in parochial use as the Parish Church of St Editha		 St Editha
____________________
Pollesworth Abbey 		[28][29]

52°37′08″N 1°36′45″W
Shuttington Monastery ~ hermit friars, no order given — apparently not Austin Friars
founded 1260; no later record;
church under Benedictines at Alvecote
Stoneleigh Abbey Cistercian monks
daughter house of Bordesley, Worcestershire;
(community founded at Radmore, Staffordshire 1143-7);
transferred from Radmore 19 December 1154, with the consent of Henry II, foundations laid 13 April 1155;
dissolved 1536; granted to Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk 1538/9;
remains incorporated into country house named 'Stoneleigh Abbey House' built on site after 1561, altered 18th & 19th century		 Stonely Abbey [30][31][32]

52°20′18″N 1°32′02″W
Stratford-on-Avon Monastery Saxon monks
apparently founded 693-717 (during the incumbency of Ecgwine, Bishop of Worcester)
dissolved after 872
Studley Priory Augustinian Canons Regular
(community founded at Witton, Worcestershire (West Midlands) c.1135);
transferred from Witton by Peter Corbezon c.1151;
conventual church rebuilt, consecrated 1309;
dissolved 1536; granted to Sir Edmund Knightly;
site now occupied by a farmhouse		 The Priory Church of Saint Mary, Studley [33][34]

52°16′31″N 1°53′31″W
Thelsford Priory Augustinian Canons Regular — Holy Sepulchre
priory(?) possibly founded after 1170 (1200–1212);
Trinitarians
refounded c.1214: land granted by Sir William Lucy of Charlecote (William de Cherlecote), or 1224-40(?)[note 3];
dissolved 26 October 1538; granted to William Whorwood, Esq. and William Walter 1543/4		 St John the Baptist and St Radegund
____________________
Thelesford Priory 		[35][36]

52°13′18″N 1°36′19″W
Warmington Priory Benedictine monks
alien house: dependent on St-Pierre, Préaux;
founded before 1123 by Paul de Prattelles, granted by Henry de Newburgh, Earl of Warwick;
dissolved c.1387(?);
under Toft Monks, Norfolk by 1380;
dissolved 1387; granted to the Carthusians at Witham, Somerset 1428;
granted to William and Francis Seldon Esqrs. 1543/4		 [37][38]

52°07′11″N 1°24′09″W
Warwick Blackfriars # Dominican Friars (under the Limit of Oxford)
founded before 1263, site obtained for the friars by Ralph Boteler, Baron of Wem;
dissolved 20 October 1538		 [39][40]

52°16′45″N 1°35′36″W
Warwick Monastery Saxon monks
destroyed 1016 by Cnut
Warwick Nunnery Saxon nuns
purportedly destroyed c.1016 by Cnut;
subsequently site of "St Nicholas's churchyard"
Warwick St Sepulchre Priory Augustinian Canons Regular — Holy Sepulchre
founded c.1119-23, begun by Henry Newburgh (Henry de Beaumont) probably before 20 June 1119, completed by his son Earl Roger 1123;
indistinguishable from mainstream Augustinian Canons Regular after 1188;
independent from after 1280 (recorded as Holy Sepulchre Canons 1280);
dissolved 1536; granted to Thomas Hawkins 1546/7;
remains incorporated into mansion built on site 1556, largely dismantled 1925 and removed to Virginia		 [41][42]

52°17′06″N 1°35′13″W
Warwick Preceptory # Knights Templar
founded c.1135 (between 1123 and 1142) purportedly by Roger, Earl of Warwick;
possibly superseded as preceptory by Balsall, becoming a member thereof c.1142;
dissolved 1308–12;
passed to Knights Hospitaller who maintained there a chaplain, bailiff and pensioner		 [43]

52°16′35″N 1°34′51″W
Wolston Priory Benedictine monks
alien house: dependent on St-Pierre-sur-Dives;
founded 1086-94: chapel and other endowments granted by Hubert Boldran
dissolved 1394;
sold to Carthusians at Coventry;
 [44][45]

