List of monastic houses in Staffordshire
Baswich Priory
Blithbury Priory
Brewood Black Ladies Priory
Burton Abbey
Calwich Priory
Canwell Priory
Colwich Priory
Chotes Abbey (sugg'd loc.)
Chotes Abbey (alt. sugg'd loc.)
Croxden Abbey
Dieulacres Abbey
Farewell Priory
Hulton Abbey
Keele Preceptory
Lapley Priory
Lichfield Greyfriars
Little Haywood Abbey
Newcastle-under-Lyme Blackfriars
Oulton Abbey
Radmore Abbey
Ranton Priory
Rocester Abbey
Stafford Austin Friars
Stafford Greyfriars
Stone Priory
Trentham Priory
Tutbury Priory
Locations of monastic houses in Staffordshire
The following is a list of the monastic houses in Staffordshire, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baswich Priory | Augustinian Canons Regular founded 1174 (1173-5); land granted by Gerard de Stafford; dissolved 1538; remains incorporated into Priory Farm built on site |
The Priory Church of Saint Thomas the Martyr by Stafford | [1] 52°48′13″N 2°04′29″W / 52.8037181°N 2.074855°W | |
| Blithbury Priory # | Benedictine monks priory cell dependent on Burton; founded after 1129 by Hugh Malveysin; dissolved 1158–65; Benedictine nuns founded after 1129; apparently merged with Black Ladies, Brewood 1158–65; dissolved before 1315(?); alleged chapel demolished 1795 |
The Priory Church of Saint Giles, Blithbury St Egidius (St Giles) ____________________ Blythbury Priory |
[2][3] 52°47′09″N 1°52′01″W / 52.7858128°N 1.8669516°W | |
| Brewood Priory | 
|
Benedictine nuns founded before 1150; dissolved 1538; granted to Thomas Gifford 1538/9; late-16th/early-17th century country house built on site |
The Priory Church of Saint Mary, Brewood ____________________ Black Ladies Priory; Briwerne Priory; Black Ladies of Brewood Priory |
[4][5] 52°40′54″N 2°13′37″W / 52.6816314°N 2.2269952°W |
| Burton Abbey | Benedictine monks founded 1002 by Wulfric Spott, confirmed by charter of King Ethelred 1004; dissolved 1539; granted to Sir William Paget by Henry VIII; refounded as a college 1541; dissolved 1545 |
St Mary, Virgin and St Modwen, Virgin ____________________ Modwennestow Abbey; Burton upon Trent Abbey |
[6][7] 52°48′01″N 1°37′50″W / 52.8002066°N 1.6306221°W | |
| Calwich Priory | 
|
hermitage (hermetorium de Calwich) Augustinian Canons Regular priory cell dependent on Kenilworth, Warwickshire founded between c.1125 and 1149: hermitage granted to Kenilworth by Nicholas de Gresley alias fitzNiel and his wife Margery; independent from 1349; granted to Merton 1535–6; Georgian-style house built on site 1849–50, now derelict |
St Margaret ____________________ Calwick Priory |
[8][9] 52°59′13″N 1°48′35″W / 52.9868179°N 1.8096462°W |
| Canwell Priory | Benedictine monks founded c.1142 (1131–48) by Geva, daughter of Hugh, Earl of Chester; dissolved 1524–6, suppressed to found Cardinal Wolsey's college Cardinal College, Oxford; reverted to the Crown; much of the property passed briefly to St George's Chapel, Windsor 1532 |
The Priory Church of Saint Mary, Saint Giles, and All Saints, Canwell | [10][11][12] 52°36′10″N 1°47′06″W / 52.6029091°N 1.7849511°W | |
| Colwich Abbey * | Benedictine nuns — from Cannington, Somerset (community founded in Paris 1651 by the English nuns at Cambrai) settled in England 1795 after French Revolution transferred here 1836; returned to English Benedictine Congregation 1926; raised to abbey status 1928 |
The Abbey Church of Our Lady of Good Hope, Colwich | [13] 52°47′24″N 1°59′22″W / 52.79°N 1.9895°W | |
| Cotton Abbey ~ | Cistercian monks — from Aunay-sur-Odon founded 1176, granted to Aunay by Bertram de Verdun transferred to new site at Croxden 1178; granted to Jeffrey Foljamb 1544/5 |
Chotes Abbey Chotene Abbey |
[14][15][16] 53°00′08″N 1°54′43″W / 53.0022886°N 1.9120342°W 52°58′31″N 1°53′50″W / 52.9753149°N 1.8971948°W | |
| Croxden Abbey | 
|
Cistercian monks — from Cotton (community founded at Cotton 1176); transferred here 17 May 1178; dissolved 17 September 1538; (EH) |
The Abbey Church of the Vale of Saint Mary at Croxden | [16][17][18][19] 52°57′17″N 1°54′14″W / 52.9548562°N 1.9039017°W |