52°22′46″N 1°23′25″W
Wootton Wawen Priory Saxon minster
land granted by King Ethelbald of Mercia between 723 and 737;
no further reference to that establishment;
Benedictine monks
alien house: dependent on Conches;
founded after 1086: church and other endowments granted by Robert de Tony soon after the Norman Conquest;
granted to the Carthusians at Coventry 1398;
restored to Conches 1400;
dissolved 1447; granted to King's College, Cambridge		 [46][47]

52°16′05″N 1°46′41″W
Wroxall Priory Benedictine nuns
founded c.1135(?) (1141?) by Hugh, Lord of Hatton and Wroxall;
dissolved 1536; granted to Robert Burgoin and John Scudamore 1544;
some claustral buildings demolished and house built on site 16th century by Burgoyne family;
site sold to James Dugdale 1861;
more claustral buildings demolished 1864;
house named 'Wroxall Abbey' built on site 1866, in use as a school;
school closed 1995 and reopened as a hotel;
St Leonard's church closed 1995(?) and reopened as a chapel known as 'Wren's Chapel' for an independent Christian church		 St Leonard
____________________
Wroxhall Priory 		[48][49]

52°20′03″N 1°40′33″W

See also

Notes
  1. Pinley Cistercian — i) Victoria County History; ii) T. Tanner, Notitia Monastica, p.574; iii) Eileen Power, Medieval English Nunneries (1922)
  2. Pinley Benedictine — W. Dugdale Monasticon Anglicanum, ed. J. Caley &c, 1468 and W. Dugdale, Monasticon Anglicanum, Volume 1, ed. Dodsworth, 1682, p.442
  3. Thelsford - Dugdale (1468), Monasticon Anglicanum states Trinitarians arrived in England 1224