| Dieulacres Abbey | 
|
Cistercian monks transferred from Poulton, Cheshire founded 1214, site granted by Randal de Blunderville, Earl of Chester after 1199; dissolved 20 October 1539; granted to Ralph Bagnall 1552/3; site now in private ownership at Abbey Green |
St Mary, Virgin and St Benedict | [20][21] 53°07′04″N 2°01′37″W / 53.1177589°N 2.0268595°W |
| Dudley Priory | Cluniac monks alien house: dependent on Wenlock, Shropshire; founded 1161 by Ralph Painell, lord of the manor; became denizen: independent from 1395; dissolved 1539; granted to the Bishop of Lichfield 1540/1 |
St James | ||
| Farewell Priory | hermits or canon brothers: unknown order and foundation; Benedictine nuns founded before 1148 (c.1140) by Roger de Clinton; raised to abbey status between 1154 and 1189 (during the reign of Henry II); reduced to priory status before 1210; dissolved 1527; site now occupied by St Bartholomew's Church |
The Priory Church of Saint Mary, Farewell ____________________ Farewell Priory |
[22][23] 52°42′08″N 1°52′42″W / 52.7022191°N 1.8783188°W | |
| Hawkesyard Priory | Dominican Friars | |||
| Hulton Abbey | Cistercian monks daughter house of Combermere, Cheshire; founded 26 July 1219 by Henry de Audley; dissolved 18 September 1538; granted to Sir Edward Aston 1542/3 |
Hilton Abbey | [24][25] 53°02′22″N 2°08′33″W / 53.0394875°N 2.1425056°W | |
| Hansury Nunnery | Benedictine? nuns founded c.680 by St Werburgh at the instance of her uncle King Ethelred destroyed in raids by the Danes 875 |
|||
| Keele Preceptory | Knights Templar land granted by Henry II 1168–9; dissolved 1308-12 granted to the Earl of Gloucester; Knights Hospitaller founded c.1312 (1324); dissolved after 1338; country house named 'Keele Hall' built on site c.1580, rebuilt 1856–61 |
[26][27] 53°00′00″N 2°16′13″W / 53.0000401°N 2.2703867°W | ||
| Lapley Priory | Benedictine monks alien house: dependent on St-Remi, Riems; founded by Ælfgar (Algar), Earl of Chester; dissolved 1415; granted to Tong College; granted to Sir Richard Mannors 1547/8 |
Lappele Priory | [28][29] 52°42′50″N 2°11′25″W / 52.713832°N 2.1902007°W | |
| Lichfield Greyfriars | Franciscan Friars Minor, Conventual (under the Custody of Worcester) founded c.1237 (1229) by Alexander, Bishop of Lichfield; dissolved 1538; granted to Richard Crumbilthorn 1544/5 |
[30][31] 52°40′53″N 1°49′49″W / 52.6815257°N 1.830149°W | ||
| Little Haywood Abbey * | Benedictine nuns | The Abbey Church of Saint Mary, Little Haywood | 52°47′25″N 1°59′23″W / 52.790139°N 1.989668°W | |
| Newcastle-under-Lyme Blackfriars | Dominican Friars (under the Visitation of Oxford) founded before 1277; dissolved 1538; cattlemarket built on site 1871; superstore built on site before 2005 |
[32][33] 53°00′32″N 2°13′40″W / 53.0088575°N 2.2278°W | ||
| Oulton Abbey * | Benedictine nuns founded 1853; with girls' boarding school, then playgroup 1968, then care home, St. Benedict's Nursing and Residential Home 1989 |
The Abbey Church of Saint Mary, Oulton | [34] 52°55′05″N 2°08′07″W / 52.9181052°N 2.1352074°W | |
| Radmore Abbey | hermitage founded 1135–9, site granted by King Stephen, confirmed by Roger, Bishop of Lichfield, who allowed the community to adopt the order of their choice Cistercian monks daughter house of Bordesley; converted c.1143/7-1155 monks transferred to Stoneleigh 1155; converted to a royal hunting lodge |
The Abbey Church of Saint Mary, Radmore ____________________ Red Moor Priory |
[35][36] 52°42′15″N 1°56′26″W / 52.7041076°N 1.9404548°W | |
| Ranton Priory | 
|
Augustinian Canons Regular — (?)Arroasian priory cell dependent on Haughmond, Shropshire; founded between 1135 and 1166 by Robert fitz Noel (Noeli); independent from 1246–7; dissolved 1536; granted to Robert Wiseman 1538/9 |
St Mary ____________________ Ronton Abbey; de Sartis |
[37][38] 52°48′57″N 2°14′29″W / 52.8158°N 2.2412512°W |
| Rocester Abbey $(?) | Augustinian Canons Regular founded c.1146 by Richard Bacon (Bacoun); dissolved 1538; granted to Richard Trentham 1539/40 |