References
  1. Pastscape — Detailed Result: ALCESTER ABBEY
  2. British History Online — Houses of Benedictine monks: Abbey of Alcester — Victoria County History: A History of the County of Warwick: Volume 2 (pp.59-61)
  3. Pastscape — Detailed Result: ALVECOTE PRIORY
  4. British History Online — Houses of Benedictine monks: Priory of Alvecote — Victoria County History: A History of the County of Warwick: Volume 2 (pp.61-62)
  5. Pastscape — Detailed Result: ARBURY HOUSE
  6. British History Online — Houses of Austin canons: Priory of Arbury — Victoria County History: A History of the County of Warwick: Volume 2 (pp.89-91)
  7. Pastscape — Detailed Result: ATHERSTONE AUSTIN FRIARY
  8. Colwich Abbey — Atherstone Archived 11 October 2014 at the Wayback Machine
  9. British History Online — Friaries: Austin friars of Atherstone — Victoria County History: A History of the County of Warwick: Volume 2 (p.106)
  10. Pastscape — Detailed Result: BRETFORD PRIORY
  11. Pastscape — Detailed Result: CAWSTON GRANGE
  12. Pastscape — Detailed Result: COMBE ABBEY
  13. British History Online — Houses of Cistercian monks: Abbey of Combe — Victoria County History: A History of the County of Warwick: Volume 2 (pp.73-75)
  14. British History Online — Houses of Knights Hospitaller: Preceptory of Balsall and Grafton — Victoria County History: A History of the County of Warwick: Volume 2 (pp.100-101)
  15. Pastscape — Detailed Result: KENILWORTH ABBEY
  16. British History Online — Houses of Austin canons: Abbey of Kenilworth — Victoria County History: A History of the County of Warwick: Volume 2 (pp.86-89)
  17. Pastscape — Detailed Result: MAXSTOKE PRIORY
  18. British History Online — Houses of Austin canons: Priory of Maxstoke — Victoria County History: A History of the County of Warwick: Volume 2 (pp.91-94)
  19. Pastscape — Detailed Result: MEREVALE ABBEY
  20. British History Online — Houses of Cistercian monks: Abbey of Merevale — Victoria County History: A History of the County of Warwick: Volume 2 (pp.75-78)
  21. Pastscape — Detailed Result: KIRKBURY PRIORY
  22. British History Online — Alien Houses: Priory of Monks Kirby — Victoria County History: A History of the County of Warwick: Volume 2 (pp.129-131)
  23. Pastscape — Detailed Result: NUNEATON PRIORY
  24. British History Online — Houses of Benedictine nuns: Priory of Nuneaton — Victoria County History: A History of the County of Warwick: Volume 2 (pp.66-70)
  25. Pastscape — Detailed Result: OLDBURY PRIORY
  26. Pastscape — Detailed Result: PINLEY PRIORY
  27. British History Online — Houses of Cistercian nuns: Priory of Pinley — Victoria County History: A History of the County of Warwick: Volume 2 (pp.82-83)
  28. Pastscape — Detailed Result: POLESWORTH ABBEY
  29. British History Online — Houses of Benedictine nuns: Abbey of Polesworth — Victoria County History: A History of the County of Warwick: Volume 2 (pp.62-65)
  30. Pastscape — Detailed Result: STONELEIGH ABBEY
  31. Pastscape — Detailed Result: STONELEIGH ABBEY
  32. British History Online — Houses of Cistercian monks: Abbey of Stoneleigh — Victoria County History: A History of the County of Warwick: Volume 2 (pp.78-81)
  33. Pastscape — Detailed Result: STUDLEY PRIORY
  34. British History Online — Houses of Austin canons: Priory of Studley — Victoria County History: A History of the County of Warwick: Volume 2 (pp.94-97)
  35. Pastscape — Detailed Result: THELSFORD PRIORY
  36. British History Online — Friaries: Trinitarian friars of Thelsford — Victoria County History: A History of the County of Warwick: Volume 2 (pp.106-108)
  37. Pastscape — Detailed Result: MONUMENT NO. 337174
  38. British History Online — Alien Houses: Priory of Warmington — Victoria County History: A History of the County of Warwick: Volume 2 (pp.131-132)
  39. Pastscape — Detailed Result: WARWICK BLACKFRIARS
  40. British History Online — Houses of Austin canons: St Sepulchre, Warwick — Victoria County History: A History of the County of Warwick: Volume 2 (pp.97-99)
  41. Pastscape — Detailed Result: WARWICK PRIORY
  42. British History Online — Friaries: Dominican friars of Warwick — Victoria County History: A History of the County of Warwick: Volume 2 (pp.101-103)
  43. Pastscape — Detailed Result: WARWICK TEMPLARS PRECEPTORY
  44. Pastscape — Detailed Result: WOLSTON PRIORY
  45. British History Online — Alien Houses: Priory of Wolston — Victoria County History: A History of the County of Warwick: Volume 2 (pp.132-133)
  46. Pastscape — Detailed Result: WOOTTON WAWEN PRIORY
  47. British History Online — Alien Houses: Priory of Wootton Wawen — Victoria County History: A History of the County of Warwick: Volume 2 (pp.133-136)
  48. Pastscape — Detailed Result: WROXALL ABBEY
  49. British History Online — Houses of Benedictine nuns: Priory of Wroxall — Victoria County History: A History of the County of Warwick: Volume 2 (pp.70-73)

Bibliography
  • Binns, Alison (1989) Studies in the History of Medieval Religion 1: Dedications of Monastic Houses in England and Wales 1066–1216, Boydell
  • 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
  • Morris, Richard (1979) Cathedrals and Abbeys of England and Wales, J. M. Dent & Sons Ltd.
  • Thorold, Henry (1986) Collins Guide to Cathedrals, Abbeys and Priories of England and Wales, Collins
  • Thorold, Henry (1993) Collins Guide to the Ruined Abbeys of England, Wales and Scotland, Collins
  • Wright, Geoffrey N., (2004) Discovering Abbeys and Priories, Shire Publications Ltd.
  • English Cathedrals and Abbeys, Illustrated, Odhams Press Ltd.
  • Map of Monastic Britain, South Sheet, Ordnance Survey, 2nd edition, 1954
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