The Blessed Virgin Mary ____________________ Roucester Abbey |
[39][40] 52°57′04″N 1°50′07″W / 52.951243°N 1.8352962°W | |
| Sandwell Priory | Historical county location. See entry under List of monastic houses in the West Midlands | |||
| Stafford Austin Friars | Augustinian Friars (under the Limit of Lincoln) founded 1344 by Ralph de Stafford, permission granted by the Pope 1343; dissolved August 1538, surrendered to Richard Ingworth, Bishop of Dover; granted to Thomas Neve and Giles Isam |
Austin Friars, Stafford | [41][42] 52°48′10″N 2°06′52″W / 52.8027128°N 2.1145463°W | |
| Stafford Greyfriars | Franciscan Friars Minor, Conventual (under the Custody of Worcester) founded before 1274; dissolved 10 August 1538, surrendered to Richard Ingworth, Bishop of Dover; granted to James Leverson 1539/40; house called 'Grey Friars' built on site before 1610 |
[43][44] 52°48′47″N 2°07′17″W / 52.8129566°N 2.121461°W | ||
| Priory of St Thomas nr. Stafford | [45] | |||
| Stone Priory | secular canons founded c.670 by Wulfhere, King of Mercia destroyed in raids by the Danes 9th century, canons dispersed; Benedictine nuns apparently founded before 1066; replaced or dispersed before c.1135; Augustinian Canons Regular priory cell dependent on Kenilworth, Warwickshire; granted to Kenilworth; founded c.1135 by Enisan de Waleron; independent from after 1260; dissolved 1536; granted to George Harper 1538/9 |
St Wulfad and St Rufin St Wulfad St Mary, St Wulfad and St Michael |
[46][47] 52°54′04″N 2°08′41″W / 52.9010236°N 2.1447346°W | |
| Trentham Priory | possible minster before 1066[note 1] possible Benedictine monks possibly founded c.1087-1100 subsequently lapsing; Augustinian Canons Regular (re)founded before 1153-5 by Ranuph II, Earl of Chester; dissolved 1537 (1536) |
The Priory Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary and All Saints, Trentham ____________________ Trickingham Priory(?) |
[48][49] 52°57′55″N 2°12′07″W / 52.9653743°N 2.2018602°W | |
| Tutbury Priory + | Benedictine monks alien house: dependent on S-Pierre-sur-Dives; founded after 1080 (1066–1086) by Henry de Ferrers; became denizen: independent from after 1431–3; dissolved 14 September 1538; granted to Sir William Cavendish 1552/3; part of conventual church now in parochial use |
St Mary Virgin | [50][51] 52°51′33″N 1°41′16″W / 52.8590643°N 1.6877532°W | |
| Wolverhampton Monastery | Historical county location. See entry under List of monastic houses in the West Midlands | |||
See also
Notes
- ^ Trentham — once identified as the nunnery founded by Werburgh at Tricengeham, but now thought to be Threckingham (Threekingham), Lincolnshire
References
- ^ Pastscape: BASWICH PRIORY
- ^ Pastscape: PRIORY FARM
- ^ British History Online — Houses of Benedictine nuns — The priory of Blithbury — Victoria County History: A History of the County of Stafford: Volume 3 (p.220)
- ^ Pastscape: BREWOOD BLACK LADIES PRIORY
- ^ British History Online — Houses of Benedictine nuns: The priory of Brewood (Black Ladies) — Victoria County History: A History of the County of Stafford: Volume 3 (pp.220-222)
- ^ Pastscape: ABBEY OF ST MARY AND ST MODWEN
- ^ British History Online — Houses of Benedictine monks: The abbey of Burton — Victoria County History: A History of the County of Stafford: Volume 3 (pp.199-213)
- ^ Pastscape: CALWICH ABBEY
- ^ British History Online — Houses of Augustinian canons: The priory of Calwich — Victoria County History: A History of the County of Stafford: Volume 3 (pp.237-240)
- ^ Pastscape: CANWELL PRIORY
- ^ British History Online — Houses of Benedictine monks: The priory of Canwell — Victoria County History: A History of the County of Stafford: Volume 3 (pp.213-216)
- ^ House: Religious House: Canwell priory Staffs. Benedictine monks Archived 26 April 2012 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "English Benedictine Congregation - Colwich Abbey". Archived from the original on 5 February 2012. Retrieved 16 January 2012.
- ^ Pastscape: CHOTES ABBEY
- ^ PastscapevDetailed Result: CHOTES ABBEY
- ^ a b British History Online — Houses of Cistercian monks: The abbey of Croxden — Victoria County History: A History of the County of Stafford: Volume 3 (pp.226-230)
- ^ Pastscape: CROXDEN ABBEY
- ^ Pastscape: CROXDEN ABBEY CHURCH
- ^ Pastscape: CROXDEN ABBEY GATEHOUSE
- ^ Pastscape: DIEULACRES ABBEY
- ^ British History Online — Houses of Cistercian monks: The abbey of Dieulacres — Victoria County History: A History of the County of Stafford: Volume 3 (pp.230-235)
- ^ Pastscape: FAREWELL NUNNERY
- ^ British History Online — Houses of Benedictine nuns: The priory of Farewell — Victoria County History: A History of the County of Stafford: Volume 3 (pp.222-225)
- ^ Pastscape: HULTON ABBEY
- ^ British History Online — Houses of Cistercian monks: The abbey of Hulton — Victoria County History: A History of the County of Stafford: Volume 3 (pp.235-237)
- ^ Pastscape: KEELE HALL
- ^ British History Online — House of Knights Templar: The preceptory of Keele — Victoria County History: A History of the County of Stafford: Volume 3 (pp.267-268)
- ^ Pastscape: LAPLEY PRIORY
- ^ British History Online — Alien houses: The priory of Lapley — Victoria County History: A History of the County of Stafford: Volume 3 (pp.340-343)
- ^ Pastscape: LICHFIELD GREYFRIARS
- ^ British History Online — Friaries: The Franciscan friars of Lichfield — Victoria County History: A History of the County of Stafford: Volume 3 (pp.268-270)
- ^ Pastscape: NEWCASTLE BLACKFIARS
- ^ British History Online — Friaries: The Dominican friars of Newcastle-under-Lyme — Victoria County History: A History of the County of Stafford: Volume 3 (pp.272-273)
- ^ Oulton Abbey Archived 26 April 2012 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Pastscape: RED MOOR ABBEY
- ^ British History Online — Houses of Cistercian monks: The abbey of Radmore — Victoria County History: A History of the County of Stafford: Volume 3 (p.225)
- ^ Pastscape: RANTON PRIORY
- ^ British History Online — Houses of Augustinian canons: The priory of Ranton — Victoria County History: A History of the County of Stafford: Volume 3 (pp.251-255)
- ^ Pastscape: ROCESTER ABBEY
- ^ British History Online — Houses of Augustinian canons: The priory of Rocester — Victoria County History: A History of the County of Stafford: Volume 3 (pp.247-251)
- ^ Pastscape: STAFFORD AUSTIN FRIARY
- ^ British History Online — Friaries: The Austin friars of Stafford — Victoria County History: A History of the County of Stafford: Volume 3 (pp.273-274)
- ^ Pastscape: STAFFORD GREYFRIARS
- ^ British History Online — Houses of Benedictine monks: The priory of Sandwell — Victoria County History: A History of the County of Stafford: Volume 3 (pp.216-219)
- ^ British History Online — Houses of Augustinian canons: The priory of St Thomas near Stafford — Victoria County History: A History of the County of Stafford: Volume 3 (pp.260-267)
- ^ Pastscape: STONE PRIORY
- ^ British History Online — Houses of Augustinian canons: The priory of Stone — Victoria County History: A History of the County of Stafford: Volume 3 (pp.240-247)
- ^ Pastscape: TRENTHAM PRIORY
- ^ British History Online — Houses of Augustinian canons: The priory of Trentham — Victoria County History: A History of the County of Stafford: Volume 3 (pp.255-260)
- ^ Pastscape: TUTBURY PRIORY
- ^ British History Online — Alien houses: The priory of Tutbury — Victoria County History: A History of the County of Stafford: Volume 3 (pp.331-340)
- 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
